New possibilities for trans-people in Iceland

Iceland has gained its first plastic surgeon specialized in gender reassignment surgery. Hannes Sigurjónson has taken over from Gunnar Kratz, a Swedish professor in plastic surgery, who has been performing these operations here since 2010. The new doctor says he’s very excited about the task and that he wants to offer trans-people in Iceland a broader spectrum of operative alternatives.

”We’ll be offering trans-men what’s called phalloplasty or penis construction for the very first time in Iceland. And also a new option for trans-women, who’ve had complications after their first surgery,“ says Hannes, when we inquire if there will be any novelties in gender reassignment surgery in Iceland now that he has taken over.

”Apart from that, I will be performing conventional “male-to-female” surgeries along with Halla Fróðadóttir, plastic surgeon at Landspítali hospital, in Iceland this fall. As well as doing smaller surgeries to help trans-women, who have had “male-to-female” surgery before, but for some reason have to come back for a touch up or corrective surgery.“

For the past five years Hannes has been training at Karolinska University hospital in Stockholm, Sweden (where he lives with his family) and is now a specialist in reconstructive plastic surgery. On top of that Hannes is finishing a Ph.D. in gender reassignment surgery and general health of trans-people, as well as being in charge of the gender reconstructive team, along with a colleague, at Karolinska University hospital. He will still be based in Sweden but intends to come over as often as he can, “to provide trans-people in Iceland the service that is rightfully theirs”, as he says in his own words.

Hannes Sigurjónsson. Photo/(c) Dagens Nyheter
Doctor Hannes Sigurjónsson is a specialist in reconstructive plastic surgery. He is finishing a Ph.D. in gender reassignment surgery and general health of trans health. Photo/(c) Dagens Nyheter

Asked why he decided to specialize in this part of reconstructive plastic surgery, he says it’s because of all the development taking place every day. Many studies are currently being done on the surgery-techniques, which means that patients have more options to choose from. And that’s what makes the field so interesting.

”For example, we have just started performing quite an interesting surgery called “facial feminization” at Karolinska in Stockholm, with the aim of helping trans-women with dominant male facial features look more feminine. That along with the reasons previously mentioned is what makes this field of surgery extremely exciting for me. I just realized that if I specialized in gender reassignment surgery, then there would be so many possibilities for me as a surgeon.“

Furthermore, Hannes says that his patients are generally “just so much fun”. ”Most often they’re young, chipper and healthy. And they have high demands, which I find very positive since it makes you more ambitious to succeed. They’re also very well-informed; they talk to each other and know exactly what their surgery is about.

Also, they’re very thankful and they feel so much better after surgery and are therefore, as extensive reasearch also shows, much less likely to feel depressed and suicidal. So basically you can see that you are changing a person’s life to the better. Of course it’s very rewarding to witness that. And that’s what keeps you going in such a demanding job.“

”I think that breast-augmentation should be […] part of the package […] it should be paid by health insurance.“

One thing of the things that make the work so demanding are the surgery-techniques, which Hannes says are very complicated. ”The training is a difficult learning process you have to go through. You have to do many, many surgeries in order to become good. To gain the necessary skills takes a long time.“

But he points out that the resources in Sweden, especially at a large university hospital like the Karolinska, offer you the opportunity to do complicated and large procedures and to develop the technique till it becomes better.
”One example is that in the last 5-10 years we have been able to reduce surgery-time for male-to-female gender reassignment surgery from 4-5 hours to 1 1/2 -2 hours. This is because the surgery team, that is the surgeon, assistants, nurses, anesthetioligists etc., have had so much training that they’ve become like a well-oiled machine. And that results not only in reduced surgery-time but also in fewer complications for our patients.“

So is there a big difference between these kind of operations and general surgery?

(c) Karolinska University Hospital
Hannes and his colleague are in charge of the gender reconstructive team at the Karolinska in Sweden. Photo/(c) Karolinska University Hospital

”Oh yeah, a huge difference. You see, while general surgery mainly revolves around the intra abdominal area (i. kviðarhol) or breast cancer surgery (i. brjósta-krabbameinsskurðlækningar), the main purpose of plastic surgery is to improve functional abilities and the bodies’ appearance after an accident, cancer surgery, congenital defects and conditions like trans-sexualism. Which means that as a plastic surgeon you’re working all over the body, from head to toe so to speak, with patients of all ages.“

On that note, is there anything more you can tell us about the new procedures you’ll be offering? 

”Well, regarding the phalloplasty procedures in general, there’s not enough tissue in the genital area to create a real size penis for trans-men. But now we’re able to create the penis from tissue that has been removed from the thigh or forearm. In short, that’s the procedure that we’ll now be offering trans-men in Iceland.

Now with trans-women, sometimes they have complications after their first surgery, for example if there wasn’t enough skin to create a vagina to begin with, there have been infections, bleeding etc. In recent years, we have been developing new procedures at the Karolinska University hospital, where we can now create a vagina from the small intestines. Procedures that have proven to be very successful. And now, those procedures will hopefully be available to the trans-women here.“

”[…] you can see that you are changing a person’s life to the better. […] And that’s what keeps you going in such a demanding job.“

You also mentioned that you will be offering smaller surgeries to help trans-women who – for some reason – have come for corrective surgery or touch up. What could the reasons for that be?
”Well, for example if the urethral opening is too small, or there is too much skin covering the vaginal-orifice (the opening).“

Are there any surgery-techniques you would like to implement here in Iceland?
”Yes phalloplasty should be available here. A surgery that trans-men have had to undergo in central Europe.

Also, I think that breast-augmentation should be offered to trans-women as part of the package. You see, research indicates that trans-women who don’t develop enough breast-growth through hormones, feel bad about it, have a harder time adjusting to their new gender roles and a tougher time being accepted as women by society. In those kind of situations I believe breast-augmentation could really help resolve the issues. Therefor, it should be paid by health insurance, the same way health insurance pays for “mastectomy” [removal of breasts] for trans-men.

These are the kind of surgeries I’d like to implement here. The kind of surgeries that are already considered standard in the other Nordic countries. I would like to see them become available for trans-people in Iceland.“

Main photo: Hannes Sigurjónsson, the first Icelandic plastic surgeon specialized in trans-surgery. Photo/(c) Karolinska University Hospital

Á. Óskarsson
Á. Óskarsson

Á. Óskarsson offers a variety of products and services to sports centers, swimming pools, schools, kindergartens, and the general public. The company specializes in sport-related products, activity-focused games, and a wide range of solutions for sports facilities.

Á. Óskarsson has been involved in numerous big projects related to building sports facilities and has made it their benchmark to offer good quality products and equipment since the company was founded.

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Á. Óskarsson selur fjölbreytt vöruúrval fyrir íþróttahús, sundlaugar, skóla og leikskóla og einnig ýmsar vörur til einkaafnota. Fyrirtækið selur vörur til íþróttaiðkunnar og leikja ásamt því að bjóða upp á ýmsar lausnir fyrir íþróttamannvirki.

Á. Óskarsson hefur komið að fjölda stórra verkefna við byggingu íþróttamannvirkja og hefur frá stofnun kappkostað að bjóða vandaðar og endingargóðar vörur.

Tenglar á samfélagsmiðla eru í efra horninu vinstra megin.

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Blush

    Blush was founded in 2011 when it started selling high quality sex products. The goal from the beginning was to change the market and take the discussion about sex products to a higher level. Today Blush provides professional services in a pleasant environment that fulfills different needs, both for individuals and couples. Blush respects diversity and wants to set a good example in all of its messaging to target audiences. Sexual health and equality in sex is important and Blush wants to focus on those issues through education and open discussion. Blush works in a socially responsible manner for society, their customers and the environment.

    Check out Blush’s website: https://blush.is/

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      In only a few short years, we’ve grown from our 50 sq. m. petrol station space and become an award-winning chocolate maker. Now, with our headquarters in 101 Reykjavík, our chocolate is sent out around Iceland and all over the world.

      At the end of the day, our goal is to make chocolate.

       

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        Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software and services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence.

        With over 4,300 employees in 39 offices around the world, at Nasdaq we all contribute to the success of the company and its culture, and each one of us has the ability to make a difference. When it comes to our core mission and values, we embrace the role of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) as a fundamental driver of our corporate growth, workplace culture and market development. We strive to create a culture that embraces the power of different perspectives—a culture where people’s unique backgrounds and different experiences helps us fuel innovation and support our clients around the world.

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        Blue Lagoon
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        Named by National Geographic as one of the 25 Wonders of the World, the Blue Lagoon is a shimmering expanse of warmth, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Its unique geothermal seawater
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        Landsbankinn
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        Landsbankinn is a leading Icelandic financial institution. It offers a full range of financial services and is the market leader in the Icelandic financial service sector with the largest branch network.

        The present bank was established on 7 October 2008 but the history of its predecessor dates back to 1886. The bank is owned by the National Treasury of Iceland, which holds 98.2% of its share capital, and other shareholders who own 1.8%.

        Landsbankinn’s strategy is to provide comprehensive financial services that meet customer’s needs. It emphasizes providing exemplary service to customers, developing e-banking for their convenience, increasing the efficiency of support functions, modernizing its technology and ensuring effective utilization of its balance sheet.

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        Landsbankinn wishes to lead the development of a sustainable society in Iceland by integrating economic, social and environmental concerns in its operations. The Bank aims to ensure that both its owners and society at large benefit from its activities.

        It intends to achieve this aim by building solid infrastructure and a strong team of 1.100 employees, by listening to its customers and by respecting and encouraging its employees to actively participate in their community. Landsbankinn was a founding member of Festa, a Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, and is a member of the UN Global Compact.

        Landsbankinn has been a proud sponsor of the Reykjavik Pride since it was first celebrated in Iceland.

        Dohop
        - get inspired
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        Dohop allows people to find the cheapest flights available with just one click. Founded in Reykjavik in 2004, it is the only Icelandic company of its kind and quickly became the go-to tool for finding cheap flights among the locals. Dohop finds the best deals among hundreds of different airlines and online travel agencies, to make sure that the user is getting the cheapest price. Dohop also offers hotel and car rental search engines, so users can make all of their travel bookings from a single website.

        Dohop‘s specialty is finding so-called “self-connect” flight options, which can save travelers money by booking a ticket through two or more different airlines. The ability to look for these self-connect option is what sets Dohop apart from its competition, as it can save people hundreds of dollars on certain routes.

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        VSÓ Ráðgjöf

           

          VSÓ Ráðgjöf er alhliða ráðgjafar- og verkfræðifyrirtæki sem leggur áherslu á trausta og faglega þjónustu sem tryggir viðskiptavinum hagkvæmustu lausnir hverju sinni, skilar raunverulegum árangri og stuðlar að samkeppnisforskoti.  Á skrifstofum VSÓ í Reykjavík og í Noregi starfar yfir 80 manna samhentur hópur verkfræðinga og annarra tæknimenntaðra starfsmanna.

          Macland
          - for all your Apple needs
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          From starting out as a proper startup with only a good idea and the need to change things, to becoming an established company with 6 employees. Starting from scratch and expanding organically has allowed us to love our expansion and take our customers on the ride with us.

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          Ísey skyr
          - once tasted never forgotten

          Our Story
          Once upon a time, 1,100 years ago in fact, Nordic settlers began arriving in Iceland. They brought with them the skills and knowledge for producing skyr. As time passed, the know-how and recipe for this nutritious food slowly faded out elsewhere in the Nordic region. Luckily, the Icelandic skyr-making tradition continued.

          For centuries, Icelandic skyr formed a cornerstone of the national diet, helping to keep people strong in living conditions that were often harsh. On family farms countrywide, it was the women who nurtured this dairy and passing on both the recipe and the original Icelandic skyr cultures from mother to daughter.

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          You can read more about Ísey skyr on our website.

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