A trans-identifying teenager has been hospitalized in New Zealand after attempting to perform a double mastectomy on herself after watching a YouTube tutorial.
The 18-year-old performed the self-surgery due to “significant psychological stress of having breasts at an upcoming pool party,” the New Zealand Medical Journal reported.
The doctors in the study said the individual “demonstrated premeditation by watching a ‘how to’ video on YouTube, gathering the necessary equipment, marking the incision, and considering pain management and bleeding control.”
The young woman reportedly quickly suffered “concerns” about the “self-attempted left mastectomy” and “sought medical attention several hours” through the “self-attempted left mastectomy due to concerns of damaging a nerve.”
Emergency doctors performed a “completion left mastectomy and symmetrizing right mastectomy.”
“Gender dysphoria causes significant distress for transgender people. It is well documented that transgender people experience higher levels of discrimination, bullying, and violence compared to the general public,” the authors of the report stated.
“Additionally, a study reviewed patients prior to gender-affirming surgery and identified a significant proportion of patients with undiagnosed anxiety and depression. While not all transgender people want gender-affirmation surgery, individuals that do should be able to access this service and express their authentic gender.”
