Rachael Wong, CEO of Women’s Forum Australia, voiced concerns that the story was being used to advocate for increased access to gender-reassignment surgery in New Zealand.
A New Zealand teenage girl suffering from gender dysphoria attempted a self-mastectomy after watching a tutorial video on YouTube.
According to the report, an 18-year-old girl with gender dysphoria attempted to perform a self-mastectomy at home after following a “how to” video on YouTube, gathering the necessary equipment, and marking incision points.
She also considered pain relief medication and methods to stop bleeding.
At the time, the teenager was already undergoing testosterone treatment and was on a waiting list for gender transition surgery.
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Seeking medical help several hours later, health professionals performed a complete breast removal surgery.
The report highlighted discussions about the risks of the surgery, including irreversible damage, poor cosmetic results, asymmetry, and loss of both nipples.
However, it described the incident as “an act of desperation” due to the long wait times and the psychological stress the teenager faced.
It mentioned that the surgery was successful, and the girl was discharged after one day.
“At the follow-up appointment, the patient had healed well and reported positive changes in self-esteem and confidence, academic performance, and future plans,” the article stated.
Self-Attempted Mastectomy Or Self Mutilation?
The report referred to the incident as a “self-attempted gender-affirming mastectomy” to emphasize the need for improved access to gender surgery services by the government.
“In New Zealand, limited resources have led to challenges in accessing gender-affirming surgery. Currently, there is a shortage of surgeons performing these operations,” it mentioned.
Local media in New Zealand also highlighted similar concerns when covering the story.
Contrary to this, Rachael Wong, CEO of Women’s Forum Australia, criticized this narrative, suggesting that the focus should be on the teenager’s self-harm as a result of being misled about her gender identity.
“It should prompt immediate action against a harmful ideology that disproportionately impacts teenage girls,” he added.
The authors of the article were health professionals from the Wellington Regional Hospital, including general surgeon Scott Diamond, general surgery trainee Sue Hui Ong, and non-trainee surgical registrar Mairarangi Haimona.
Risks Of Mental Illnesses
Historically, individuals who self-amputated their breasts typically had psychiatric disorders and experienced acute triggers that led to self-mutilation, the article explained.
However, the 18-year-old girl was among a few cases of people who self-mutilated without a psychiatric disorder.
In 2022, there were 11,621 individuals on puberty blockers (3,143 females, 8,406 males, and 72 of “unknown” gender) compared to 6,181 in 2012 (1,013 females, 5,158 males, and 10 of “unknown” gender).
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- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- Kids Help Line: 1800 551 800
- Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
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