{
  "id": 4267119,
  "title": "Adolescents report low regret and high satisfaction following gender-affirming chest surgery",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/adolescents-report-low-regret-and-high-satisfaction-following-gender",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-29T20:00:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PsyPost",
    "slug": "psypost",
    "url": "https://www.psypost.org/adolescents-report-low-regret-and-high-satisfaction-following-gender-affirming-c/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent study published in the International Journal of Transgender Health reveals that adolescents who undergo gender-affirming chest surgery report high levels of satisfaction and low levels of regret, similar to young adults. These findings indicate that age restrictions on these medical procedures lack substantial support based on patient experiences. Gender-affirming care encompasses a range of medical and psychological services to align a person’s body with their gender identity, often involving surgical interventions such as gender-affirming chest surgery.\n\nIn recent years, policymakers in the United States have proposed legislation to restrict youth access to these treatments, often citing the potential for regret over irreversible physical changes. However, most data showing low regret and high satisfaction rates have come from adult populations. Researchers aimed to address this gap in scientific literature by comparing the postoperative experiences of adolescents and young adults. The study was conducted at a pediatric hospital between January 2018 and April 2023, focusing on patients who received chest surgeries at least one year prior. Eligibility required patients to meet medical protocols for gender-affirming care, including psychological evaluations and consent from legal guardians.\n\nThe researchers sent surveys to 183 eligible patients, and 77 participants completed the questionnaires. Of these, 42 had their surgeries before age 18, while 35 had them between ages 18 and 26. Both groups reported high satisfaction (median score of 5) and minimal regret (median score of 0) on standardized tools. No statistically significant differences were found between the age groups. Additionally, the study found a positive correlation between family support and surgical satisfaction, but no significant link to decisional regret.\n\nFurther analysis of a smaller subset of participants revealed that five individuals experienced higher regret scores and mismatched regret and satisfaction. These patients reported dissatisfaction with specific aesthetic results, such as keloids or uneven contours, rather than regretting the transition itself. None of the participants reported true gender-related regret, and even those who did experience a shift in gender identity after surgery did not show higher regret or dissatisfaction scores.\n\nThe study also noted that most participants were white, male, and had a history of using testosterone. Despite some participants having prior mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, the surgical process was associated with a very low complication rate. However, the findings may be limited by the relatively short median time since surgery (about 1.8 years) and the sample's demographic composition.",
  "summary": "Adolescents who undergo gender-affirming chest surgery experience high satisfaction and low regret, reporting outcomes similar to those of young adults. A new survey challenges political concerns that youth are likely to regret these procedures later in life.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}