This is interesting.

[alien space marine]

If anything the media themselves are perpetuating a bad understanding of those who switch genders.

I'm going to go a little further and say that while I support people's right to do this sort of thing to themselves, I'm almost positive there are cases where it isn't a healthy course of action. There could be those doing this for reasons of mental illness akin to body dismorphic disorder, becoming addicted to plastic surgery because no matter what their physical appearence they consider themself a freak. For those, plastic surgery isn't as good an answer as psychological help. Note that I'm not going to say this applies in all or even most cases, just that it's certainly one thing to be aware of. Nothing about this particular form of cosmetic surgery precludes the possibility there may be mental instability involved, at any rate. As such, when someone announces they are making such a choice, before cheering them on through sleet and snow, it may be a good idea to root out the reasons they are doing this beforehand, just as you would for any other form of cosmetic surgery someone close to you may be considering.

They have to live two years cross dressing as the other sex before they ever start having radical cosmetic surgeries.

There is one case of a sex change recipient reverting back to living as a man a few months after having a Male to female reassignment surgery, Even later suing the surgeon for doing the procedure.