Researchers in Australia are conducting a prospective study to measure how chest surgery affects mental health, anxiety, depression, and quality of life in transgender and nonbinary people. According to Gram Research analysis, existing evidence suggests chest surgery improves psychological well-being for trans individuals who desire it, but this new study aims to provide stronger evidence by following 26+ participants before surgery, 6-8 weeks after, and one year later using validated measurement tools. Final results won’t be available until late 2027, but the study will help doctors improve care and support for trans people considering this surgery.
Researchers in Australia are studying how chest surgery affects the mental health and quality of life of transgender and nonbinary people. This is an important study because most previous research looked backward at people’s experiences rather than following them over time, and many studies didn’t include nonbinary individuals. The new study will track about 26 people before surgery, 6-8 weeks after, and one year later, measuring their anxiety, depression, gender dysphoria (feeling uncomfortable with their body), and overall life satisfaction. Understanding these outcomes can help doctors provide better care and support for trans people considering this surgery.
Key Statistics
A prospective cohort study of 26 trans and nonbinary individuals in Perth, Australia is tracking mental health outcomes at three time points: before chest surgery, 6-8 weeks after, and one year after, using validated measurement tools to assess anxiety, depression, gender dysphoria, and quality of life.
The study, which began data collection in May 2025 and will continue through December 2027, addresses major limitations in previous research by using a forward-looking design, including nonbinary individuals, and employing consistent validated outcome measures rather than relying on people’s memories years later.
Researchers will measure 12 different health and life quality areas including mental health diagnoses, self-harm and suicide risk, gender euphoria and dysphoria, exercise and diet, disordered eating, substance use, social discrimination, and overall quality of life to provide comprehensive understanding of surgery outcomes.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How does chest surgery affect the mental health, anxiety, depression, and overall quality of life of transgender and nonbinary people?
- Who participated: Trans and nonbinary individuals aged 16 and older who are having chest surgery at a surgeon’s office in Perth, Western Australia. As of February 2026, 26 people have agreed to participate in the study.
- Key finding: This is a study protocol (a plan for research) rather than completed research, so final results aren’t available yet. Data collection started in May 2025 and will continue through December 2027. The study will measure mental health changes at three points: before surgery, 6-8 weeks after, and one year after.
- What it means for you: If you’re trans or nonbinary and considering chest surgery, this research will eventually provide solid evidence about how it affects mental health and quality of life. The findings may help doctors improve care and support before and after surgery. However, results won’t be available until late 2027 or 2028.
The Research Details
This is a prospective cohort study, which means researchers will follow the same group of people forward in time and collect information at specific points. Unlike older studies that asked people to remember their experiences years later, this study collects information before surgery happens, then again shortly after and one year later. This approach is more reliable because people’s memories are fresher and researchers can see exactly how things change over time.
Participants will complete detailed questionnaires at three time points: within 8 weeks before surgery, 6-8 weeks after surgery, and 1 year after surgery. The questionnaires ask about many aspects of life including anxiety levels, depression symptoms, thoughts of self-harm or suicide, how comfortable they feel with their gender, exercise and eating habits, substance use, experiences of discrimination, and overall satisfaction with life and surgery results.
The study uses validated measurement tools: these are questionnaires that scientists have tested many times and proven to be accurate. Examples include standard anxiety and depression screening tools used worldwide. Researchers will also collect qualitative information (detailed personal stories and experiences) to understand the numbers better and discover unexpected findings.
Previous research on chest surgery for trans people had important gaps. Most studies looked backward, asking people years later how they felt, which can be unreliable. Many studies excluded nonbinary people entirely. This new study addresses these problems by following people forward in time and including everyone. This approach gives us much more trustworthy information about real outcomes.
This study has several strengths: it uses validated measurement tools that have been tested and proven accurate, it includes nonbinary individuals (not just binary trans people), it collects data at multiple time points rather than relying on memory, and it combines both numbers and personal stories. The main limitation is the relatively small sample size (26 people as of February 2026), which means results may not apply to everyone. The study is also limited to one surgeon’s office in Australia, so results may differ in other locations or countries with different healthcare systems.
What the Results Show
This is a research protocol paper, meaning it describes the plan for the study rather than actual results. The study began data collection in May 2025 and is expected to be completed by December 2027. As of the publication date (August 2026), 26 people have consented to participate and data collection is ongoing.
When the study is complete, researchers will examine how mental health changes from before surgery to 6-8 weeks after and then to one year after. They will look at specific measures including anxiety levels, depression symptoms, thoughts of self-harm or suicide, gender dysphoria (discomfort with one’s body), gender euphoria (joy and comfort with one’s gender), quality of life, exercise and eating patterns, substance use, and experiences of social acceptance or discrimination.
The analysis will use statistical methods to compare how people’s scores change across the three time points. Researchers will also analyze personal stories and experiences to understand what the numbers mean in people’s actual lives and to discover any surprising findings that the questionnaires might not capture.
Beyond mental health and gender dysphoria, the study will examine several other important outcomes. These include changes in risky behaviors (substance use, disordered eating), physical activity and diet, experiences of discrimination and social acceptance, satisfaction with surgical results, and overall quality of life across different life areas. The study will also compare how satisfied patients are with their surgery compared to how satisfied their surgeon is, which can reveal different perspectives on outcomes.
According to Gram Research analysis, existing research suggests that chest surgery generally improves mental health and quality of life for trans people who want it. However, most previous studies had limitations: they were retrospective (looking backward), didn’t use consistent measurement tools, and often excluded nonbinary individuals. This new study directly addresses these gaps by using a prospective design (following people forward), validated measurement tools, and including all trans and nonbinary people. When results are available, they should provide much stronger evidence about outcomes.
The study has several important limitations to understand. First, the sample size is relatively small (26 people as of February 2026), which means findings may not apply to all trans people. Second, all participants are from a single surgeon’s office in Perth, Australia, so results may differ in other locations or countries with different healthcare systems and support services. Third, the study only follows people for one year after surgery, so we won’t know about longer-term outcomes. Fourth, people who choose to have surgery may be different from those who don’t, so we can’t say whether surgery causes improvements or whether people who improve are more likely to choose surgery. Finally, the study relies on people’s self-reports, which can be influenced by memory, mood, or desire to please researchers.
The Bottom Line
This study is still collecting data, so specific recommendations based on these findings aren’t available yet. However, existing research suggests that chest surgery can improve mental health and quality of life for trans and nonbinary people who want it and have access to good medical care and support. If you’re considering chest surgery, discuss your specific situation with a qualified healthcare provider who can evaluate your individual circumstances, mental health, and readiness. Make sure you have mental health support available before and after surgery.
This research is most relevant to trans and nonbinary individuals considering chest surgery, their families and support people, healthcare providers who care for trans patients, mental health professionals, and policymakers making decisions about gender-affirming care. The findings will be particularly important in Australia but may apply to other countries with similar healthcare systems. People who have already had chest surgery may also find the results helpful for understanding their own experiences.
This study won’t have final results until late 2027 or 2028, since data collection continues through December 2027 and analysis will take additional time. If you’re considering chest surgery now, you won’t be able to wait for these specific results. However, you can discuss existing research with your healthcare provider and make decisions based on current evidence combined with your personal circumstances and values.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does chest surgery improve mental health for trans people?
Existing research suggests chest surgery generally improves mental health and quality of life for trans people who want it. However, a new Australian study of 26 participants (data collection through December 2027) will provide stronger evidence by following people before surgery, 6-8 weeks after, and one year later using validated measurement tools.
What mental health outcomes does this study measure?
The study measures anxiety, depression, thoughts of self-harm or suicide, gender dysphoria (discomfort with body), gender euphoria (comfort with gender), quality of life, substance use, disordered eating, exercise patterns, and experiences of discrimination. Researchers use validated questionnaires plus personal interviews to capture both numbers and lived experiences.
When will results from this chest surgery study be available?
Data collection continues through December 2027, with final results expected in late 2027 or 2028. As of August 2026, 26 people have enrolled and data collection is ongoing. The study follows participants for one year after surgery, so complete data won’t be available until at least 2028.
Who should consider this research if they’re thinking about chest surgery?
Trans and nonbinary individuals considering chest surgery, their families, healthcare providers, mental health professionals, and policymakers should follow this research. When results are available, they’ll provide evidence-based information to guide medical decisions and improve care quality in Australia and potentially other countries.
Why is this study better than previous research on chest surgery outcomes?
Previous studies were mostly retrospective (asking people to remember years later), didn’t use consistent measurement tools, and often excluded nonbinary people. This study follows people forward in time, uses validated questionnaires, includes all trans and nonbinary individuals, and collects data before surgery, shortly after, and one year later for more reliable results.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track mental health symptoms weekly using a simple 1-10 scale for anxiety, depression, and gender dysphoria. Record these in a journal or app starting at least 4 weeks before any planned surgery to establish a baseline, then continue tracking at the same time each week for at least one year after surgery.
- If you’re considering or preparing for chest surgery, use the app to set reminders for mental health check-ins, track therapy or counseling appointments, monitor sleep quality and exercise, and document how you’re feeling about your body and gender identity. This creates a personal record similar to what research studies collect.
- Create a long-term tracking dashboard that shows trends in mental health, quality of life, and gender dysphoria over months and years. Compare your scores before surgery to after surgery to see your personal patterns. Share this data with your healthcare provider to inform discussions about your care and recovery.
This article describes a research study protocol (a plan for research) rather than completed findings. Final results are not yet available. This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. If you’re considering chest surgery or experiencing mental health concerns, please consult with qualified healthcare providers who can evaluate your individual circumstances. Mental health support before and after any surgery is important. This study is specific to one surgeon’s office in Perth, Australia, so results may not apply to all locations or healthcare systems.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.
