'Worth it': Lea Salonga's son Nic Chien reveals undergoing top surgery
Nic Chien, the son of Lea Salonga, opened up about finally undergoing top surgery and how it has since changed his life for the better.
In an Instagram post on Monday, Nov. 17, Nic shared a carousel of photos of his journey as he revealed getting the procedure in September.
"Been waiting to heal enough to post a nice looking picture of myself," he said, describing the healing process as "brutal, but worth it."
He explained how it has done wonders for his gender dysphoria and overall mental health. "Not having to wear a binder, [being] afraid of judgment, and being able to be shirtless has been one of the most gratifying things EVER," he shared. "I’m very grateful to be able to receive gender affirming care, and I hope sharing and talking about my experiences helps show the importance of this kind of stuff."
He also gave a shoutout to his parents. "Wouldn’t have been able to do all of this without [my parents'] support. Love you," he wrote.
His post comes during Transgender Awareness Week, which takes place every year from Nov. 13 to 19 to celebrate the trans community.
In an April interview with PEOPLE Magazine, Nic's mom Lea shared that he “figured out” he was transmasculine when he was 14 years old and began taking testosterone in January at 18.
She also bared her realizations about raising and supporting her trans child, saying she has "learned how to raise a child who is their own being."
"You have to raise your child the way your child needs to be raised," she explained. "You have to meet your kid where they are."
"As a parent, I want to set my child up for success. I want my child to feel safe and strong and ready to conquer the world on their own terms," she continued.
Nic, for his part, opened up about his transition, recalling how it "took a while" and included "a lot of crying" as well as heart-to-heart talks with his "very accepting" parents.
He admitted that still, there are times he feels alone. "But I'm not," he mused. "It does really help to have people in your corner."
