1. What did the American Society of Plastic Surgeons announce?
The nation’s largest professional organization for plastic surgeons recommended Tuesday that transgender surgeries be delayed until patients turn 19, citing “insufficient evidence” that the benefits of chest, genital and facial surgeries on minors experiencing gender dysphoria outweigh the risks. The group based its position on two recent publications: the Cass Review by a senior doctor in England and a 2025 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
2. How does this differ from other major medical organizations’ positions?
Other major medical associations maintained their existing guidance, which already calls for caution around surgery for minors. The American Academy of Pediatrics stated it “does not include a blanket recommendation for surgery for minors” with gender dysphoria, while the World Professional Association for Transgender Health reiterated its support for access to surgical care for minors under “cautious guidelines and criteria” on a case-by-case basis rather than a definitive age cutoff.
3. How common are transgender surgeries and treatments for minors in the U.S.?
Transgender surgery is rare among U.S. children, and fewer than 1 in 1,000 U.S. adolescents receive gender-altering medications, according to research. Many U.S. adolescents with gender dysphoria may decide not to proceed with medications or surgeries.
SEE ALSO: Plastic surgeons group calls for delaying transgender surgery until age 19
4. How has the Trump administration responded to this issue?
The Trump administration moved in December to cut off transgender care for minors, prompting a third of states to sue, and Deputy Health and Human Services Secretary Jim O’Neill called the plastic surgeons’ announcement “another victory for biological truth.” Under pressure from the administration, hospitals across the country have suspended transgender care for minors, with Children’s Minnesota most recently pausing prescribing puberty-suppressing medications and hormones for patients under 18, citing federal “threats.”
5. Was the plastic surgeons’ statement politically motivated?
Dr. Scot Glasberg, who helped develop the statement, said deliberations over the language started in 2024 and were not politically influenced, calling it “an iterative process that took time, with no outside pressure.” However, the plastic surgeons group acknowledged that “variability in regulatory and legal environments” played a role in the decision to issue the statement, saying the lack of evidence means “surgical decision-making carries heightened ethical, clinical and legal risk.”
Read more: Plastic surgeons group calls for delaying transgender surgery until age 19
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