Changes

It has been embraced primarily by advocates of the 1960s [[sexual revolution]] such as [[homosexual rights]] activists, but rejected by the [[Roman Catholic Church]].<ref>"The key point is that the (transsexual) surgical operation is so superficial and external that it does not change the personality. If the person was male, he remains male. If she was female, she remains female." [http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/CatholicTSDecision.html] </ref>

It has been embraced primarily by advocates of the 1960s [[sexual revolution]] such as [[homosexual rights]] activists, but rejected by the [[Roman Catholic Church]].<ref>"The key point is that the (transsexual) surgical operation is so superficial and external that it does not change the personality. If the person was male, he remains male. If she was female, she remains female." [http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/CatholicTSDecision.html] </ref>

[[Transgender]]ed patients seek to undergo surgical [[sex change operation]]s (also known as [[gender reassignment surgery]]) to change their external appearance to to that of the gender with which they [[identify]].  Patients often undergo [[psychotherapy]], [[hormone treatment]], and facial surgery as well.  In the United States, a patient must undergo counseling before being approved for the surgery.{{fact}} Patients sometimes choose to have the surgery done abroad in places like [[Thailand]] for three reasons: 1. It is often less expensive for the patient, 2. The patient may be able to bypass some legal restrictions, 3. The surgeons in Thailand have a reputation of being particularly skilled in this area. <ref>http://www.bangkokcompanies.com/Surgery/thailandsurgery_sex_change_surgery.htm</ref>

[[Transgender]]ed patients seek to undergo surgical [[sex change operation]]s (also known as [[gender reassignment surgery]]) to change their external appearance to to that of the gender with which they [[identify]].  Patients often undergo [[psychotherapy]], [[hormone treatment]], and facial surgery as well.  In the United States, a patient must undergo counseling before being approved for the surgery. Patients in the US are also required to have two letters of recommendation from certified psychiatrists, and must have lived a year acting as the gender that they identify with. <ref>http://www.wpath.org/publications_standards.cfm</ref> Patients sometimes choose to have the surgery done abroad in places like [[Thailand]] for three reasons: 1. It is often less expensive for the patient, 2. The patient may be able to bypass some legal restrictions, 3. The surgeons in Thailand have a reputation of being particularly skilled in this area. <ref>http://www.bangkokcompanies.com/Surgery/thailandsurgery_sex_change_surgery.htm</ref>

It should be noted that hormone therapy and removing and adding body parts does not change the genetic makeup of an individual.  On the genetic level, individuals who started as men are still men no matter what appearance they choose and women who started as women are still women after surgery as well.

It should be noted that hormone therapy and removing and adding body parts does not change the genetic makeup of an individual.  On the genetic level, individuals who started as men are still men no matter what appearance they choose and women who started as women are still women after surgery as well.