surgery.about.com – By Jennifer Heisler, RN
“Top surgery” is the term most often used to describe a bilateral mastectomy performed as part of a female to male sex reassignment surgery. The mastectomy is a procedure where one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) breasts are removed. One of the most common surgeries in the United States, the surgery is typically performed as a cancer treatment or to prevent cancer in high risk women. For transgender individuals, the procedure is a chest masculinization surgery, which minimizes feminine traits.