Transgender individuals have diverse bodies and appearances, just like cisgender people (those whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth). A transgender person’s body may be influenced by many factors, including genetics, hormones, and whether they choose to undergo surgeries.

If a transgender person decides to medically transition, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and surgeries can change their physical appearance.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT):

  1. Transgender women (MTF, or male-to-female): Estrogen (along with anti-androgens in many cases) can lead to development of breasts, a redistribution of body fat towards a more typically feminine pattern (including hips and buttocks), reduced muscle mass, softer skin, and decreased body hair. The voice does not change with estrogen and may require voice training or surgery for modification.
  2. Transgender men (FTM, or female-to-male): Testosterone can lead to a deeper voice, facial and body hair growth, increased muscle mass, redistribution of body fat in a more typically male pattern (including the abdomen), and cessation of menstruation.

Surgeries:

  1. Transgender women may opt for surgeries like breast augmentation, genital surgery (such as vaginoplasty, which creates a vagina, or orchiectomy, the removal of the testes), facial feminization surgery, and tracheal shaves (to reduce the size of the Adam’s apple).
  2. Transgender men may opt for surgeries like chest reconstruction or “top surgery” (to create a more typically male chest), and genital surgery (like phalloplasty or metoidioplasty, which create a penis, or hysterectomy, the removal of the uterus).

It’s essential to note that every transgender person’s journey is unique. Some might not choose or be able to access HRT or surgeries and may express their gender identity through clothing, hairstyles, and other means of gender expression. Others may not want to take steps that alter their physical appearance. They are all valid in their identities, and their bodies may look any number of ways – just like cisgender bodies.