The Gender Surgery Program B.C.
Related topics: 2SLGBTQIA+ Surgery Transgender care
The Gender Surgery Program B.C., including the Gender Surgery Clinic, opened at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) in September 2019, making the Gender Surgery Program B.C. Western Canada's only program performing lower gender-affirming surgeries for transgender and gender-diverse people.
What we offer
The Gender Surgery Program is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of health care providers and surgical specialists devoted to providing high-quality gender-affirming treatment and surgical care. Patients will receive care through the Gender Surgery Clinic throughout their entire surgical journey, including pre- and post-operative care, until discharged to their primary care provider.
The Gender Surgery Program offers both feminizing and masculinizing procedures consistent with the guidelines established by the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH).
Feminizing Procedures
- vaginoplasty
- vulvoplasty
Masculinizing Procedures
- metoidioplasty
- erectile tissue release
- phalloplasty
- penile and testicular implant surgery
- orchiectomy with scrotectomy
All procedures will be performed at surgical sites in Vancouver.
For breast construction and mastectomy questions, referrals, and waitlist visit Trans Care BC for more information.
Referral
-
Obtain a referral
Your primary care provider sends a referral, including your completed surgical readiness assessment, to the Gender Surgery Program at VGH.
Lower surgery referral form (print)
Lower surgery referral form (fillable)
Referral forms will need to be printed and submitted by fax to (604) 875-5075.
Please note that GSPBC does not provide surgical readiness assessments or help with finding a primary care provider.
More information of getting a surgical readiness assessment and/or primary care provider can be found on Trans Care BC’s website.
-
After completed referral
After the GSPBC receives a fully completed referral, patients are placed on an extensive, first come – first served waitlist depending on their surgery type.
GSPBC will send a fax to your referring provider once your referral is accepted. Please contact your referring provider for inquiries on your referral status.
GSPBC will email you a welcome package within a few weeks of accepting your referral. This welcome package will review the next steps, such as waiting for an intake appointment.
Wait times from accepted referral to intake appointment at GSPBC typically range from 12-16 months. Please note this wait time can vary.
What happens next
We understand that preparing for surgery can be stressful for you and those who care about you. View our patient guide to learn more about a patient’s journey through gender surgery.
Cost
MSP pays for surgery at GSPBC for BC and Yukon residents. Unfortunately, we do not see patients from out of country or other provinces. Please note that while the surgical procedure, and all appointments (including physical therapy and hand therapy) are covered by MSP, we do not have funding for your travel to/from Vancouver, local accommodations, or medical supplies.
We ask that patients stay in Vancouver for various lengths of time following their surgery, depending on the type of surgery. Please visit your procedures surgery specific guide for more information on the length of your anticipated stay in Vancouver, local accommodations, or medical supplies.
Our social worker will meet with you one-on-one closer to the time of surgery to help determine if you qualify for any financial support. More information on resources can be found in our patient guide to gender surgery, if you wish to begin planning prior to your social work appointment.
Wait times and waitlist
Unfortunately, we cannot provide an exact timeline of how long each patient will wait from date of referral to receiving surgery. Multiple factors influence movement through each program stage, making wait time extremely hard to predict.
The first waiting period is for an intake and first surgical consultation. This timeline varies based on the volume of referrals and number of surgeries being completed. Current wait times for an intake appointment are 12-16 months.
Certain surgery times may also require hair removal. The length of time spent in the hair removal period can vary depending on the type of surgery, and individual patient factors.
Once you are deemed ready for surgery, you will be added to the final waiting period, which is the surgical waitlist. This waiting period can vary greatly due to the unpredictability of amount of surgical time available to the GSP. Wait times may also vary by procedure type. Please see your procedure's page for further information on anticipated wait times. We aim to give you 2 - 3 months' notice before an available OR space for your surgery. We may offer an OR date on shorter notice should there be cancellations.
Hair removal
Those electing to undergo vaginoplasty or phalloplasty may undergo medically necessary hair removal, depending on their consultation with the surgeon. This is to limit or prevent post-operative hair regrowth in places where hair removal would be difficult or impossible, such as deep inside the vagina or inside the urethra. Electrolysis or laser hair removal is utilized as these are the two types of hair removal deemed to be permanent. Your hair removal provider will determine the type of hair removal you receive in partnership with your surgeon’s assessment.
After you meet with a surgeon, you will receive information on if you are required to undergo hair removal and which areas you may need hair removal. If you are deemed to need hair removal, the clinic will provide you with a template as well as a list of hair removal providers that Trans Care BC has approved. All medically necessary hair removal will be covered and funded.
We recognize that some individuals may wish to begin their hair removal before their surgical consultation. Hair removal can be self-initiated, but please note hair removal completed before surgical consultation will be paid out of pocket and not reimbursed or covered. If you do wish to self-fund hair removal before your surgical consult, please contact the GSPBC clinic, and a hair removal template will be provided.
The clinic team
The GSPBC consists of a multidisciplinary team of nurses, surgeons, and allied health providers, such as a physiotherapist and a social worker, who will work together to support you through the various stages of your surgical journey. All our clinicians are experienced in working with transgender and gender-diverse individuals.
VCH Partners in Care
Our team strives to provide you with high quality care. Quality care is best achieved when you, the patient, along with your friends and family, become “partners in care” with us, your health care providers. Please review what you can expect from us, and what we expect from you in the VCH Partners in Care document found here. Please note, deviating from this may result in reduced care and discharge from the program.
Frequently asked questions
-
What is the minimum age for the Gender Surgery Program BC?
The age for access to lower gender-affirming surgery is the age of the majority, which in British Columbia is 19 years of age.
-
Can peers/family members attend gender surgery consultations?
Yes, family, friends and peers are encouraged to attend. However, please be mindful of how many people you bring with you as the clinic rooms can only accommodate 1-2 extra support people.
-
Why was I discharged from the program and told I must start again?
We hold a three-call policy when needing to reach patients at any point during the GSPBC process. After attempting to contact both you and your referring Primary Care Provider (PCP), we will begin a 4 week waiting period before you are formally discharged from the program. In the event of discharge, a letter will be sent to you and your PCP. Should you be interested in joining the program once more, a full re-referral is needed, and you will be placed at the start of the GSPBC process.
To avoid being discharged, please ensure to respond to communication from the GSPBC in a timely manner. Please also inform the clinic should your contact information change.
-
Can I see photos of surgical results?
Yes, we can provide photos of most surgery results. Please ask your surgeon during your consultation. As these photos are sensitive and private, we do not share them publicly on our website.
-
Can I access the GSPBC clinic if I had surgery elsewhere and need revisions?
Patients who have received surgery elsewhere should return to their original surgical center for all follow-up and revision requirements. Out-of-country surgeries provided on a recommendation from a GSPBC surgeon may receive post-operative care and revisions in further consultation with GSPBC.
-
Can I access the GSPBC program if I had surgery at the GSPBC and need revisions?
Yes, revisions for those who have received surgery through the GSPBC program will be prioritized. If you require a revision or care after an extended period since your GSPBC surgery, please complete a re-referral back to our program through your primary care provider. We will flag the re-referral and have this prioritized.
How to get here
The Gender Surgery Program B.C. Gender Surgery Clinic is located on the 7th floor of the Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre
Pay parking is available at our two visitor lots located on the VGH campus:
- The VGH parkade at the corner of West 12th Avenue and Laurel Street, across from the main entrance of the Jim Pattison Pavilion. There is a wheelchair-accessible overpass from the VGH parkade at Level 4 and a crosswalk at Level 2.
- The Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre underground parking lot located off of Laurel Street between West 10th and West 12th Avenues.
Gender Surgery Clinic at Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre
Hours of operation
- Monday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed