Medically reviewed by Paul Gonzales on March 13, 2024.
Costs of surgery can be one of the most confusing or even overwhelming parts of a patient’s journey. We have created this detailed guide on top surgery pricing–sometimes called ftm top surgery, chest reconstruction or breast removal surgery–to bring greater transparency to our patients. The costs outlined below are specifically for cash-pay patients: those who are paying for the entire surgery without insurance coverage.
Top surgery is estimated to cost between $14,000 and $17,000 for cash-pay patients. The total price varies due to several factors such as doctors’ fees, facility fees, additional tests/imaging, prescription medications, or post-op related care. Most major insurance plans we work with can significantly reduce these costs. You can read more about the insurance coverage approval process here.
We understand that it can be daunting to realize how much the price of top surgery can vary. We can give you a specific quote for your case after your free, virtual consultation with one of our board-certified surgeons.
Please note that these estimations do not include any travel expenses, like flights or lodging. You can find our recommendations for out of state and international patients in our free, travel packet resource, here.
Please note that all patients are expected to cover their financial responsibility for their procedures 6 weeks prior to their surgery date. Failing to do so will risk the cancellation of your procedure. For cash-pay patients, you will be asked to pay the total cost by this date. For patients with insurance coverage, you will only need to pay your out-of-pocket expenses by this deadline.
To lower the barriers to access, we offer patients the ability to make multiple payments before this deadline. Additionally, the Gender Confirmation Center (GCC) finances a variety of scholarship opportunities for gender-affirming procedures and has accepted payments made by trusted medical creditors like CareCredit.
The GCC is committed to providing medically necessary gender-affirming care. We aim to minimize barriers to accessing surgery through our insurance advocacy efforts and community financing partnerships. Our goal is to provide transparent information about the costs associated with top surgery to ensure patients fully understand the financial considerations of undergoing surgery.
Cost Considerations
Procedure Costs | Price Range* |
Chest reconstruction top surgery | $8,500 – $11,500 |
Revision top surgery (scar revision, dog ears) | $1,500 – $3,000 |
Breast augmentation (w/ implants) | $8,500 – $10,000 |
Body masculinization (trunk, thigh, buttocks liposuction) | $8,500 – $14,000 |
Body feminization (trunk, thigh, buttocks liposuction and/or fat grafting) | $15,000 – $19,500 |
* These price ranges are for cash pay rates only; insurance rates may differ
Navigating insurance for top surgery can be challenging. Our insurance advocacy team works directly with your insurance to determine if your health plan has coverage top surgery. This service is complimentary for all our patients to ensure the best chance of getting their top surgery covered by insurance.
You can find a list of insurance providers for which our team has successfully obtained approval for top surgery procedures from here. If you don’t see your insurance listed there, you can schedule a free, virtual consultation so our team can verify this information for you.
Dr. Scott Mosser (he/him) is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has over 15 years of experience serving gender diverse patients. He has devoted himself exclusively to gender affirming care since founding the GCC in 2013. Dr. Mosser is also a cofounder of the American Society of Gender Surgeons (ASGS), a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the World Professional Association of Transgender Health, (WPATH), the United States Professional Association of Transgender Health (USPATH), and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).
Dr. Alexander Facque (he/him) is a board-certified plastic surgeon and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. Dr. Facque got his start in gender-affirming care as a resident at the Icahn School of Medicine at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, where he first recognized the importance of providing safe and accessible surgeries to trans and non-binary patients. He then spent a year training and expanding his knowledge under Dr. Loren Schechter, one of the world’s foremost gender-affirming surgeons, as a fellow at Weiss Memorial Hospital’s Gender Confirmation Surgery and Practice Leadership in Chicago. Dr. Facque officially joined our team in 2020 and brought with him over 5 years of previous experience in gender affirming care.
Dr. Ellie Zara Ley (she/her) is a board-certified plastic surgeon and the only transgender woman of color to offer a full-spectrum specialization in gender affirming surgery: top surgery, bottom surgery, facial surgery and body contouring. She also specializes transgender adolescent care. She is highly trained, having completing her general surgery residency at University of Arizona, a fellowship in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Utah, a fellowships in craniofacial and pediatric plastic surgery at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City and another in hand surgery and microsurgery at the University of Southern California. Prior to joining our team in 2022, she worked as an assistant clinical instructor of plastic surgery at the University of Utah and had her own private practice in Arizona.
Dr. Daniel Jacobs (he/him) brings over 30 years of experience in reconstructive plastic surgery and research. He completed a General Surgery residency at LAC/USC School of Medicine and a Plastic Surgery residency at USC School of Medicine. His exceptional work has been recognized through prestigious medical awards such as the ‘Sidney R. Garfield, MD Exceptional Contribution Award’ in 2017, San Jose Kaiser Permanente’s ‘Outstanding Inpatient Physician of the Year’ in 2017, and the ‘Outstanding Achievement in Medicine’ award from Santa Clara Medical Association in 2016.
Top surgery encompasses a variety of chest reconstruction and breast reduction techniques in addition to the possibility for liposuction. Here we go over every incision type our surgical center offers and why patients tend to opt for them:
If you would like to learn more about how we help patients determine which incision type, you can read more about the Mosser Method here. This method considers a patient’s inframammary angle, skin elasticity, and goals around flatness and nipple sensation.
It’s important to follow your surgeon’s post-op care instructions for optimal recovery after top surgery. Below is rough timeline for recovery but you can learn more about it in detail here:
Physical Preparations
To prepare for top surgery, prioritize a balanced diet and regular exercise to support overall health and recovery. Arrange for assistance during the initial 24 hours post-op and consider ongoing support during the first week to facilitate recovery. Learn more about how to prepare for top surgery here.
Mental and Emotional Preparation
Emotional ups and downs during recovery, such as postoperative depression, are common after gender-affirming surgery. Temporary feelings of sadness or low mood after surgery can be physiological, psychological, or due to changes in routine. Having a strong support system, including a therapist, will be crucial for coping with postoperative depression and managing emotional experiences during recovery. Learn more about mentally preparing for surgery here.
No, we do not offer pro-bono surgeries at the GCC. However, patients can apply for grants to fund their surgery from established non-profit organizations like the Jim Collins Foundation, Point of Pride, and Genderbands. The GCC’s philanthropic efforts have prioritized giving to these organizations, who are skilled in assessing need and selecting applicants.
Care Credit is a credit or financing company that helps finance medical costs, including surgical procedures. It functions like a regular credit card but is specifically for health needs. It offers convenient payment plans and no hidden costs. You can apply online instantly with no commitment.
The estimates include consultations before and follow-up appointments after surgery, surgeon’s fee, operating room fees, anesthesia fee, and costs for implants and postoperative garments.
There is no fee for virtual consultations. In-person consultations cost $150, which will be applied toward the overall fees of the procedure. For insurance patients, the consultation will be charged in accordance with your insurance.
Financial assistance for top surgery is possible through surgery grants through partnerships with organizations like the Jim Collins Foundation, Point of Pride, and Genderbands. Interested individuals should contact these organizations directly to learn about the application process.
The prices mentioned are general estimates and can vary based on individual goals and body types. Exact price quotations are provided after the consultation with the surgeon.
The virtual consultation will be billed to your insurance company. We will accept the insurance reimbursement as payment in full.