Identical twins BOTH undergo s.e.x change surgery [photos]

The first identical twins in the world to both undergo gender reassignment surgery have revealed they 'never identified as boys' and their first shower as women was 'magical'. 

Mayla Phoebe de Rezende and Sofia Albuquerck, 19, made the transition they long dreamed of together, in what their doctor calls a first. 

They underwent the five-hour surgery one day apart at the Transgender Center Brazil, a clinic in the southeastern Brazilian city of Blumenau on 13 and 14 February. 

'This is the only reported case in the world' of twins who were presumed to be male at birth undergoing female gender confirmation surgery together, said Dr Jose Carlos Martins, who performed the surgery.

Growing up as identical twins, Mayla and Sofia always did everything together, and their decision to undergo gender confirmation surgery is no exception.  

A week after the surgery, the euphoric young women smiled, joked and shed tears as they talked about their shared journey in a video-conference interview with AFP.

'I always loved my body, but I didn't like my genitalia,' said Mayla, a brunette who is studying medicine in Argentina.

'I would blow dandelion seeds into the air and wish for God to turn me into a girl,' she said.

When she saw herself after her surgery, she wept, she said.

Mayla, who has been pictured in her bikini since the surgery, told local media of her happiness with her new body.

'Before being sedated in hospital, I still couldn't believe my dream was being fulfilled. 

'When I woke up, I couldn't believe it. It's something that's still sinking in. I no longer feel that discomfort when lying or sitting down. It's a wonderful thing.'

She added: 'My first shower after being discharged was magical.'

Her sister, Sofia, is more reserved.

But their camaraderie is clear. They finish each other's sentences while sharing stories of how they supported each other through the bullying, sexual harassment and violence they were subjected to in childhood and adolescence.

'We live in the most transphobic country in the world,' said Sofia, a blonde who is studying civil engineering in Sao Paulo.

'At school it was very difficult,' said Mayla. 'Some classmates even threw notebooks at my head.'