Gender Affirmation Scar Care After Top Surgery

Gentle, Exploratory Scar Work for Every Body

Are you healing after top surgery and seeking scar care that feels supportive, gentle, and respects your body’s natural pace and experience?

I’m Irvin Eisenberg—an Occupational Therapist and Board Certified Structural Integrator based in Vermont. My approach blends structural integration, ScarWork, and an understanding of the unique needs of trans and non-binary clients. My sessions center on gentle, exploratory touch, prioritizing listening over force.

What Makes This Work Different?

Rather than pushing or mobilizing aggressively, I use subtle, curiosity-driven techniques that foster tissue awareness and healing. By working with—not against—your body’s natural rhythms, we help your scar integrate seamlessly into your overall well-being.

Highlights:

  • No tools, no pressure, no forced protocols
  • Techniques like feather-light dusting, gentle combing, and the delete key
  • A trauma-aware, gender-affirming environment
  • Deep respect for your healing timeline, as guided by your surgeon

None of this should hurt. All of these techniques are useful and safe for you to explore on your own scar.

Why Scar Work Helps After Top Surgery

Scars are a natural result of surgery, but they don’t have to stay stiff, numb, or disconnected. My hands-on sessions and home-care guidance help you:

  • Improve sensation and tissue mobility
  • Support better posture and ease in movement
  • Reconnect with your chest and body comfort
  • Build awareness and gentle connection through simple self-care tools like dusting, combing, and tapping.

You can learn some of these techniques from my videos, but my in-person sessions offer the opportunity to explore a broader range of approaches.

What to Expect in a Session

  1. In-person & one-on-one in Vermont (the ideal setting for this kind of work)
  2. Virtual self-care coaching is available as an option, not the primary offering, but adaptable when helpful
  3. Sessions begin with a thoughtful conversation about your surgery, healing goals, and comfort levels
  4. I carefully follow any surgeon’s instructions if you’re new to post-op care
  5. My work supports exploration, not force—your feedback guides every movement

Techniques You’ll Learn & Experience

My video and in-person work includes these foundational techniques:

  • Feather‑light “dusting”
  • Gentle “combing” along the tissue contours
  • The “delete key” method—soft tapping over firm areas to invite release

During sessions, I incorporate other manual and self-care tools tailored to your body’s response and goals. It’s essential to remember that just because a technique is gentle, it doesn’t mean it’s ineffective.

Learn Gentle Scar Care at Home (Video Series)

Explore self-care at your own pace with these guided videos

  1. Intro to Gender Affirmation Scar Work
  2. Scar Work Techniques & Self‑Care Tips
    (Additional videos on posture, movement, and emotional aspects coming soon!)

Testimonials

Murphy Robinson, co-founder of Vermont Transmasc Camp
“Irvin has been very supportive of my gender transition. I’ve seen him for Occupational Therapy both before and after my transition, and he’s had a very supportive attitude and offered some interesting insights on the impact of a mastectomy on healthy posture and balance.

We did some scar work sessions after my top surgery (double incision mastectomy). He’s very good at explaining how scars heal and offering techniques you can use on your scars at home, as well as the manual work he does during the sessions. Scar healing is a practice in patience, but getting scar work early in the healing process was a great move, and a few years later, my scars look great and I’m grateful for Irvin’s skilled help and encouraging attitude!”

Syn Graham
“Working with Irvin on my top surgery scars has been gentle and affirming. He listens and adapts everything to my needs. My chest feels more connected now, and I’d recommend his approach to anyone seeking skilled, thoughtful support.”

FAQ

  1. Is this only for clients recently post-op?
    No. Scar care can be beneficial at any stage, whether your surgery was recent or occurred years ago.
  2. Does insurance cover this OT-based work?
    Usually, yes—please get in touch with your insurance provider. I’m happy to help verify.
  3. Is any part of the process painful?
    No. If something hurts, we stop or adjust immediately.
  4. Do you offer virtual sessions?
    While in-person work is preferred, we can discuss virtual self-care guidance when needed.

Ready to Learn More or Book a Session?

To explore supportive, patient-centered scar care after top surgery, book a session or reach out here.