What does it mean to be Non-binary?

We recognize that gender identity is a spectrum, and the term non-binary represents an umbrella term for gender identities that are neither male nor female. Any person who feels they do not identify 100% with the gender of female or male could be considered non-binary. Non-binary individuals may consider themselves to be more transmasculine leaning, or more feminine leaning, or they may feel like they fall exactly in the middle at neutral. They may feel strongly transmasculine leaning, or just a little. You can imagine that this represents a wide range of individuals and thus there are many different surgical approaches that are options for FTN individuals undergoing top surgery.

Non-binary Pronouns

Non-binary individuals may prefer different terminology to label their gender identity and may use they/them, he/him, she/her, ze/zir or other pronouns depending on preference. Gender identity and preferred pronouns are two very different things, and it is important to ask what pronouns one prefer to use, and not to assume the use of they/them pronouns always goes along with being non-binary. This is especially true for individuals who feel more transmasculine or transfeminine, and may prefer the use of he/him, she/her or he/they, she/they or other pronouns.

FTN Top Surgery Aesthetics

FTN top surgery, like non-binary individuals, comes in all different shapes and sizes. Non-binary individuals who prefer a more masculine aesthetic may prefer scars inline with natural anatomic borders and nipple areolas that are positioned and sized to match a masculine aesthetic. For example, the preference may be for a nipple areola that is smaller, slightly oval or circle, and in a more lateral position on the chest wall. They may prefer a scar that falls along the natural inferior boundary of the chest wall or a scar that follows the natural curvature of the chest muscles to create a more masculine appearance to the chest wall.

Alternatively, they may prefer a more neutral appearance to the chest wall, with nipple areolas that are distinctly circular, larger or smaller, and/or located more centrally on the chest wall for a less masculine appearance. They may prefer a less muscularly contoured appearance. Regarding minimal-incision approaches such as periareolar and keyhole, they may prefer the nipple areola be left as is or only made slightly smaller. For larger-scar approaches such as the double incision, they may prefer a scar shape that is less masculine in appearance, such as amore curved scar. They may prefer a scar with a dramatic curve or a gentle curve. They may prefer a scar that follows no anatomic boundaries such as in the fishmouth procedure.