American Society of Plastic Surgeons and transgender people

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is a national professional organization of over 11,000 medical professionals.

Background

The organization was founded in 1931 as the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, the first professional association in the United States devoted to the emerging specialty of plastic surgery. Its initial meetings were held in the offices of early pioneers, and it provided a formal forum for education and collaboration among surgeons trained in reconstructive and cosmetic procedures.

In 1960, the organization became a registered nonprofit, strengthening its organizational structure and expanding its influence. Over the following decades, ASPS grew steadily as plastic surgery became more established in both reconstructive and aesthetic fields. In 1999, the society officially shortened its name to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, reflecting a broader emphasis on both reconstructive and cosmetic practice.

Throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries, ASPS expanded its educational offerings, advocacy work, and research support, including through the Plastic Surgery Foundation, founded in 1948 to fund research and innovation.

ASPS continues to hold its annual Plastic Surgery The Meeting, bringing together surgeons for education and networking.

In 1990. ASPS founded PlastyPAC, a political action committee established to amplify the political voice of plastic surgeons and protect their professional interests at the federal level. It raises funds from ASPS members to support and educate candidates for Congress who back policies aligned with the society’s priorities.

Youth

In August 2024, anti-trans activist Leor Sapir claimed in City Journal that ASPS was the first major medical association to challenge the consensus of medical groups over gender surgery for minors. The ASPS responded to this misleading claim:

ASPS has not endorsed any organization’s practice recommendations for the treatment of adolescents with gender dysphoria. ASPS currently understands that there is considerable uncertainty as to the long-term efficacy for the use of chest and genital surgical interventions for the treatment of adolescents with gender dysphoria, and the existing evidence base is viewed as low quality/low certainty. This patient population requires specific considerations.

ASPS is reviewing and prioritizing several initiatives that best support evidence-based gender surgical care to provide guidance to plastic surgeons.

As members of the multidisciplinary care team, plastic surgeons have a responsibility to provide comprehensive patient education and maintain a robust and evidence-based informed consent process, so patients and their families can set realistic expectations in the shared decision-making context.

According to the 2024 ASPS Procedural Statistics Release, ASPS members performed over 8,000 breast reduction procedures for cisgender patients age 19 and under:

Breast reduction (aesthetic patients only): 5,325
Breast reduction in males (gynecomastia surgery): 2,942

ASPS members performed far fewer procedures on transgender patients in this age group.

In February 2026, the ASPS released a position statement on gender surgery for children and adolescents which stated in part, “there is insufficient evidence demonstrating a favorable risk-benefit ratio for the pathway of gender related endocrine and surgical interventions in children and adolescents. ASPS recommends that surgeons delay gender-related breast/chest, genital, and facial surgery until a patient is at least 19 years old.”

The ASPS did not comment on the thousands of procedures done on cisgender patients.

The position statement was widely reported in anti-transgender media.

References

Villareal, Daniel (February 4, 2026). Plastic surgeon association defies other medical associations by opposing trans health care. LGBTQ Nation https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/02/plastic-surgeon-association-defies-other-medical-associations-by-opposing-trans-health-care/

Staff report (February 4, 2026). In A First, Plastic Surgeon Group Sides Against Youth Gender Care Surgeries. KFF Health News https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/in-a-first-plastic-surgeon-group-sides-against-youth-gender-care-surgeries/

Santhosh, Christy (February 3, 2026). US plastic surgeons group advises delaying gender surgery until age 19 due to insufficient evidence. Reuters https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-plastic-surgeons-group-advises-delaying-gender-surgery-until-age-19-due-2026-02-03/

Bettelheim, Adriel (February 3, 2026). Plastic surgeons urge against surgeries for trans youths. Axios https://www.axios.com/2026/02/03/plastic-surgeon-surgery-trans-youths

Anti-trans coverage

Ryan, Benjamin (Febuary 4, 2026). Plastic surgeons ditch gender ideology: New guidelines rule out medical transition for kids. UnHerd https://unherd.com/2026/02/plastic-surgeons-ditch-gender-ideology/

Parks, Molly (February 3, 2026). RFK Jr. hails plastic surgeon group disavowing transgender surgery for those under 19. Washington Examiner https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/healthcare/4444847/rfk-jr-plastic-surgeon-group-transgender-surgery/

Miller, Ian (February 3, 2026). In Win For Science & Sanity, First Medical Association Comes Out Against Trans Surgeries For Children. Outkick https://www.outkick.com/analysis/american-society-plastic-surgeons-opposes-transgender-surgeries-children-under-19

Nava, Victor (February 3, 2026). Plastic surgeons recommend delaying transgender surgeries until 19 years old: ‘Potential long-term harms.’ New York Post https://nypost.com/2026/02/03/us-news/plastic-surgeons-recommend-delaying-transgender-surgeries-until-adulthood/

Do No Harm (February 3, 2026). Do No Harm Applauds ASPS for Rejecting Sex-Denying Surgeries for Children. https://donoharmmedicine.org/2026/02/03/asps-rejecting-sex-surgeries-for-children/

Strack, Haley (February 3, 2026). First Major Medical Org Comes Out Against Trans Surgeries for Minors. National Review https://www.nationalreview.com/news/first-major-medical-org-comes-out-against-trans-surgeries-for-minors/

US Department of Health and Human Services (February 3, 2026). HHS Leaders Commend the American Society of Plastic Surgeons for Disavowing Pediatric Sex-Rejecting Procedures. https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/asps-gender-dysphoria-statement.html

Jacobs, Andrew (February 3, 2026). Plastic Surgeons’ Group Advises Delaying Gender-Affirming Procedures Until Age 19. New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/health/plastic-surgery-gender-affirming-procedures.html

Choi, Joseph (February 3, 2026). Plastic surgeons organization recommends delaying gender-affirming surgery until 19; Trump admin applauds position. The Hill https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5721308-asps-recommends-age-19-surgery/

Cunningham, Paige Winfield (February 3, 2026). First major medical group opposes gender transition surgeries for youth. Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/02/03/plastic-surgeons-youth-gender-surgeries-guidance/

Sapir, Leor (February 3, 2026). It’s Official: No Consensus Among Medical Groups on “Gender-Affirming Care” for Minors. City Journal https://www.city-journal.org/article/american-society-plastic-surgeons-gender-affirming-care-minors

Sapir, Leor (August 12, 2024). A Consensus No Longer: The American Society of Plastic Surgeons becomes the first major medical association to challenge the consensus of medical groups over “gender-affirming care” for minors. City Journal https://www.city-journal.org/article/a-consensus-no-longer

Selected ASPS publications

American Society of Plastic Surgeons (February 3, 2026). Position Statement on Gender Surgery for Children and Adolescents. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/health-policy/positions/2026-gender-surgery-children-adolescents.pdf

American Society of Plastic Surgeons (August 14, 2024). ASPS statement to press regarding gender surgery for adolescents. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/for-medical-professionals/publications/psn-extra/news/asps-statement-to-press-regarding-gender-surgery-for-adolescents

American Society of Plastic Surgeons (2024). 2024 ASPS Procedural Statistics Release. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/news/statistics/2024/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2024.pdf