Sex conversion surgery in a man with severe gender dysphoria. A tragic outcome

T. Van Putten and F. I. Fawzy

Although hundreds of "sex transformation" operations have been performed, little is known about the long-term postoperative adjustment. Available outcome data suggest that sex reassignment surgery in male patients is followed by a better social as well as inner adjustment in the vast majority, at least for the first several years after surgery. Surprisingly, only a handful of cases with poor outcomes have been reported. This report concerns a 53-year-old biological male with a life-long gender dysphoria who, although subjectively pleased with the surgery, developed a paranoid psychosis five years after sex conversion surgery.