Top Surgery in California
California was one of the first places in the United States to become a hub for Top Surgery, thanks in large part to the work of Dr. Michael Brownstein, a now-retired pioneer of chest masculinization surgery. When Dr. Brownstein retired, Dr. Curtis Crane took over the practice, and the Crane Center for Transgender Surgery continues to offer Top Surgery in the San Francisco area with Dr. Charles Lee.
Today, California remains one of the most popular destinations in the country for Top Surgery, with more than 50 surgeons offering the procedure statewide.
Insurance Coverage
Private/Employer Insurance: Under California law, state-regulated health insurance plans are required to cover medically necessary gender-affirming care, including Top Surgery. However, large employers with self-funded plans (regulated under federal ERISA law rather than California law) may opt out of this requirement—though many now voluntarily include gender-affirming coverage.
Medicaid (Medi-Cal): Top Surgery is covered under California’s Medicaid program, Medi-Cal. However, finding a surgeon who accepts Medi-Cal can be challenging. Most private-practice surgeons in California who take Medi-Cal only accept patients enrolled in managed care plans. See the listings below for more details.
Medicare: If you’re looking for a California surgeon who accepts Medicare, consider contacting one of the academic medical centers. In the San Francisco area, Dr. Nicholas Bene at Stanford Health Care accepts Medicare. In Southern California, UCLA, Keck Medicine of USC, and UC San Diego also take Medicare.
Surgeons in California
Gender Confirmation Center
The Gender Confirmation Center is a San Francisco–based, multi-surgeon practice founded in 2013 by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Scott Mosser. The practice focuses heavily on gender-affirming top surgery, offering procedures such as double-incision, peri-areolar, and keyhole, as well as less common incision types such as fishmouth and lollipop. They are an early adopter of sensory nerve preservation techniques in double-incision top surgery, which aims to improve the return of chest and nipple sensation after surgery. The practice maintains a dedicated insurance advocacy team that has secured coverage for over 90% of their patients, helping make top surgery more accessible. Throughout the top-surgery process, the team emphasizes informed consent, trans-competent communication, and a highly affirming environment for local and out-of-town patients alike.
Founded in 2013 and based in San Francisco, the Gender Confirmation Center is a multi-surgeon practice focused on gender-affirming top surgery for trans and gender-diverse patients. They are early adopters of sensory nerve preservation in double-incision top surgery, and provide affirming, informed-consent–based care from consultation through recovery.
Gender Confirmation Center
450 Sutter St, Ste 1000
San Francisco, California 94108
855-398-7778
www.genderconfirmation.com
Board-certified; WPATH members; FREE in-person or virtual consultations; use informed consent (no letter requirement); wait list 2-3 months following consult.
- Medical Financing
- Private / Employer Insurance
- Medicaid (some CA plans)
- Medicare
Align Surgical Associates
Founded in 2018, Align Surgical Associates is a multi-surgeon, gender-affirming surgical practice with offices in San Francisco and Santa Monica, California, dedicated exclusively to the care of transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse patients. Top surgery is a major focus of the practice: their surgeons offer a range of techniques, including double-incision with nipple grafts, peri-areolar/keyhole, inverted-T/anchor and buttonhole approaches. Consultations are used to review goals, anatomy and technique options in detail, and the care team guides patients through pre-operative preparation and a structured recovery plan. The environment is intentionally designed as a “sanctuary” and home away from home, with all staff specifically trained in the nuanced techniques and support needs associated with gender-affirming, trauma-aware care from first contact through long-term follow-up.
Founded in 2018, Align Surgical Associates is a multi-surgeon, gender-affirming surgical practice in San Francisco and Los Angeles that devotes its work to trans, non-binary and gender-diverse patients. For top surgery, the team offers a full range of masculinizing chest procedures—double-incision, keyhole/peri-areolar, inverted-T and buttonhole—delivered in a highly supportive, sanctuary-like environment with staff specifically trained in gender-affirming care.
Align Surgical Associates Inc.
2299 Post St, Ste 207
San Francisco, California 94115
415-530-5335
www.alignsurgical.com
Board-certified (except Dr. Jedrzejewski, who is board eligible); WPATH members; use informed consent (no letter requirement); wait list 3-6 months following consult.
- Medical Financing
- Private / Employer Insurance
- Medicaid (some CA plans)
- Medicare
Dr. Lee is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who performs Top Surgery in San Francisco. In practice since 2003, Dr. Lee's plastic surgery experience includes many years of performing reconstructive chest surgeries. He is pleased to offer Top Surgery for gender-diverse people from the Bay Area and beyond. More »
Dr. Charles Lee, MD
Crane Center for Transgender Surgery
575 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Suite 1
Greenbrae, California 94904
415-625-3230
cranects.com
Board-certified; accepts insurance, most managed Medi-Cal plans and medical financing; $200 consult; wait list: 1 month for consult, 3 months for surgery date.
Dr. Azadgoli is a Beverly Hills–based plastic and reconstructive surgeon who provides gender-affirming surgical care for transgender and non-binary patients seeking top surgery. Dr. Azadgoli offers Sensory Nerve Preservation, a specialized technique that reconnects nerves to the nipple graft allowing for a faster and more reliable return of sensation. More »
Known for precision and artistry, offers Sensory Nerve Preservation. Los Angeles area.
Dr. Beina Azadgoli, MD
The Practice Healthcare
436 N Bedford Dr, Ste 103
Beverly Hills, California 90210
310-278-8200
thepracticehealthcare.com
Accepts insurance and medical financing.
Dr. Bene is a board-certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon and the Director of Gender Affirmation Surgery at Stanford Medicine. He is fellowship-trained in Advanced Gender Affirmation Surgery and specializes in top surgery. He is one of only a handful of surgeons offering Sensory Nerve Preservation, a technique designed to improve sensory outcomes. More »
Director of Gender Affirmation Surgery at Stanford, offers Sensory Nerve Preservation.
Dr. Nicholas Bene, MD
Stanford Health Care
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Clinic
1000 Welch Rd.
Palo Alto, California 94304
650-723-7001
stanfordhealthcare.org
Board-certified; WPATH member; accepts insurance, Medicaid, Medicare; wait time 1-2 months for consult, 3-6 months for surgery.
Dr. Ives is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Beverly Hills who specializes in gender-affirming top surgery. With advanced surgical skills and an inclusive, affirming approach, Dr. Ives is a great choice for transgender and nonbinary individuals who are interested in having top surgery in the Los Angeles area. IvesMD is in-network with Blue Shield of California. More »
Highly trained plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, in-network with Blue Shield of CA.
Dr. Graham Ives, MD
IvesMD
433 N. Camden Dr., Ste 1190
Beverly Hills, California 90210
310-299-9809
www.ivesmd.com
Accepts insurance and some Medicaid plans; in-network with Blue Shield of California; $200 in-person and virtual consultations (fee waived for in-network patients); wait times are 1–3 weeks for consult, surgery dates 3–4 weeks later.
Dr. Lin is a fellowship-trained Plastic Surgeon in San Francisco who performs Top Surgery. His expertise in microsurgical breast reconstruction has shaped his approach to gender-affirming care and led to the co-development of a novel nerve transfer technique designed to preserve chest sensation after Top Surgery. He joined the Buncke Clinic and the San Francisco Transgender Institute in 2017. More »
Fellowship-trained, exceptionally skilled plastic surgeon with deep expertise in gender surgery.
Dr. Walter Lin, MD
The Buncke Clinic
45 Castro St, Ste 121
San Francisco, California 94114
415-684-5206
www.buncke.org
Board-certified; WPATH member; in-person or phone consultations; accepts insurance and CA Medicaid; uses Informed consent (doesn't require a letter); wait list one month.
Dr. Mark YoussefDr. Youssef's surgical skills, his trans-friendly staff, and their shared goal of helping to make your transition smoother are just a few reasons why he is a great choice for trans men and gender-nonconforming clients seeking Top Surgery in Southern California. More »
Dr. Mark Youssef, MD
Transgender Surgery Institute of Southern California
1317 5th St., Suite 301
Santa Monica, California 90401
310-434-1144
TransgenderSurgeryInstitute.com
Accepts insurance & CareCredit; FREE in-person or phone consultations; wait list 4 weeks.
Dr. Kriya Gishen, MD
Dr. Kriya Inc.
150 S. Rodeo Dr., Suite 200
Beverly Hills, California 90212
561-789-9604
www.drkriya.com
Specialized training in gender-affirming surgery; takes medical financing and insurance; BMI limit 32.
Dr. Michelle LeeDr. Lee is a fellowship-trained and board-certified plastic surgeon who is highly experienced with aesthetic and reconstructive procedures for the chest. Widely regarded as one of the top plastic surgeons in the Los Angeles area, Dr. Lee has the skill and artistry to produce great looking Top Surgery results for both trans men and non-binary individuals. More »
Dr. Michelle Lee, MD
PERK Plastic Surgery
416 N Bedford Dr., #400
Beverly Hills, California 90210
424-348-7978
www.bevhills.com
Board-certified and fellowship-trained; $300 consult fee, fee goes toward cost of procedure.
Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Champaneria has extensive training, with a special focus on gender-affirming chest procedures. He accepts insurance and will operate with Informed Consent. Dr. Champaneria practices in San Diego, California. More »
Dr. Manish Champaneria, MD
Scripps Clinic Del Mar
12395 El Camino Real, Ste 112
San Diego, California 92130
858-554-9950
drmanishchampaneria.com
Consultation fee $75; accepts financing and insurance; uses informed consent (no letter requirement).
Surgeon Research Tools:
- California state medical board license lookup (for past complaints and disciplinary actions)
- Verify board certification(s): ABMS boards | AOBS board (for D.O.'s)
Insurance Info:
- Dr. Siamak Agha, MD
The Aesthetic Centers
3701 Birch St, #200 Newport Beach, California 92660 - Dr. Gary Alter, MD
416 North Bedford Dr., Suite 400
Beverly Hills, California 90210 - Dr. Robert Beinrauh, MD
Orchard Medical Offices
9449 Imperial Hwy.
Downey, California 90242
Accepts insurance; Kaiser Permanente physician. - Dr. David Kahn, MD
Stanford Health Care
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
1000 Welch Rd.
Palo Alto, California 94304
Accepts insurance, Medicaid and Medicare. - Dr. Joseph Kurt Bivens, MD
9191 Westminster Ave., Suite 203
Garden Grove, California 92844 - Dr. Diana Breister Ghosh
La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre
9850 Genesee Ave., Ste 130
La Jolla, California, 92037 - Dr. David Buchanan
Santa Barbara Plastic Surgery Center
427 W. Pueblo St.
Santa Barbara, California, 93105 - Dr. Ben Childers, MD, FACS
Riverside Plastic Surgery Associates
4605 Brockton Ave., Suite 200
Riverside, California, 92506
Accepts insurance and medical financing. - Dr. Christa Clark, MD
Granite Bay Cosmetic Surgery
5220 Douglas Blvd.
Granite Bay, California 95746 - Dr. Babak Dadvand
8500 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 615
Beverly Hills, California, 90211 - Dr. Andrew Da Lio, MD
Dr. George Rudkin, MD
Dr. Ginger Slack, MD
UCLA Gender Health Program
200 Medical Plaza, Ste. 460
Los Angeles, California 90095 - Dr. Peter Davis, MD
1515 El Camino Real, #400
Palo Alto, California, 94306 - Dr. Miguel Delgado, MD, FACS
165 Rowland Way, Suite 300
Novato, California 94945 - Dr. Michael DeLong, MD
UCLA Gender Health
Plastic Surgery Dept., 200 Medical Plaza, Suite 460
Los Angeles, California 90095
Accepts insurance, Medicaid and Medicare. - Dr. Brian Eichenberg, MD
Renuance Cosmetic Surgery Center
24687 Monroe Ave.
Murrieta, California, 92562 - Dr. Alexander Ereso, MD
Pearl Plastic Surgery Center
525 South Drive, #203
Mountain View, California, 94040 - Dr. Orna Fisher, MD
Elite Transformations
327 N. San Mateo Dr., Suite 4
San Mateo, California 94401
Accepts insurance. - Dr. Susan J. Fisher, MD
Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center
1600 Divisadero St., 4th Flr.
San Francisco, California, 94115
Accepts Medicaid and Medicare. - Dr. Arthur Flynn, MD
Anacapa Surgical Associates
300 Hilmont Ave., Bldg. 340, Ste 401
Ventura, California 93003
Accepts Medicaid. - Dr. Robert Foster, MD
UCSF Department of Surgery
350 Parnassus Ave., #509
San Francisco, California 94117 - Dr. Keith Follmar, MD
San Jose Medical Center
50 E Hamilton Ave., 1st Flr., Ste. 100
Campbell, California 95008
Accepts insurance; Kaiser Permanente physician. - Dr. Sven Gunther
Bay Area Reconstructive Healthcare
345 Lorton Ave., Suite 101
Burlingame, California 94010
Accepts insurance. - Dr. Elliot Hirsch, MD
4419 Van Nuys Blvd, Suite 214
Sherman Oaks, California 91403 - Dr. Benjamin Hornik, MD
Oakland Medical Center, 1st Flr
3801 Howe Street
Oakland, California 94611 - Dr. Jed Horowitz, MD, FACS
Pacific Center for Plastic Surgery
3991 MacArthur Blvd., Ste. 320
Newport Beach, California 92660 - Dr. Raffi Hovsepian
421 N. Rodeo Dr., Suite T13
Beverly Hills, California, 90210 - Dr. Debra Johnson, MD
95 Scripps Dr.
Sacramento, California, 95825 - Dr. Karly Kaplan, MD
Sacramento Medical Center
Plastic Surgery, 2nd Floor
2025 Morse Ave.
Sacramento, California 95825 - Dr. David Kaufman, MD
The Natural Result / Center for Aesthetic Artistry
1841 Iron Point Rd.
Folsom, California, 95630 - Dr. Susan Kaweski, MD
Aesthetic Arts Institute
8415 Grant Ave.
La Mesa, California, 91941
Accepts insurance. - Dr. Esther Kim, MD
UCSF Department of Surgery
505 Parnassus Ave., #593A
San Francisco, California, 94117
Accepts insurance and Medicaid. - Dr. Sendia Kim, MD
5601 De Soto Ave.
Woodland Hills, California, 91367
Accepts insurance. - Dr. Edward Kobraei, MD
San Jose Medical Center
280 Hospital Pkwy., Bldg A, Stn 1
San Jose, California 95119
Accepts insurance; Kaiser Permanente physician. - Dr. Gil Kryger, MD
Kryger Institute of Plastic Surgery
947 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.
Thousand Oaks, California, 91360
Accepts insurance and Medicaid. - Dr. Jessica Lee, MD
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
4650 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, California 90027
Accepts insurance and Medicaid. - Dr. Priya Lewis, MD
UC San Diego Gender Health
4520 Executive Dr.
San Diego, California 92121
Accepts insurance, Medicaid and Medicare. - Dr. Ka Ming Li, MD
3110-C Inland Empire Blvd.
Ontario, California, 91764 - Dr. Jerome Liu, MD
Dr. Tim Liu, MD
SVIA Plastic Surgery - Los Gatos
15055 Los Gatos Blvd., #250
Los Gatos, California 95032
Additional locations in Sacramento and San Mateo. - Dr. Shahriar Mabourakh, MD
Folsom Plastic Surgery
1561 Creekside Dr., Ste 110
Folsom, California 95630 - Dr. Laura McMillan, MD
Garfield Specialty Center, Plastic Surgery Dept.
5893 Copley Dr.
San Diego, California, 92111
Accepts insurance; Kaiser Permanente physician. - Dr. Minh-Bao Mundschenk, MD
Sacramento Medical Center, Plastic Surgery Dept.
2025 Morse Ave., 2nd Floor Sacramento, CA 95825
Accepts insurance; Kaiser Permanente physician. - Dr. Mark Mofid, MD, FACS
4150 Regents Park Row, Suite 300
La Jolla, California, 92037 - Dr. Dung Nguyen, MD
Stanford Women's Cancer Centre
900 Blake Wilbur Drive, 1st Floor
Palo Alto, California 94304
Accepts insurance, Medicaid and Medicare. - Dr. Michael Omidi, MD
9400 Brighton Way, Ste. #203
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
- Dr. Eamon O'Reilly, MD
UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Dr.
La Jolla, CA 92093 - Dr. Melissa Poh, MD
West LA Medical Center
6041 Cadillac Ave.,
Los Angeles, California 90095
Accepts insurance; Kaiser Permanente physician. - Dr. Ali Qureshi, MD
Southcoast Plastic Surgery
4968 Booth Circle, Suite 105
Irvine, California 92604 - Melissa Anne Radecki, MD
Ontario Medical Center
Plastic Surgery Dept.
2295 S. Vineyard Ave.
Ontario, California 91761
Accepts insurance and Medicaid; Kaiser Permanente physician. - Dr. Usha Rajagopal, MD
SF Cosmetic Surgery
490 Post St.
San Francisco, California 94102 - Dr. Edward Ray, MD
Cedars-Sinai
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
8635 W Third St., #770W
Los Angeles, California 90048 - Dr. Murtaza "Mort" Rizvi, MD, FACS
West Empire Aesthetics
11645 South Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1155
Los Angeles, California 90025 - Dr. Angela Rodriguez, MD
2100 Webster St.
San Francisco, California, 94115
Accepts insurance and Medicaid (some managed Medi-Cal plans.) - Dr. Leif Rogers, MD
Dr. Walter Joseph, MD
Transitions
9735 Wilshire Blvd, Penthouse Suite Beverly Hills, California 90212
Take insurance, medical financing. - Dr. Sepideh Saber, MD
Saber Plastic Surgery
16260 Ventura Blvd., Suite 225
Encino, California 91436 - Dr. Sean Satey, MD, FACS
5757 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, California 90036 - Dr. Mark Schoemann, MD
477 N. El Camino Real, Suite D101
Encinitas, California 92024 - Dr. Jaime Schwartz, MD, FACS
421 North Rodeo Drive, Penthouse 1
Beverly Hills, California 90210 - Dr. Brian Shafa, MD, MHS
8907 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 100
Beverly Hills, California 90211 - Dr. Alexander Sinclair, MD
Transgender Surgery of Beverly Hills
9001 Wilshire Blvd., #202
Beverly Hills, California 90211 - Dr. Douglas Steinbrech, MD
Alpha Male Plastic Surgery
436 North Bedford Dr.
Beverly Hills, California 90210 - Dr. Winnie Tong, MD
Kaiser Foundation Hospital
2200 O'Farrell St.
San Francisco, California 94115
Accepts insurance; Kaiser Permanente physician. - Dr. Roberto Travieso, MD
Dr. Regina Baker, MD
Gender-Affirming Care Program, Keck Medicine of USC
1450 San Pablo St., Suite 6200
Los Angeles, California, 90033
Accepts insurance, Medicaid and Medicare. - Dr. Robert Tuchler, MD
6670 Alton Pkwy.
Irvine, California, 92618
Accepts insurance; Kaiser Permanente physician. - Dr. Paul Tran, MD
23823 Valencia Blvd., Suite 220
Valencia, California 91355
Accepts insurance and Medicare. - Dr. Derek Ulvila, MD
San Francisco Medical Center
2425 Geary Blvd.
San Francisco, California 94115
Accepts insurance; Kaiser Permanente physician. - Dr. P. James Voloshin, MD, FRCS
Newport Surgery Institute
360 San Miguel Dr., Suite 406
Newport Beach, California, 92660 - Dr. Justin West, MD
Finesse Plastic Surgery
230 S Main St., Ste 210
Orange, California 92868 - Dr. Jasmine M. Wong, MD
Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center at UCSF
Box 0665
San Francisco, California, 94115
Accepts Medicaid and Medicare. - Dr. Wendy Wong, MD
Gallery Plastic Surgery
910 Major Sherman Ln., Suite 305
Monterey, California 93940 - Dr. Ginger Xu, MD
Ethos Plastic Surgery
2100 Webster St., Suite 329
San Francisco, CA, 94115
Last updated: 12/04/25