Dr. Laurel Chandler
Fellowship-Trained Surgeon for Top Surgery in Connecticut
Dr. Laurel Chandler, MD is a Harvard fellowship-trained and board-certified plastic surgeon who has received specialty training in Top Surgery from some of the best experts in the field. Based in Fairfield County, Connecticut, Dr. Chandler provides personalized care for transmasculine, transfeminine and nonbinary patients with a practice that is over 90% Top Surgery and Body Feminization/Masculinization.
Education and Training:
- M.D., University of Vermont College of Medicine in Burlington, Vermont
- Six-year plastic surgery residency, Rutgers – New Jersey Medical School
- Fellowship training in aesthetic surgery, Harvard Medical School
Professional Memberships:
- American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Specialty Training in Top Surgery
During her residency at Rutgers, Dr. Chandler had the opportunity to work on countless cases of gender-affirming surgery through her training with Dr. Jonathan Keith, founder of the Rutgers Center for Transgender Health. Focused on mastering the aesthetic nuances of Top Surgery, Dr. Chandler also received training at Harvard with two of the leading Top Surgery surgeons in Boston, Dr. Richard Bartlett and Dr. Adam Tobias. In 2019, Dr. Chandler lectured on Top Surgery during a special session on Gender Affirming Surgery at a plastic surgery conference in Israel.
Dr. Chandler offers multiple Top Surgery techniques and has added her own refinements to improve outcomes. She involves her patients in a full discussion about the pros and cons of each method to determine the best approach for you. Dr. Chandler is committed to realizing your Top Surgery vision and will omit nipple grafts if you desire a more non-binary result.
Don't Miss: Dr. Laurel Chandler on Double Incision Top Surgery Scar Shapes
Double Incision Top Surgery scar shape is a discussion that Dr. Chandler loves to have with patients and she is an exceptional resource on the topic. With detailed descriptions of each of the possible scar shapes and how anatomy influences them, Dr. Chandler offers up a definitive guide that will help you refine your Top Surgery goals. Read more »
Dr. Chandler has her patients wear a compression vest for three weeks post-op, except while showering. If you have free nipple grafts, showering will be restricted for the first week until the dressings are removed. Dr. Chandler usually uses drains, which are removed at 1 week. She recommends that all strenuous activity should be avoided for 3-4 weeks, during which time most swelling will subside. The result is considered final at one year after surgery.
To ensure that all patients feel welcomed, Dr. Chandler's practice has a gender-affirming intake form and staff have received sensitivity training. She operates at Norwalk Hospital, St. Vincent's Medical Center, Stamford Hospital and Norwalk Ambulatory Surgery Center.
Top Surgery Cost & Insurance
The cost of Top Surgery with Dr. Chandler ranges and depends on insurance coverage. Exact pricing can only be determined following a consultation. Pricing includes surgeon's fee, anesthesia fee and facility fee. Dr. Chandler accepts cash, credit card, check, medical financing (ex. CareCredit) and insurance, including Connecticut Medicaid. Patients with Connecticut Medicaid are covered at 100% with no out of pocket cost. Patients with commercial insurance who have no out-of-network coverage or HMO insurance plans may also get full coverage ($0 out of pocket) through a single case agreement, which the office can assist with setting up through insurance.
Surgery Requirements
- One support letter from a qualified mental health professional is required if using insurance. If you're paying out-of-pocket and 18+, the letter is not required.
- No BMI requirement
- Smoking cessation
- Dr. Chandler will operate on minors with parental consent.
Booking a Consultation
Dr. Chandler offers phone, virtual and in-person consultations for a fee of $200. Surgery dates are booked 2-3 months after consultation. Dr. Chandler offers a truly customized approach with the goal of helping to improve self-image and confidence, and she looks forward to speaking with you.
More information about Dr. Laurel Chandler »