ABSTRACT
Gender affirming surgeries are procedures that are used by transgender and gender diverse individuals to align their bodies to their gender identities. These have been shown to improve the mental health and wellbeing of those individuals who choose to access them. Rates of regret associated with gender affirming surgeries are low, and in addition to improving mental health and quality of life, these procedures have the potential to make it safer for transgender and gender diverse people to move through the world. This article provides a narrative review that places gender affirming surgeries in the current sociopolitical context of the United States. It describes common types of gender affirming surgery, protocols for surgical assessment, and the risks and benefits of surgery.