NHS chest-removal operations for trans men rose 52% in two years
The number of NHS operations to remove breasts from people assigned female at birth who identify as men rose by 52 per cent, from 734 in 2022-23 to 1,115 in 2024-25. The increase has renewed debate about access to gender-affirming surgery, the support and assessment patients receive, and the experiences of people who later regret surgery.
The article estimates each operation costs about £5,800, putting the cost of these procedures in 2024-25 at up to £6.5 million, around 0.003 per cent of NHS England’s £187 billion budget. It also reports changes in genital surgery numbers, and cites differing estimates of detransition rates, from below 1 per cent in some studies to as high as 7 per cent in others. Some people who have detransitioned raise concerns about assessment and support; others, including actor Elliot Page, have described surgery as life-changing. The supplied article text ends partway through a quoted criticism.
In short
- NHS chest-removal operations rose 52 per cent in two years.
- The reported annual cost was up to £6.5 million.
- The figures have renewed debate over assessment, support and outcomes.
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The case for
Supporters of access argue that chest-removal surgery can relieve severe, persistent distress and improve people’s wellbeing, as some recipients describe. They may also contend that careful assessment and ongoing support can help patients make informed decisions, while the reported spending is a very small share of the NHS budget.
The case against
Critics argue that irreversible surgery warrants especially careful assessment, clear information about risks and alternatives, and reliable follow-up, particularly when some people later regret it. Reports of inadequate assessment or support from people who have detransitioned strengthen their case for reviewing safeguards as demand rises, even though estimates of detransition vary.
Explained simply
Gender-affirming care includes medical treatment that helps some people live in a way that fits their gender identity. For some trans men, this includes surgery to remove breast tissue, sometimes called chest surgery; it is not part of every person’s transition.
NHS England funds these operations, which are usually accessed after referral and assessment. The figures have prompted discussion about how patients are assessed and supported, how public spending is weighed, and how services should respond to people who later regret surgery or detransition.
People’s experiences differ: some describe surgery as beneficial, while some who detransition say they needed better assessment or support. Estimates of how many people detransition vary between studies, and the figures depend on how and when detransition is measured.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Number of women having breasts removed on the NHS because they identify as men has soared 50 per cent in two years”.