First N.S. gender-affirming top surgery program now in place with 2 dedicated surgeons

For the first time, Nova Scotia Health has a dedicated gender-affirming top surgery program with specifically trained surgeons who have a mandate to provide the care. Two surgeons have been recruited for the program in the last two years.

First surgeon recruited in 2023, followed by another in September

Andrew Lam CBC News Posted: Nov 20, 2024 5:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 7 hours ago

A smiling man with slicked back hair, a mustache and a beard wears a suit and a tie. He stands next to a sign saying — Dr. Nadim Joukhadar is a plastic surgeon whose practice focuses on gender-affirming top surgery. He is trained in microsurgical breast reconstruction, top surgery, breast reconstruction and cosmetic surgery. (Andrew Lam/CBC)

For the first time, Nova Scotia Health has a program in place providinggender-affirming chest masculinization and feminization surgeries.

The health authority did notpreviously havea dedicated program for these kinds of procedures commonly referred to as top surgery with surgeons who have a mandate to provide the care, according to Nova Scotia Health.

Two surgeons specifically trained intop surgery have been recruited for the program, which began when the first surgeoncame on board in July 2023. Dr. Nadim Joukhadar joined the program in September.

"I'd always ... wanted to give back to the LGBTQ+ community in some way," saidJoukhadar, who is part of the 2SLBGTQ+ community himself.

Joukhadar is from Halifax and returned home after receiving specialty training and working in Toronto.He said it's gratifying to beable to provide care topeople in the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

"I've never had something that's been more rewarding in my life in any field," he said. "I've never been happier at my work."

Gap in care

Two years ago, advocates sounded the alarm when one of the only surgeons in the province performingtop surgeries announced they would no longer accept new patients.

That left a considerable gap in care, said Veronica Merryfield, founder of the Cape Breton Transgender Network.

A woman with glasses stands in front of Province House in Nova Scotia. She is wearing a jacket with a hood. — Veronica Merryfield is founder of the Cape Breton Transgender Network. (Andrew Lam/CBC)

Some patients are sent to Montreal for gender-affirming procedures. However, theyneed to pay upfront for travel and accommodation costs, with the province reimbursing them afterward, according to aDepartment of Health and Wellness web page.

And for many people,it's not possible to pay those upfront costs, said Merryfield.

"Having surgeons in Nova Scotia takes away that barrier for a lot of folks," she said.

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While she thinks the new top surgery program is a good thing overall, Merryfield said she'd like to see the provinceexpand the gender-affirming procedures that are offered.

For example, treatments like voice feminizing surgery are not on Nova Scotia's list of publicly fundedprocedures, but are covered in the Yukon.

Gender-affirming surgeries can allow trans and non-binary people to be themselves,Merryfield said, adding that this type of health care is also accessed by cisgender people.

"It saves lives and it's as simple as that," she said.

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