Body feminization

    Body feminization describes changes a person may seek for a more feminine body contour. Goals may involve the breasts, waist, hips, buttocks or body hair. Desired changes vary, and hormones or surgery are not required.

    Last reviewed: November 20265 sources

    What you may notice

    • Interest in breast or hip fullness
    • A wish to change waist or buttock contour
    • Goals involving body hair
    • Distress about particular body features

    Why it can happen

    Body contour reflects bone structure, fat, muscle and inherited variation. Feminizing hormone therapy may support breast development and change fat distribution and muscle mass over time. The degree of change varies, and mature skeletal proportions change little.

    What may help

    Options may include clothing, hair removal, supervised hormone therapy or selected surgery. Breast augmentation and body contouring require separate assessment of benefits, scars and complications. If hormones are chosen, ongoing development may affect surgical timing. Fat transfer, particularly to the buttocks, has important procedure-specific risks.

    When to consult

    Consult an experienced gender-affirming clinician for personal planning. Hormone care requires medical monitoring and discussion of fertility and potentially lasting effects. Surgical assessment should include implant or fat-grafting risks, recovery and future body changes.

    Related options

    7 options

    Surgical procedures

    Evidence and sources

    1. Coleman E, Radix AE, Bouman WP, et al. Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8. Int J Transgend Health. 2022;23(Suppl 1):S1-S259. doi: 10.1080/26895269.2022.2100644.
    2. National Health Service. Gender dysphoria and incongruence [Internet]. London: National Health Service; 2026 [cited 2026 Nov 7]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gender-dysphoria-and-incongruence/
    3. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Gender surgeries [Internet]. Arlington Heights (IL): American Society of Plastic Surgeons; [cited 2026 Nov 7]. Available from: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/reconstructive-procedures/gender-surgeries
    4. UCSF Gender Affirming Health Program. Overview of feminizing hormone therapy [Internet]. San Francisco (CA): University of California, San Francisco; [cited 2026 Nov 7]. Available from: https://transcare.ucsf.edu/guidelines/feminizing-hormone-therapy
    5. UCSF Gender Affirming Health Program. Information on estrogen hormone therapy [Internet]. San Francisco (CA): University of California, San Francisco; [cited 2026 Nov 7]. Available from: https://transcare.ucsf.edu/article/information-estrogen-hormone-therapy