It’s that time of year again: transgender and non-binary folks and allies from all across the United States, as well as from countries such as Canada, New Zealand, Kenya, Uganda, India, and the United Kingdom, are all making their way this week to Philadelphia for the Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference (PTWC), being held July 25-27, 2019. Now in its 18th year, PTWC is the largest free trans conference in the world, drawing over 10,000 attendees in 2018, an increase of more than 40% compared to the previous year. No doubt about it, PTWC is immensely popular and growing every year!
For those interested in having gender-affirming surgery, conferences like PTWC are a great place to learn more about surgery and connect with surgeons. Surgeon- and peer-led workshops offer detailed information about procedures, preparation and recovery, and “Show & Tell” sessions offer first-hand accounts of surgery and the chance to view results in person. Plus, surgeons make themselves available for informal Q&A and sometimes, free, on-site, private consultations. For those considering surgery, this can help you save quite a lot of money on consult fees and the travel costs associated with consulting with multiple surgeons.
At this year’s PTWC, attendees will have the chance to hear from many surgeons who have dedicated their careers to transgender surgery. Here’s a rundown of some the surgeon-led sessions.
Everything You Need To Know About FTM Top Surgery
Presenter: Dr. Russell Sassani
Friday, 10:00am – 11:00am
Dr. Sassani is a board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who performs chest procedures, facial surgeries and body sculpting for both trans men and women in Florida. With unanimous 5 star reviews from his trans male patients, Dr. Sassani has quickly become one of the most popular Top Surgery surgeons in the Southeastern United States.
Is Facial Feminization Right For You?
Presenter: Dr. Angela Rodriguez
Saturday, 11:15am – 12:15pm
This presentation will focus on Facial Feminization. We will discuss in detail the most common procedures available for feminizing the face, and the pros and cons of each procedure.
Dr. Rodriguez is a board-certified plastic surgeon in San Francisco who is dedicated full time to providing surgical care for transgender patients. Dr. Rodriguez had 14 years of craniofacial, aesthetic and pediatric plastic surgery experience before joining the Crane Center for Transgender Surgery. She has a special interest in Facial Feminization and is also highly proficient in Vaginoplasty and FTM Top Surgery. Her commitment to transforming lives and passion for social justice drove her pursuance to master transgender surgery, but it’s Dr. Rodriguez’s surgical skills, bedside manner and results that patients love. For a consultation at PTWC with Dr. Rodriguez, contact the Crane Center for Transgender Surgery.
Achieving a Non-Binary Look With Surgery: A Comprehensive Chest and Body Discussion On Goals and Options for Non-Binary Patients
Presenter: Dr. Scott Mosser
Saturday, 1:45pm – 2:45pm
While gender is a spectrum, classical surgery approaches have only been aligned with binary options. Patients have been forced to choose between attempting to achieve a stereotypical ‘masculine’ or ‘feminine’ appearance to their bodies. However, there are many patients who want surgery but need a final result which reflects their non-binary identity. The time has come to have a dialogue about what anatomic features can be modified to achieve a non-binary look, and how one can assess their own goals and get results that align with their more gender neutral or gender expansive identity.
Dr. Mosser is an award-winning surgeon in San Francisco who has been helping transgender and non-binary patients for more than 10 years. He is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons, co-founder of the American Society of Gender Surgeons (ASGS), Medical Director of the Gender Institute at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, a member of WPATH, and co-chair of the Surgery and Beyond professional conference.
NOTE: The following sessions are being offered as part of the Professional track and require paid registration.
Surgical Options for The Trans Male
Presenters: Dr. Angela M Rodriguez, Dr. Ashley DeLeon
Friday, 1:45pm – 2:45pm
This presentation will discuss the most common surgical options and procedures available for the trans male, including Top Surgery, Phalloplasty, Metoidioplasty and other procedures. We will focus on an individualized and multidisciplinary approach to female-to-male surgery.
Dr. Rodriguez – see bio above.
Dr. DeLeon is a board-certified general and trauma surgeon who specializes exclusively in Gender Reassignment Surgery. Dr. DeLeon is fellowship trained in gender-affirming procedures and has vast experience with pelvic and breast surgery. Dr. DeLeon practices in Austin, Texas at the Crane Center for Transgender Surgery, one of the busiest gender surgery practices in the world, where she focuses specifically on Vaginoplasty, Orchiectomy and FTM Top Surgery procedures. Dr. DeLeon also teaches at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine and the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School. For a consultation at PTWC with Dr. DeLeon, contact the Crane Center for Transgender Surgery.
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Phalloplasty and Metoidioplasty: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Presenters: Dr. Richard Santucci & Dr. Michael Safir
Saturday, 10:00am – 11:00am
Everything you need to know before, during and after gender confirming FTM bottom surgery, highlighting preparation, choosing your surgery type, potential complications and their treatment. This talk features graphic intra-operative photographs and may be disturbing to some. It is designed for patients, advocates, non-medical professionals and medical professionals alike.
Dr. Santucci is an expert in Reconstructive Urology who has devoted his career to transgender surgery after spending 18 years as one of the nation’s most distinguished academic Reconstructive Urologists. Dr. Santucci joined the practice of Dr. Curtis Crane in January 2018, working out of the Austin location of the Crane Center for Transgender Surgery. Dr. Santucci’s deep experience with complex genitourinary surgery uniquely positions him to excel at the most technically challenging gender affirming procedures, such as Phalloplasty and Vaginoplasty. For a consultation at PTWC with Dr. Santucci, contact the Crane Center for Transgender Surgery.
Dr. Safir is a board-certified urologist in San Francisco who specializes exclusively in trans masculine bottom surgery procedures such as Phalloplasty and Metoidioplasty. With subspecialty certification in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Dr. Safir is one of a handful of urologists in the world with individual fellowship training and experience in both male and female genital reconstruction. Dr. Safir’s vast experience in urology and compassion for his patients has made him a popular choice among trans men seeking bottom surgery on the West Coast. For a consultation at PTWC with Dr. Safir, contact the Crane Center for Transgender Surgery.
Affirmation Surgery for the Transfeminine and Gender Diverse Individual
Presenter: Dr. Loren S. Schechter
Saturday, 11:15am – 12:15pm
This workshop will focus on transfeminine and gender diverse surgery, including pre- and post-operative care. Surgical options include inversion Vaginoplasty, intestinal Vaginoplasty, and peritoneal Vaginoplasty. Additionally, adjunct measures, including pelvic physical therapy will be discussed and reviewed.
Dr. Schechter is Director of the Center for Gender Confirmation Surgery at Weiss Memorial Hospital and Clinical Professor of Surgery at The University of Illinois at Chicago. He serves on the board of The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), helped to author the 7th Edition of The Standards of Care, and serves as co-lead for the Surgery and Post-Operative Care section of the 8th Edition of The Standards of Care. He authored the first surgical atlas, Surgical Management of Transgender Individuals, and is a founding member and president-elect of The American Society for Gender Surgeons.
Other surgeons presenting at PTWC: Dr. Rachel Bluebond-Langner and Dr. Lee Zhao from NYU, and Dr. Sherman Leis. View the complete PTWC conference schedule here.