Absolutely! It is very common for our patients to undergo liposuction during their top surgery. Though they can be combined, the recovery processes for a fat transfer, such as a BBL, and a breast augmentation when combined can be particularly complicated. If you would like to discuss your eligibility for surgery and create a plan to meet your unique gender goals, you can speak with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons in a free, virtual consultation.

Though hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is not a requirement for surgery, it can have a positive effect on fat redistribution and changing someone’s gluteal shape. For patients whose transition process involves HRT, we recommend that you wait until at least a year has passed on hormones before undergoing a body contouring procedure. Still, many patients experience difficulty with reducing or increasing fat reserves around the hips, legs and buttocks with HRT, exercise and diet alone. This is why even with hormone usage, some find it necessary to undergo a body contouring procedure to feel aligned with the shape of their bodies.

Many trans, non-binary and gender expansive patients need to travel to access a board-certified, highly experienced gender affirming surgeon. At the GCC, we are very accustomed to working with patients from out of town. For recommendations on travel and lodging, click here. We have also compiled a guide on preoperative consultations and post-operative follow-up protocols for patients who do not live in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Letters of support or clearance letters from certified, mental health professionals are welcome and valuable, but not a requirement for adults who seek surgery with the GCC. This is because we use the informed consent model, which means that a letter from a therapist is not required unless the patient is seeking insurance approval. Insurance companies always require a letter of support from a mental health professional and, if our reconstructive surgeons are outside of your provider network, you will also need a reference letter from your primary care provider to request insurance coverage. For more information, click here.

We have compiled a list of scholarships for gender affirming surgeries alongside trusted, medical credit agencies you can use to help finance your surgery with us. You can also find estimated costs for each procedure we offer if you plan on paying entirely out of pocket. Click here for more.

You can leave the insurance worries to us. The GCC provides a free insurance concierge service to interested patients. After soliciting any necessary documents from you, our insurance advocacy team will get to work to secure full or partial coverage for your medically necessary, gender affirming procedure(s). Our team has a 90% success rate in securing coverage for insured patients. Learn more about that process here.

We have prepared a guide specifically for facial surgery patients on how they can prepare for surgery in the days leading up to it. There, you will find information from our guidelines on getting medical clearance to tips on how to improve your recovery process.

Absolutely not. At the GCC we are committed to serving patients of all gender identities. Except for bottom surgery, to be a candidate for any of our gender affirming procedures, our surgeons do not require that patients undergo hormonal therapy. We believe in taking an individualized approach with each patient to design a surgical plan to meet their unique goals.  Especially in the case of facial surgeries, HRT can only alter soft tissue such as fat redistribution–most commonly, the amount of fat in the cheeks and the softness of the jawline. That said, the effects of HRT cannot change bone structure, which is why many patients seek out facial surgery …

Many trans, non-binary and gender expansive patients need to travel to access a board-certified, experienced gender affirming surgeon. At the GCC, we are very accustomed to working with patients from out of town. For recommendations on travel and lodging, click here. We have also compiled a guide on post-operative follow-up protocols for facial surgery patients who do not live in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Letters of support or clearance letters from certified, mental health professionals are welcome and valuable, but not a requirement for adults who seek surgery with the GCC. This is because we use the informed consent model, which means that a letter from a therapist is not required unless the patient is seeking insurance approval. Insurance companies always require a letter of support from a mental health professional and, if our reconstructive surgeons are outside of your provider network, you will also need a reference letter from your primary care provider to request insurance coverage. For more information, click here.