February 5, 2026

Statement from Mama Dragons on Recent Call to Delay Gender-Affirming Surgery by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons

Mama Dragons strongly condemns the recent call by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons to delay gender-affirming surgery for transgender youth until age 19. Blanket recommendations like this disregard well-established medical evidence and undermine the ability of physicians to determine what is medically appropriate for their individual patients.

Gender-affirming care is evidence-based, medically necessary, and life-saving care for those who need it. Transgender youth represent a very small percentage of the population, and surgical care for minors is already rare, highly regulated, and guided by rigorous clinical standards. When a national professional organization imposes sweeping age restrictions, it interferes with the clinical judgment of its own physicians and replaces individualized care with ideology.

We stand firmly with families of trans kids and affirm that decisions about care must remain where they belong: with the patient, their parents or caregivers, and their qualified medical care team. Trusting families and clinicians saves lives. Anything less puts trans youth at risk.

-Liz Welch

Mama Dragons

Executive Director