Viewpoint: A plastic surgeon on why banning gender-transition surgery without further research is wrong and harmful

In [February, 2026], [The American Society of Plastic Surgeons] ASPS, a society for which I previously served on the Board of Directors, issued a “Position Statement on Gender Surgery for Children and Adolescents,” which argued against providing gender-affirming surgical care to anyone under the age of 19. The statement helped support the Trump administration’s continuing fight against gender-affirming care for adults and teenagers.

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Using strategic language like “weak evidence” is how anti-trans groups have effectively misled a general audience. Low-quality evidence is different from saying that treatment is harmful….When low-quality studies demonstrate positive outcomes, the next step is to generate higher levels evidence, not ban care. Anti-trans advocates frequently cite the Cass Review anticipating that you won’t read the study. But the conclusion of the study calls for more research, not a ban on care.

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Let me be clear: We need more data to figure out the best way to care for adolescents with gender dysphoria. Patients get the best outcomes with skilled providers, multidisciplinary teams, and funded research focused on quality improvement.

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