Check out G&STC’s Director Jesse Kahn talking with Kara Cuzzone at Cosmopolitan about how to prepare for top surgery.
Lean on your support system
“Staying connected to your community—whether that be friends, chosen family, or an online community—is really important. ‘Even small moments of support, like check-ins or affirming conversations, can make a huge difference in feeling cared for during recovery,’ adds Jesse Kahn, LCSW-R, CST, director and sex therapist at the Gender & Sexuality Therapy Center in New York.”
Be prepared for a range of emotions
“‘Top surgery is a significant emotional and physical milestone, and a range of feelings—excitement, anxiety, or unexpected emotions—are completely normal,’ explains Kahn. They recommend giving yourself permission to feel and process your emotions without judgment or criticism. Your emotional support network can help with this, but if you’re already seeing a therapist you may want to schedule a session early on in your recovery.
‘[A therapy session] can be a good opportunity to just check in, look inward, reflect on what you’re experiencing, and give space for your emotions,’ says Kahn. Practicing self-care, managing expectations, and doing activities that bring you comfort are also very important during the top surgery process, they add.”
Read the full article here.
More from G&STC therapist Jesse Kahn on this topic:
Preparing for your recovery
One of the most important things to prepare for top surgery is to plan for your recovery. This can include: setting up a comfortable and supporting healing space, arranging for emotional and physical support, making sure you have comfortable and loose clothing (there are even button ups with pockets for drains!), a strong pillow set up for physical comfort, food plan and preparation, and ultimately following your surgeon’s pre-op guidelines.
Proper preparation can help minimize stress, reduce complications, and ensure a more comfortable and successful recovery process!
Taking care of your mental health after top surgery
Top Surgery is major surgery that impacts your body which can impact your mental health. Post op depression is something that people are starting to talk more about and how that manifests can look different for everyone.
Taking care of your mental health during the top surgery process can include seeking support from trusted friends, family, or a therapist, and allowing yourself space to process emotions.
I’ve often had sessions with clients within a week of top surgery via telehealth. Usually it involves someone helping them get set up with a computer and it can be a good opportunity to just check in, look inward, reflect on what you’re experiencing and give space for your emotions. Practicing self-care, managing expectations, and engaging in activities that bring comfort can help reduce stress. Healing—both physically and emotionally—takes time.
Line up support ahead of time
Having a support network after top surgery is absolutely crucial for both physical and emotional well-being, as it helps with practical needs like meal prep and mobility while also providing reassurance and comfort.
I recommend planning ahead of time for this by communicating your needs clearly, asking trusted friends or family for help, ironing out details of what that help and support can look like, and connecting with and staying connected to community, friends, chosen family and/or online spaces for shared experiences.
Let yourself feel your feelings
Give yourself permission to feel and try to process your emotions without judgment or criticism. Whatever responses or reactions you have post op are okay and you’re often not alone in experiencing them. Let yourself feel whatever you need to feel, and know that those feelings may change.