Gender-affirming surgery is a major medical decision that should begin with an understanding of your goals, anatomy, health and the specific procedure you are considering.

For international patients considering surgery in Vietnam, the process should also be clear: who will perform the operation, where surgery takes place, what preparation is required, how long recovery may take and how follow-up will be managed after returning home.

Understanding Gender-Affirming Surgery

Gender-affirming surgery refers to a range of procedures that may help align physical characteristics with a person's gender identity.

It is not one operation.

For trans women, possible procedures can include genital surgery, breast/chest surgery and selected facial or other procedures. International gender-affirming programs commonly organize care around the patient's individual goals rather than requiring every person to undergo the same series of operations.

Depending on the clinical situation, feminizing procedures may include:

• vaginoplasty
• vulvoplasty
• orchiectomy
• breast augmentation
• facial feminization surgery
• tracheal shave
• voice-related surgery
• selected body-contouring procedures

These procedures are not automatically part of one treatment plan.

Some patients want genital surgery. Others may prioritize facial surgery, breast augmentation or another procedure. Some may choose no surgery at all.

The appropriate approach depends on the individual's goals, anatomy, medical history and informed decision-making.

Male-to-Female Surgery in Vietnam 

“Male-to-female surgery” remains a commonly searched phrase, but the preferred modern clinical term is gender-affirming surgery for trans women.

For a patient considering surgery in Vietnam, the important questions are not simply:

“Can I have MTF surgery?”

They include:

• Which procedure am I actually considering?
• Who will perform it?
• What qualifications does the surgeon have?
• What preoperative assessment is required?
• What is the expected recovery?
• How long do I need to remain in Vietnam?
• What follow-up will I need after returning home?
• What happens if a complication occurs after international travel?

These questions should be answered before a surgical date is confirmed.

Start With a Private Consultation

A confidential consultation should establish what you are looking for before any surgical recommendation is made.

Depending on the procedure, preliminary assessment may require:

• recent photographs
• medical history
• previous surgical records
• medication information
• hormone therapy history where clinically relevant
• relevant laboratory or imaging reports
• previous complications
• your preferred surgical outcome

For revision cases, previous operative reports and details of earlier surgery can be particularly valuable.

A remote consultation can help determine what additional information or in-person assessment may be required.

It does not replace the physical examination and medical evaluation necessary before major surgery.

Gender Surgery for Trans Women

Gender-affirming surgery for trans women may include different procedures depending on the patient's goals.

Potential procedures can include:

• facial feminization surgery
• breast augmentation
• genital reconstruction
• vaginoplasty
• orchiectomy
• selected body-contouring procedures

These procedures are clinically different and should not be presented as one standardized operation.

Facial Feminization Surgery

Facial feminization surgery, often shortened to FFS, is a group of procedures intended to modify selected facial characteristics.

Depending on anatomy and the surgical plan, procedures may involve areas such as:

• forehead
• brow
• nose
• cheeks
• jaw
• chin
• tracheal contour

Not every patient requires every procedure.

Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation may be considered where additional breast volume is part of a patient's gender-affirming goals and the procedure is medically appropriate.

DR. MARIS already has an established breast-surgery service structure, including breast augmentation and revision surgery.

However, gender-affirming breast surgery may involve different preoperative considerations from routine cosmetic breast augmentation.

Vaginoplasty

Vaginoplasty is a reconstructive procedure used to create a vaginal canal and external genital structures.

The operation is significantly more complex than routine cosmetic genital surgery and requires appropriate specialist surgical expertise, postoperative care and long-term management.

Who May Consider Gender-Affirming Surgery?

Surgical eligibility is not established by gender identity alone.

Appropriate assessment may consider:

• capacity to provide informed consent
• overall medical health
• relevant mental-health considerations
• hormone therapy where indicated
• reproductive goals
• surgical goals
• expectations
• ability to participate in postoperative care

WPATH's current Standards of Care Version 8 includes dedicated guidance on assessment, surgery and postoperative care, hormone therapy, reproductive health, sexual health and mental health.

Current international surgical programs also emphasize preoperative evaluation and individualized planning rather than treating every patient according to one fixed checklist.

Hormone Therapy and Surgical Planning

Hormone therapy may form part of a patient's gender-affirming care before surgery, depending on the operation and clinical circumstances.

Requirements vary by procedure, jurisdiction and clinical program.

For example, Yanhee's current MTF program states hormone requirements for genital surgery, while WPATH SOC8 provides broader clinical guidance rather than a single universal checklist for every operation.

DR. MARIS should therefore not publish a fixed “12-month hormone rule” unless its treating surgical team confirms that requirement.

Revision Gender-Affirming Surgery

When Previous Surgery Needs Correction

Some patients seek gender-affirming revision surgery after a previous operation.

Concerns may involve:

• asymmetry
• scarring
• implant complications
• dissatisfaction with an aesthetic result
• functional concerns
• wound-healing problems
• structural problems
• complications from previous genital reconstruction

Revision surgery requires an especially careful assessment because previous operations can change tissue planes, available tissue and anatomical support.

Dr. Maris's existing practice places particular emphasis on revision and complex cosmetic cases.

However, gender-affirming revision surgery requires procedure-specific expertise.

Information for Revision Patients

Where available, provide:

• previous operative reports
• surgical dates
• implant information
• previous imaging
• photographs
• details of complications
• current symptoms
• current medications
• relevant hormone therapy information

The more accurately the previous operation can be understood, the more useful the preliminary assessment can be.

Dr. Maris's Surgical Approach

DR. MARIS AESTHETICS is built around direct surgeon involvement.

Dr. Maris / Dr. Tran Minh Huy personally:

• conducts consultations
• examines patients
• reviews previous surgery where relevant
• develops surgical plans
• performs procedures within his surgical practice
• participates in postoperative follow-up

The philosophy is straightforward:

Surgery should be planned around the patient's anatomy and goals, not around a predetermined package.

For gender-affirming surgery, this principle becomes especially important because patients may have highly individual goals that do not fit a standard surgical pathway.

Recovery & Aftercare

Recovery depends entirely on the procedure.

Recovery after a breast augmentation is different from recovery after facial feminization surgery.

Recovery after vaginoplasty or phalloplasty can be substantially more involved than either.

Important variables include:

• type of surgery
• number of procedures performed
• anesthesia
• inpatient monitoring
• wound healing
• postoperative complications
• required follow-up
• rehabilitation or dilation requirements where applicable
• readiness for international travel

For complex gender-affirming procedures, patients should receive a procedure-specific recovery plan.

Recovery timing depends on the procedure and individual condition and will be discussed during consultation.

Do not publish a single “gender surgery recovery time” for the entire service.

Risks & Considerations

Gender-affirming surgery is real surgery and carries potential risks.

The specific risks depend on the procedure.

They may include:

• bleeding
• infection
• anesthesia complications
• blood clots
• wound-healing problems
• scarring
• asymmetry
• changes in sensation
• revision surgery
• complications specific to implants or grafts
• complications specific to genital reconstruction

Complex genital and reconstructive procedures have additional procedure-specific risks that must be discussed by the surgeon performing the operation.

Patients should receive informed consent based on the actual surgical technique rather than generic website information.

Male-to-Female Gender-Affirming Surgery Price in Vietnam

For international patients considering male-to-female gender-affirming surgery in Vietnam, DR. MARIS currently provides the following published reference prices:

Results & Expectations

The appropriate result depends on:

• anatomy
• procedure selection
• previous surgery
• tissue quality
• surgical technique
• healing
• patient goals

No responsible surgical practice should guarantee a particular appearance, degree of symmetry or functional outcome.

For genital reconstruction, patients should also understand that functional recovery may require ongoing postoperative care and, depending on the procedure, rehabilitation.

Results develop over time.

Early postoperative appearance should not be treated as the final result.

International Patients in Vietnam

Before You Travel

International patients should establish:

• which procedure is appropriate
• who will perform the surgery
• what medical information is required
• whether an in-person assessment is needed
• the expected hospital pathway
• approximate recovery requirements
• the recommended time in Vietnam

During Your Stay

Your surgical plan and medical assessment should be confirmed before surgery.

The appropriate hospital stay depends on the procedure.

After You Return Home

A clear follow-up plan should be established before leaving Vietnam.

For complex procedures, ask specifically:

• Who should I contact with postoperative concerns?
• What follow-up can be performed remotely?
• When should I see a doctor in my home country?
• What records will I receive?
• What symptoms require urgent medical assessment?

These questions are particularly relevant for international patients because surgical care does not end when the flight home begins.

Why Choose Dr. Maris?

The strongest established DR. MARIS differentiators are:

• Direct surgeon involvement: Dr. Maris personally participates in the surgical pathway.
• Revision experience: Complex and corrective cosmetic surgery is an important part of the existing practice.
• Hospital-based surgery: Cosmetic surgery is performed at Hong Bang International Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.
• Individual planning: Surgical decisions are based on anatomy, previous procedures and individual goals.
• International consultation: Patients can begin discussing their case remotely before travelling to Vietnam, where appropriate.

For gender-affirming surgery specifically, however, procedure-specific credentials and experience need to be verified before these differentiators are presented as evidence of gender-surgery expertise.