The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), representing a significant portion of plastic surgeons in the U.S. and globally, has raised concerns about the evidence supporting sex-change surgeries for minors. In a statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation, the ASPS stated that it does not believe there is strong evidence to support providing such surgeries to adolescents.

This stance by the ASPS has made it the first major U.S.-based medical association to question the guidelines put forth by organizations like the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), which advocate for hormone therapy and genital surgeries for adolescents with gender dysphoria. The ASPS emphasized the need for specific considerations when dealing with this patient population, citing the low quality and certainty of the existing evidence base.

In a departure from the consensus of other medical groups, the ASPS has not endorsed any organization's practice recommendations for treating adolescents with gender dysphoria. The organization's cautious approach reflects the ongoing debate surrounding the long-term efficacy of chest and genital surgical interventions for this population.

While the ASPS has expressed opposition to legislation that criminalizes gender affirmation surgery for minors, it continues to review and prioritize initiatives related to gender-transition care. The ASPS's stance underscores the complexity of the issue and the need for further research to inform treatment decisions for adolescents with gender dysphoria.