Comparison view

Compare procedures.

A side-by-side orientation. Open any procedure for the full research, variations, and risks.

Procedure	Creates or removes	Canal	Donor site	Standing urination	Staging
Nulloplasty	Removes external genital tissue; approach varies.	No vaginal canal.	—	—	May be staged depending on the surgical plan.
Vaginoplasty	Creates vulvar anatomy and a vaginal canal.	Yes; technique and depth vary.	May use genital tissue or other tissue, depending on technique.	—	May involve more than one stage.
Vulvoplasty	Creates vulvar anatomy without a vaginal canal.	No vaginal canal.	—	—	May be staged depending on the surgical plan.
Orchiectomy	Removes the testes.	—	—	—	May be standalone or part of a broader plan.
Penectomy	Removes penile tissue.	—	—	—	May be standalone or part of a broader plan.
Phallus-Preserving Vaginoplasty	Creates vulvar anatomy while preserving the phallus.	May include a vaginal canal, depending on the plan.	—	—	May involve more than one stage.
Hysterectomy and Oophorectomy	Removes the uterus and/or ovaries.	—	—	—	May be standalone or coordinated with other procedures.
Metoidioplasty	Uses existing genital tissue to create a phallus.	—	—	May be a goal depending on urethral reconstruction.	May involve more than one stage.
Phalloplasty	Creates a phallus using tissue from a donor site.	—	Yes; site varies by technique.	May be a goal depending on urethral reconstruction.	Often involves more than one stage.
Phalloplasty vs. Metoidioplasty	Compares two procedures that create a phallus.	—	Phalloplasty uses a donor site; metoidioplasty generally does not.	May be a goal in either pathway depending on reconstruction.	Both pathways may involve staged care.
Facial Surgery	Changes selected facial features; the plan varies.	—	—	—	—
Top Surgery	Changes chest tissue and contour; approach varies.	—	—	—	May be a standalone procedure or part of a broader plan.
Voice Surgery	Changes selected aspects of voice; approach varies.	—	—	—	—