HHS Commends American Society of Plastic Surgeons for Disavowing Gender-Related Surgeries for Minors

HHS Praises ASPS for New Stance on Pediatric Gender Dysphoria

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) leadership today issued statements commending the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) for its recently released position statement that disavows 'sex-rejecting procedures' for minors experiencing gender dysphoria. The commendation follows ASPS's declaration that the evidence base supporting these treatments for children and adolescents is of 'low quality/low certainty.'

ASPS Recommends Delaying Surgeries Until Age 19

The ASPS position statement, issued on February 3, 2026, recommends that surgeons delay gender-related breast/chest, genital, and facial surgery until a patient is at least 19 years old. The organization stated that 'there is insufficient evidence demonstrating a favorable risk-benefit ratio for the pathway of gender-related endocrine and surgical interventions in children and adolescents.' This new guidance marks a significant shift, as ASPS becomes the first major U.S. medical association to recommend against gender transition surgeries for youths, departing from the stances of other groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Endocrine Society. The ASPS emphasized that its advice is a policy statement, not a clinical practice guideline, acknowledging the 'current state of the evidence and variability in legal and regulatory environments.'

HHS Leadership Voices Strong Support

HHS leaders lauded the ASPS for its decision, framing it as a move to protect children. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., stated, 'We commend the American Society of Plastic Surgeons for standing up to the overmedicalization lobby and defending sound science.' He added that by taking this stand, ASPS is 'helping protect future generations of American children from irreversible harm.'

Deputy Health and Human Services Secretary Jim O'Neill echoed this sentiment, calling it 'another victory for biological truth in the Trump administration' and asserting that ASPS 'has set the scientific and medical standard for all provider groups to follow.' Additionally, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, applauded ASPS 'for placing itself on the right side of history by opposing these dangerous, unscientific experiments.'

Context and Underlying Evidence

The ASPS position statement relies in part on an HHS report titled 'Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria: Review of Evidence and Best Practices,' which was released on May 1, 2025. This report, issued following an Executive Order, 'Protecting Children From Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,' concluded that the 'natural course of pediatric gender dysphoria remains poorly understood.' The HHS report highlighted the ethical implications of irreversible interventions when the likelihood of spontaneous resolution is unknown, advocating for a precautionary approach.

The broader context includes ongoing debates and legislative actions across the United States regarding gender-affirming care for minors. HHS has also taken steps to clarify its stance on gender dysphoria, including a proposed revision to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which would exclude gender dysphoria not resulting from physical impairments from the definition of a disability. Furthermore, Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Brian Christine, M.D., has issued a public health message indicating that current evidence does not support claims that puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries are safe and effective treatments for pediatric gender dysphoria.

Significance of the ASPS Decision

The ASPS's new position is seen by some as a significant development in the medical community's approach to gender dysphoria in minors. While fewer than 1,000 minors in the U.S. receive gender surgery annually, primarily mastectomies, the debate over the appropriateness and timing of such interventions for young people remains intense. The ASPS's move to recommend delaying these procedures until adulthood underscores a growing emphasis on scientific rigor and long-term welfare in pediatric and adolescent care.