The U.S. sex reassignment surgery market size was valued at USD 1.9 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.23% from 2022 to 2030. The rising incidences of gender dysphoria and the increasing number of people opting for gender confirmation surgeries are expected to boost the growth during the forecast period. According to a study conducted by Cedars Sinai in June 2020, approximately 78% of transgender males experienced gender dysphoria by the age of 7. The mean age to experience gender dysphoria was less in transgender males, which is about 6.2 years.
Sex reassignment surgery is gaining popularity among the young transgender population in the U.S., as it helps people with gender dysphoria transition to their self-identified gender. According to an article published in the New York Times, around 1.4% & 1.3% of young people aged 13 to 17 and 18 to 24, respectively, are transgender in the U.S., accounting for only 0.5% of total adults.
The increasing number of sex reassignment surgeries in the U.S. is expected to propel the growth of the industry during the forecast period. According to the 2020 Plastic Surgery Statistics by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), a 15% rise in breast or chest surgical procedures was reported in transgender male patients from 2019 to 2020.
The improving reimbursement scenario is also anticipated to positively impact the market growth during the forecast period. Insurance providers such as Aetna and Unicare provide insurance for necessary surgical procedures, such as salpingo-oophorectomy, hysterectomy, orchiectomy, or ovariectomy. In the U.S., around 152,000 transgender individuals are enrolled in Medicaid and only 69,000 among them have access to gender-affirming care coverage under state law.
Pandemic Impact |
Post COVID Outlook |
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a decrease in the number of sex reassignment surgeries. A survey of ACAPS members conducted for a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery publication in August 2020 revealed that 32% of the transgender population underwent gender affirmation surgery. In addition, it stated that no face, breast, or genital surgeries were available amid the pandemic. |
As hospitals and clinics around the U.S. resume nonemergency services, the demand for gender-affirming operations is expected to accelerate in the coming years. |
The elective surgeries which include gender-affirming surgeries were postponed or canceled to control the spread of the virus. An article titled The Impact of COVID-19 on Gender Dysphoria Patients, issued in May 2020 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, stated that because gender-affirming procedures were considered elective treatments, they were halted or delayed. |
A growing number of healthcare specialists have been providing consultations via telehealth. This is anticipated to have a beneficial impact on the growth of the market in the upcoming years. |
The pandemic impacted the financial status of transgender individuals as the unemployment rate among transgender people was high due to the pandemic. This has led to a decline in the number of gender-affirming surgeries in the U.S. as the procedures are costlier and many states do not provide any coverage for the surgeries. For instance, Human Rights Campaign Foundation conducted a poll of 7,000 participants from the LGBTQ community in the U.S. and found that around 26% of transgender people of color and around 19% of transgender people were unemployed from April 2020 to May 2020.
Based on gender transition, the market is segmented into male-to-female (MTF) and female-to-male (FTM). The FTM segment dominated the market in 2021 with the largest revenue share. This is attributed to continuous innovations in metoidioplasty, phalloplasty, scrotoplasty, and chest reconstructing. According to ASPS, there was an overall 13% & 14% increase in transgender female sex reassignment surgeries and breast/chest & facial procedures in 2020, respectively.
The MTF sex reassignment surgery is expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period owing to the high prevalence of gender dysphoria among males compared to females. According to the 2021 annual report of the Mount Sinai Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery, around 861 gender-affirming surgeries were performed at this hospital, wherein 639 surgeries were feminization procedures. The transmasculine population aged 25 to 34 is more likely to undergo gender-affirming surgeries, accounting for around 41% of total transfeminine surgeries.
In addition, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, transgender males in the U.S. underwent 9,985 gender confirmation surgeries in 2020 compared to 8,986 in 2019. Government support is also driving the market. Thus, government support in the form of Medicare coverage and an increase in the number of gender confirmation surgeries are factors likely to boost the market growth.
The U.S. sex reassignment surgery market is fragmented. The companies contributing to the market growth are focusing on adopting several strategies to strengthen their market presence. They are offering advanced and innovative surgical solutions, including tracheal shave (chondrolaryngoplasty), male & female breast reduction, neo-vaginoplasty, and genital remodeling. Companies are investing in LGBTQ+ healthcare and are accredited on Health Care Equality Index. For instance, in September 2020, Cedars Sinai achieved a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2020 Health Care Equality Index. Some prominent players in the U.S. sex reassignment surgery market include:
The Mount Sinai Health System
Transgender Surgery Institute of Southern California
Cedars Sinai
Moein Surgical Arts
Boston Medical Center
Cleveland Clinic
CNY Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery
Plastic Surgery Group Rochester
The University of Michigan Health System
The Johns Hopkins University
Report Attribute |
Details |
Market size value in 2022 |
USD 2.1 billion |
Revenue forecast in 2030 |
USD 5.0 billion |
Growth rate |
CAGR of 11.23% from 2022 to 2030 |
Base year for estimation |
2021 |
Historical data |
2017 - 2020 |
Forecast period |
2022 - 2030 |
Quantitative units |
Revenue in USD million/billion and CAGR from 2022 to 2030 |
Report Coverage |
Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends |
Segments Covered |
Gender transition |
Country scope |
U.S. |
Key companies profiled |
Mount Sinai; Transgender Surgery Institute of Southern California; Cedars Sinai; Moein Surgical Arts; Boston Medical Center; Cleveland Clinic; CNY Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery; Plastic Surgery Group Rochester; The Johns Hopkins University; The University of Michigan Health System |
Customization scope |
Free report customization (equivalent up to 8 analysts working days) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope. |
Pricing and purchase options |
Avail customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. Explore purchase options |
This report forecasts revenue growth at the country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2017 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the U.S. sex reassignment surgery market report based on gender transition:
Gender Transition Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)
Male-To-Female
Female-To-Male
b. Some of the key players operating in the U.S. sex reassignment surgery market are The Mount Sinai Health System, Transgender Surgery Institute of Southern California, Cedars Sinai, Moein Surgical Arts, Boston medical center, Cleveland clinic, CNY Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery, Plastic Surgery Group Rochester, The University of Michigan Health System, and John Hopkins University.
b. The rising incidences of gender dysphoria and the increasing number of people opting for gender confirmation surgeries are expected to boost market growth over the forecast period.
b. The U.S. sex reassignment surgery market size was estimated at USD 1.9 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 2.1 billion in 2022.
b. The U.S. sex reassignment surgery market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11.23% from 2022 to 2030 to reach USD 5.0 billion by 2030.
b. Female-to-Male (FTM) segment dominated the U.S. sex reassignment surgery market in 2021 owing to the continuous innovations in metoidioplasty, phalloplasty, scrotoplasty, and chest reconstructing surgeries.
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