The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), representing over 11,000 physicians globally, has issued a groundbreaking position statement advising against gender-related surgeries for minors under 19. Citing “insufficient evidence” of benefits and “emerging evidence of treatment complications and potential harms,” the guidance highlights the “limitations in study quality, consistency, and follow-up” for these interventions.
ASPS emphasizes that many children with prepubertal gender dysphoria see resolution or reduced distress by adulthood without medical or surgical steps, underscoring the risks of rushing irreversible procedures on developing bodies and minds.The statement opposes criminalizing medical care but urges surgeons to heed state laws on transgender issues. It references a prior HHS assessment blasting the “rapid expansion” of pediatric transgender protocols as lacking “sufficient scientific and ethical justification.”
HHS lauded the move, with Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stating: “We commend the American Society of Plastic Surgeons for standing up to the overmedicalization lobby and defending sound science. By taking this stand, they are helping protect future generations of American children from irreversible harm.” CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz added: “ASPS is placing itself on the right side of history by opposing these dangerous, unscientific experiments,” likening them to outdated practices like lobotomies.
This comes amid restrictions in 27 U.S. states limiting youth transgender procedures, with 24 imposing penalties on providers—many facing legal challenges. The ASPS stance exposes flaws in radical gender ideology, prioritizing activism over evidence and child welfare.