Record Number of Girls Under 12 Have Breast Surgery in US
- Researchers found that US clinics have performed breast removal surgery on 180 girls under 12 since 2017.
- The data analyzed over 4 billion insurance claims from 155 million people aged 28 and under.
- The findings indicate a concerning trend in pediatric transgender health care.
Recent data reveals that hundreds of girls aged 12 and under have undergone 'top surgery'—a procedure involving the removal of breasts—across the United States since 2017. This finding contradicts statements made by prominent Democrats, including Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who previously asserted that such surgeries do not occur among children. The analysis, conducted by the conservative Manhattan Institute, is touted as the most comprehensive examination of transgender care for minors, scrutinizing over 4 billion insurance claims from 155 million individuals between 2017 and 2023. The term 'top surgery' refers to gender-affirming care aimed at masculinizing the chest. The researchers identified between 50 to 179 girls aged 12 and under who had undergone the procedure. They employed two estimation methods: a conservative approach focusing solely on children diagnosed with gender dysphoria and a more liberal one that included those with other conditions, such as endocrine disorders. The researchers cautioned that their figures might be an under-estimate, as they did not account for surgeries paid out-of-pocket. The analysis highlights the irreversible nature of breast removal, which typically occurs as girls begin puberty around ages 10 or 11. In a related study published in JAMA, it was reported that 3,678 children aged 12 to 18 underwent gender-affirming surgeries from 2016 to 2020, averaging about 735 per year. This figure encompasses various procedures, including top surgeries and facial surgeries, while noting that genital surgeries remain uncommon.