Transsexuality has existed since the ancient time. As medical advancement develops, options grow for those who wish to physically change their gender.  With the rapid advances in knowledge of sex hormones and plastic surgery, sex change operation finally became achievable. 

During the 1950’s, the use of newfound sex hormones helped a large number of transsexuals obtain the physical features of the desired gender - bigger breast, softer skin and a more feminine of masculine figure. And during the same period of time, in 1954, American transsexual Christine Jorgensen was among the first to undergo a sex change surgery. Due to the success, sex reassignment surgery, also known by its abbreviated form SRS, became increasingly popular.  

The most common purposes of such a surgery include: - To assign one sex to babies with gender identity disorder, or- To alter the sex for men and women who are physically a different sex than they are mentally. In this case, SRS is usually performed at the age of 18-21 when the patient is of a legal age to decide on medical treatment without having to ask the parents. 

Most cases are known to be successful, especially conversion from male to female. Babies with an ambiguous gender are usually assigned to the female gender unless the male organ is more obvious.  

Male to female surgery involves removal of the penis, reshaping genital tissue, creating labia majora,sensate minor and arousement with sensate clitoris with average 5-7 inches constructing a vagina. Conversion from female to male is more difficult due to the complication of creating a functioning penis from the female genitals. Besides the genital organs, the breasts need to be surgically altered (removal for a more male appearance, and enlargement for a female appearance). This stage is more easily accomplished. 

There has been a report of 68%-86% overall success rates for sex reassignment surgery.

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