2025 AMI Salon Award of Merit Winner
Penile-inversion vaginoplasty is a type of gender-affirming surgery for transfeminine people. This sequence highlights the clitoroplasty: creation of a neoclitoris from the patient’s pre-existing anatomy.
I created this series of surgical illustrations through live observation of vaginoplasty procedures at Women’s College Hospital (Toronto, ON).
Audience
Surgical trainees
Tools
Procreate, Adobe Illustrator
Client
Prof. Michael Corrin (University of Toronto), Dr. Alexandra Millman (Women's College Hospital)
For a detailed description of the development of this piece, including references, please consult the dossier
Process Work
This piece went through 8 drafts before landing on the final work. It began with thorough research on vaginoplasty and vulvoplasty techniques, followed by three operating room observation sessions. I used the OR sketches to compile a rough draft of the entire procedure, and then worked with the surgeon (Dr. Alexi Millman) and instructor (Prof. Michael Corrin) to select and refine one subprocedure.
I chose the clitoroplasty for its intricate nature and the unique method employed by Dr. Millman. Her technique emphasizes the balance between sparing as much tissue as possible and creating a clitoris that resembles that of cisgender female genitalia. Sparing tissue is imperative to retaining sensation, as the network of nerves in the penis branches widely and is easily damaged. These dual goals of function and aesthetics create an interesting interplay between delicate dissection and firm fixation.
Sketches below represent the process of OR sketch to final product.