Transgender Surgeries
Consultations offered at our four convenient locations in La Jolla, San Diego, Newport Beach and Beverly Hills
A transgender surgery is a direct and effective way to affirm your gender and live your life expressing what you feel inside. They can involve breast augmentation, as well as other cosmetic surgeries like rhinoplasty and liposuction that will bring you closer to the masculine or feminine look that you desire.
It is natural to want your appearance to reflect the person you are inside. If you are considering transgender surgery, San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Chaffoo offers advanced surgical skills, as well as acceptance, compassion, and support. He understands that feeling comfortable in your body is an essential step towards living life to the fullest.
At La Jolla Plastic Surgery & Dermatology, we offer an array of transgender plastic surgeries for patients in the areas of La Jolla, San Diego, and Orange County. For more information, request a complimentary consultation using our online form or call our office at (800) 373-4773.
Contents
About Transgender Surgeries
Transgender surgeries are procedures that can help your appearance align more closely with your gender identity. They involve plastic surgeries and body contouring treatments that can reduce the distress caused by gender dysphoria and have a profound impact on patients’ well-being. (1) They can accomplish this by bringing one’s body closer to the masculine or feminine ideal that a person’s gender identity aligns with.
MTF Breast Augmentation
While female hormones can produce mild to moderate breast development, most transgender women require breast augmentation to attain full, feminine breasts larger than an A cup. At La Jolla Plastic Surgery & Dermatology, we perform the procedure in much the same way as with our AFAB patients. It involves placing saline or silicone gel breast implants under existing breast tissue, typically below the chest muscles. For most patients, we can conceal the incisions around the areolas or in the crease beneath the breasts. At your consultation, Dr. Chaffoo will help you determine which implant size and incision placement will best help you attain your aesthetic goals. Breast augmentation is an excellent way to feminize your figure, enhance your aesthetics, and affirm your identity.
Other Transgender Procedures
Because attaining the look you desire depends on more than the chest, we can customize many different cosmetic procedures to provide patient-specific gender-affirming care.
- Rhinoplasty can sculpt the nose to provide a strong, straight masculine shape or a short, curved feminine shape.
- Liposuction can provide body contouring by reducing fat in areas like the waist and abdomen.
- Eyelid surgery can enhance femininity with deep, well-defined eyelids or a smaller, more masculine eye shape.
- Laser hair removal in our Medical Spa can effectively reduce or eliminate unwanted hair from the face and most other areas of the body, including the abdomen, chest, and legs.
If you are considering transgender plastic surgery, one of America’s few triple board-certified plastic surgeons Richard Chaffoo, MD, FACS, FICS can help. Request your complimentary cosmetic consultation online or call (800) 373-4773 for an appointment.
Benefits of Transgender Surgeries
There are many benefits that come with receiving gender-affirming surgery from La Jolla Plastic Surgery & Dermatology. These include:
- Bringing your gender identity and your physical appearance closer together
- Improving your appearance with Dr. Chaffoo’s meticulous care
- Increasing your confidence in your gender expression
- Boosting your self-esteem
Transgender Surgery Candidates
At La Jolla Plastic Surgery & Dermatology, we understand how important it is to have your gender identity recognized and accepted by the world around you. Receiving transgender surgery is a serious and often permanent decision, and it is important that you understand exactly what you are choosing to do beforehand. For this reason, we will need a letter of support from a therapist, psychiatrist, or social worker confirming that you have experienced prolonged gender dysphoria. This is a necessary formality of gender-affirming surgeries. (2)
To be eligible for plastic surgery of any kind, you should be in relatively good health. It is essential that you are able to heal properly if you want to benefit from your treatment. You should also have realistic expectations about what surgery can do for your appearance, and be willing to follow pre and post-operative instructions for optimal results. Living a healthy and active lifestyle is also an essential component of looking and feeling your best.
Personal Consultation
At your consultation, we can provide you with all of the information you will need about our transgender surgeries. We can answer all of your questions and ensure that you understand the procedures that we offer. You can tell us about how you want to affirm your gender, including the areas of your body that you want to change and exactly how you want them to look. We will perform a physical examination with the utmost respect and care, ask you some questions about your medical history, and run a few tests. With this information, we can let you know which of our procedures can help you achieve your goals, and give you an idea of the appearance that we can bring you. We will create a personalized treatment plan that will outline your procedure process. At the end of your consultation, we can schedule your next appointment and let you know what to expect moving forward.
To schedule your personal consultation at La Jolla Plastic Surgery & Dermatology, call (800) 373-4773 or contact us online.
Preparation
Before your gender-affirming surgery, you must prepare your body to the best of your ability. This will help make your treatment safer and reduce the risk of discomfort and complications. We will provide personalized preparation instructions that may include changes to your prescriptions and aspects of your daily life.
You should maintain a healthy diet and an active lifestyle in the weeks leading up to your surgery. If you smoke, you should quit for the duration of your preparation and recovery periods. Smoking can lead to unnecessary health problems and affect your ability to heal. You should also avoid NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) like ibuprofen and aspirin, vitamin E, and certain herbal supplements. These substances have a blood-thinning effect that can lead to excessive bleeding during surgery and bruising during recovery. You may experience limited mobility while you heal from your surgery, so make sure to prepare your home beforehand. Supply your home with healthy food and create a comfortable and safe space for rest and relaxation. You should also arrange for a ride home from our facilities afterward.
Transgender Surgery Procedures
Depending on your goals and the decisions that we make together at your consultation, your transgender surgery may involve one or more cosmetic procedures. Because of this, the specifics of your procedure process will be unique to your case. When you come in for your surgery, we will administer local or general anesthesia depending on the extent of your treatment. Regardless of which anesthesia you receive, we will ensure that you feel no discomfort throughout your procedure. Dr. Chaffoo will make the necessary incisions while attempting to keep them in discreet locations that can be hidden by clothing and the natural features of your body. When your surgery is complete, we will take you to a recovery room. We will monitor you as the anesthesia wears off, and then when you are in a stable condition, you can go home and begin your recovery.
Recovery
The different transgender surgeries that we offer require varying amounts of downtime for recovery. The general rule is that the more intensive the procedure, the longer you will need to take off work and rest at home to properly heal. We can let you know how much time to take off work based on your treatment plan. You may experience redness, bruising, swelling, and sensitivity in your treatment areas. Applying an ice pack can help, but if the symptoms are particularly bothersome we can prescribe medication to get you through this period. These initial symptoms should gradually resolve themselves as you continue to heal.
Results
Your final aesthetic results may be hidden by swelling, depending on the procedures that you receive. With rhinoplasty in particular, patients may need to wait up to a year to see their finished results. However, for most cosmetic surgeries, you will be able to see the general transformation shortly afterward. Your treatment area will be refined through Dr. Chaffoo’s expertise, and your appearance will be closer to your gender identity. The results of most cosmetic surgeries can last for years. Continuing to eat healthy and exercise regularly will help to prolong them.
How Much Does Transgender Surgery Cost in La Jolla?
The cost of your transgender surgery will be dictated by the details of your procedures and how many of them you receive. To learn more about how much transgender surgeries cost at La Jolla Plastic Surgery and Dermatology, call (800) 373-4773 or inquire through our contact page.
FAQ
Is transgender surgery covered by insurance?
Insurance coverage for transition surgery varies depending on the specific insurance provider and policy. In some cases, certain procedures may be partially or fully covered. It is essential to consult with both your plastic surgeon and insurance provider to determine coverage options.
How many gender-affirming surgeries can I receive at once?
During your consultation, your surgeon will discuss your surgical options and evaluate the areas you want to be treated. They will tailor a unique treatment plan for you that will deliver the aesthetic results you want. Your surgeon will advise you on the number of cosmetic procedures you can safely have done at once during this time.
Does Dr. Chaffoo do genital reconstruction surgery?
Dr. Chaffoo does not perform genital reconstruction surgery (bottom surgery); however, he will refer patients to a trusted colleague who specializes in these procedures.
How much does transgender surgery cost?
The cost of your treatment will depend on the treatment plan that we customize for you. During your consultation, Dr. Chaffoo will discuss surgical costs and payment or financing options. Dr. Chaffoo understands that being comfortable in your body is an essential step in living your best life.
References
- Almazan AN, Keuroghlian AS. Association Between Gender-Affirming Surgeries and Mental Health Outcomes. JAMA Surgery. 2021;156(7). doi:https://doi.org/10.1001/jamasurg.2021.0952
- El-Hadi H, Stone J, Temple-Oberle C, Harrop AR. Gender-Affirming Surgery for Transgender Individuals: Perceived Satisfaction and Barriers to Care. Plastic Surgery. 2018;26(4):263-268. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/2292550318767437