Top surgery, or chest masculinisation surgery, is a gender-affirming procedure to create a more masculine chest by removing breast tissue, as well as excess skin and fat. Many transmasculine and non-binary patients consider top surgery a key step in aligning their body with their gender identity.
At CREO Gender, our medical director and senior body contouring surgeon, Dr. Omar Tillo, specialises in procedures from the neck down. Dr. Tillo works closely with each patient on a one-to-one basis, tailoring top surgery using advanced techniques to achieve natural-looking, flat, and well-defined chest results.
Experience expert care and bespoke results. Consult with Dr. Tillo to begin your top surgery journey.
Before & After
* Please note this patient also requested the removal of the nipples. More patient photos are available to view in clinic.
The Benefits of Top Surgery for Transmasculine & Nonbinary Individuals
Top surgery has a range of unique benefits for patients seeking to masculinise the chest:
Freedom from Binding and Discomfort
Patients who have top surgery no longer need to wear a binder, meaning that any associated discomfort or pain from this is no longer an issue.
Strengthen Your Emotional Well-Being
Top surgery can significantly reduce emotional distress caused by having a chest that is not congruent with a patient’s gender identity. This can help to improve your mood and overall mental health.
Feel More at Home in Your Body
For many patients, top surgery is a deeply affirming step that aligns the body more closely with their gender identity. This can improve your comfort and confidence in your body.
Overview of FTM Top Surgery
Treatments
1Results
6 MonthsAnesthesia
General AnaesthesiaSurgery Time
2-3 HoursOff-Work
2 WeeksExercise
6 WeeksFull Recovery
6 WeeksWho Is A Good Candidate for a Double Mastectomy for Trans Patients in London
During your initial consultation with us, Dr. Tillo will thoroughly assess your suitability for top surgery. In general, you will be a good candidate if:
- You have received a professional diagnosis of gender incongruence
- You are over 18
- You are in overall good mental and physical health
- You are at your goal weight
Why choose us
At CREO GENDER, we provide expert gender-affirming care in a space where your safety, autonomy, and individual journey are our priorities.Â
Our highly specialist, multidisciplinary team, led by Medical Director Dr Omar Tillo, combines advanced surgical expertise with genuine understanding of the challenges facing the trans+ community – informed by dedicated training. Â
Whatever your goals, we approach every consultation with respect and humility, recognising that you are the expert in your own experience.
With 4.9 stars across major review platforms and recognition from leading surgical bodies, our outcomes reflect our commitment to excellence.Â
The Different Types of FTM Top Surgery at the CREO Clinic
There are several different surgical techniques that can be employed depending on chest, size, skin elasticity and your personal aesthetic goals.
If you have a lot of fatty tissue around the chest, liposuction can also be used as part of top surgery to further contour the area for a masculine appearance.
Double Incision Top Surgery
Double incision top surgery is best suited to patients with medium to large chests, who have less skin elasticity. During this procedure, two horizontal incisions are made across the chest, removing breast tissue and excess skin. The nipples are also typically resized and repositioned as free nipple grafts to suit the shape of the newly masculinised chest.
Periareolar Top Surgery
Circumareolar, or periareolar top surgery is ideal for patients with small to medium chests and good skin elasticity. During surgery, a circular incision is made around the areola, through which the breast tissue is removed and the skin is tightened.
Keyhole Top Surgery
Keyhole top surgery is best for those with small chests, usually up to an A cup or smaller, and very good skin elasticity. This involves small incisions along the lower border of the areola to remove the breast tissue. During keyhole top surgery, the nipple usually remains attached, and little skin is removed.
APEX Recovery Protocol
Every procedure our surgeons perform comes with Creo Clinic’s APEX Recovery System – a unique recovery protocol built and refined on years of specialised expertise.
This three-stage system combines pre-surgical optimisation, advanced anaesthetic techniques, and a post-operative strategy designed to eliminate the need for morphine.
These treatments are thoughtfully integrated into every step of your plan, ensuring your recovery is supported, refined, and medically guided. We don’t make any compromises when it comes to care … and you shouldn’t either.
Gender-Affirming Surgery for Trans Men & Nonbinary Individuals
In addition to top surgery, we offer a range of body masculinising procedures including:
Liposuction
Liposuction, or suction-assisted lipectomy, is a surgical procedure that permanently removes targeted fat to sculpt and define areas such as the abdomen and chest, helping to create a more masculine, chiseled appearance.
At CREO Gender, we offer various advanced techniques tailored to your needs. For those seeking to masculinize, liposuction provides a gender-affirming option to achieve a flatter chest or V-shaped torso and can be customized or combined with fat transfer for natural-looking, balanced results.
Fat Transfer
Fat transfer is a procedure that uses liposuction to remove fat from areas like the abdomen, flanks, or thighs, adding definition to those zones. This fat is then purified and injected into areas such as the buttocks, calves or shoulders to enhance shape, volume, and overall body contour.
This dual approach sculpts and enhances both the liposuction and fat transfer areas, creating a more balanced, masculine appearance.
Calf Augmentation
Calf augmentation enhances the size and shape of the calves using fat transfer, silicone implants, or a combination of both, creating a more defined and masculine lower body.
Dr. Tillo is among the few plastic surgeons in the UK who specialise in this procedure, offering custom-made calf implants tailored to your unique physique for personalised, natural-looking results.
Masculinising Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)
Fat transfer to the buttocks is a key technique in body masculinisation. Unlike the traditional BBL, which focuses on achieving a curvy, feminine silhouette, the masculinising BBL adds volume to create a firmer, more angular, and traditionally masculine shape.
Fat is strategically injected into the upper, central, and lower areas of the buttocks— avoiding the sides—to enhance definition and structure without producing rounded hips.
FAQs About FTM Top Surgery
Is top surgery covered by the NHS?
How much does FTM top surgery cost in the UK?
What age is best for top surgery?
What’s the recovery process like after top surgery?
You should be able to return to light activity and work from home one week after surgery. After three weeks, you should be able to return to the office, driving and using public transport. However, you will need to wait 6 weeks before engaging in more strenuous activity.Â
