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We have collected a large number of articles and papers on to what extent trans people regret transitioning over at Transgender Report. There is only one possible conclusion to draw from all of this: The regret rates are extremely low.
Defining what "transgender regret" is, is not an easy task, as there are various ways of transitioning (legal, social, medical etc.) But if we look at what most people consider "transitioning", namely undergoing hormone replacement therapy and gender-affirming surgery as part of coming out as trans publicly, we end with regret rates around 1 percent.
A meta-study from 2021 ended up with the following conclusion:
“A total of 27 studies, pooling 7928 transgender patients who underwent any type of GAS [gender-affirmation surgeries], were included. The pooled prevalence of regret after GAS was 1% (95% CI <1%–2%). Overall, 33% underwent transmasculine procedures and 67% transfemenine [sic] procedures. The prevalence of regret among patients undergoing transmasculine and transfemenine surgeries was <1% (IC <1%–<1%) and 1% (CI <1%–2%), respectively.”
In comparison, studies indicate that approximately 20% of cisgender plastic surgery patients report some degree of dissatisfaction post-surgery. Specific procedures have higher regret rates, with breast augmentation leading at 31%, followed by rhinoplasty at 27%, liposuction at 24%, and eyelid surgery at 16%.
This does not mean that all gender-affirming surgery is perfect. What we see here is most likely that transgender patients are so relieved to be able to live as their true selves, that they are willing to live with some imperfections. They starting point is most often a jarring mismatch between body and gender, and not a cis person's desire to live up to some kind of esthetic perfection.
Photo: Gettys
