General Discussion

because they are medically necessary, usually for the life of the mother.

From your link:

"A new study by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found little to no utilization of gender-affirming surgeries by transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) minors in the U.S."

"Previous research has consistently demonstrated that gender-affirming care for TGD people can be lifesaving in mitigating negative mental health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and suicidality."

The very rare person who does have access to these surgeries almost always are people in their late teens with parental consent where the surgery is necessary because the person is self-harming or is suicidal. And this is always done in the context of years of therapy and counseling where alternatives have been considered and found not effective.

In the rare cases where this does it occur it is with kids who have such severe gender dysphoria that are making serious and credible threats about trying to cut off their own penises or breasts first, or about ending their lives. The earlier intervention with surgery is intended to address this.

No kid wanders in off the street and accesses this kind of surgery on demand with no parental consent and no counseling or therapy first. If for no other reason than that the surgery costs thousands of dollars and for most kids and parents $10,000 for top surgery is unaffordable.