If you have the tens of thousands of dollars to do the surgeries, you don't need the alimony now do you? It is computeed based on need.

I agree with Bob; this person is hardly dependent upon his/her former spouse.

Alimony is also awarded based on the archaic notion that gender does not change. It further supposes that a woman is incapable of providing for herself after being dominated in marriage under an oppressive patriarchal society. There is also an anti-feminist logic that a woman's value is tied to her youth, which she irrevocably gave up in marriage, now she is worth less and must be supported. Society does not want the burden of caring for divorced women through welfare, so it burdens former husbands with that cost.

A newly-made man would have none of those hindrances to achievement. The concept of alimony under such circumstances becomes one that enslaves the former husband and places a claim on all of his productivity without producing any socially meritorious benefits.

I am sure this case law will be used to craft better divorce/alimony settlements in the future.