Top Surgery in Illinois
Illinois has established itself as a supportive state for transgender individuals seeking gender-affirming care, including hormone replacement therapy and Top Surgery. In January 2023, Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation protecting access to gender-affirming treatments, ensuring that both patients and providers are shielded from legal challenges originating in states with restrictive laws.
Further strengthening these protections, Illinois recently launched the IL Pride Connect hotline, a free legal resource for transgender residents across the state, available in both English and Spanish. Trained advocates can assist callers with legal matters related to access to health care (including gender-affirming care), discrimination or harassment, housing or safety concerns, identity documents, public benefits such as Medicaid and SNAP, and other legal issues impacting overall well-being.
Illinois state law prohibits health insurance policies from excluding gender-affirming care, guaranteeing Medicaid coverage for Top Surgery when deemed medically necessary. However, access remains inconsistent, as roughly half of the surgeons in Illinois do not accept Medicaid or insurance of any kind.
Dr. Loren Schechter is the most experienced Top Surgery surgeon in Illinois. As the director of the gender surgery program at RUSH University, he performs the full spectrum of gender-affirming procedures. A leading expert in the field, Dr. Schechter has co-authored numerous journal articles and books on gender surgery and currently serves as the President-Elect of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). RUSH University accepts a broad range of insurance plans, including employer-sponsored/private insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare.
Other notable gender surgery programs in Illinois include the University of Chicago Medicine, led by Dr. Courtney Cripps, and the Gender Pathways Program at Northwestern Medicine. Additionally, many private plastic surgery practices in the state offer Top Surgery, though most operate on a cash-pay basis.
Dr. Loren Schechter, MD, FACS
RUSH University, Gender Affirmation Surgery
1725 W. Harrison St., Ste 818
Chicago, Illinois 60612
(312) 942-3640
doctors.rush.edu/details/17876
Board-certified; WPATH member; accepts insurance, Medicaid and Medicare; no BMI limit; free initial phone consult; wait list 2 months.
More about Dr. Schechter »
Dr. David Kurlander, MD
RUSH University, Gender Affirmation Surgery
1520 W. Harrison St., 6th Flr
Professional Building, Suite 818
Chicago, Illinois 60607
(312) 942-3640
More university gender surgery programs:
Dr. Julia Corcoran, MD, FACS
University of Illinois Hospital
811 South Paulina St.
Chicago, Illinois 60612
Takes insurance, Medicaid and Medicare.
Dr. Courtney Cripps, MD
UChicago Medicine
355 E Grand Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Takes insurance, Medicaid and Medicare.
Dr. Marco Ellis, MD
Dr. Sumanas Jordan, MD
Dr. Andrea Battistini, MD
Gender Pathways Program, Northwestern Medicine
675 N St. Clair St., Ste 19-250, Galter Pavilion
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Take insurance, Medicaid and Medicare.
Surgeon Research Tools:
- Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation - License Lookup (for past complaints and disciplinary actions)
- Verify ABMS board certification
Insurance Info:
More Top Surgery Surgeons in Illinois
- Dr. Elaina Chen, MD
Advocate Medical Group
825 South Milwaukee Avenue
Libertyville, Illinois 60048
Takes insurance. - Dr. Bahram Ghaderi, MD, FACS
St. Charles Plastic Surgery
2900 Foxfield Rd, Suite 201
St. Charles, Illinois 60174 - Dr. Michael Horn, MD
Michael Horn Plastic Surgery & Medspa
20 W. Ontario St.
Chicago, Illinois 60654 - Dr. Lawrence Iteld, MD
Iteld Plastic Surgery
1460 N Halsted St., #505
Chicago, Illinois 60642 - Dr. John Kotis, MD
3443 N Kennicott Ave.
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004 - Dr. Leonard Lu, MD
RL Center for Cosmetic Surgery
250 Center Dr., Suite 201
Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061 - Dr. Robert Lukavsky, MD
Gold Coast Plastic Surgery
303 W. Institute Place, Ste 5
Chicago, Illinois 60610 - Dr. Michael Neumeister, MD
Dr. Nicole Sommer, MD
Dr. Nada Berry, MD
SIU Medicine
747 N. Rutledge St.
Springfield, Illinois 62702
Take insurance, Medicaid and Medicare. - Dr. Lucio Pavone, MD
Endeavor Health Medical Group
120 Spalding Dr., Ste 205
Naperville, Illinois 60540
Takes insurance. - Dr. Khurram Rashid, MD
Rashid Putman Plastic Surgery
804 West Trailcreek Dr.
Peoria, Illinois 61614
Takes insurance and Medicare.
- Dr. Michael Ruebhausen, MD
SIU Medicine
302 W Hay St., Ste 205
Decatur, Illinois 62526
Takes insurance, Medicaid and Medicare. - Dr. Akhil K. Seth, MD
Endeavor Health Medical Group
501 Skokie Blvd., Ste 250
Northbrook, Illinois 60062 - Dr. David Shifrin, MD
2335 South Michigan Ave., Floor Two
Chicago, Illinois 60616 - Dr. Alison Shore, MD
Lakeview Plastic Surgery
3000 N. Halsted St., Suite 707
Chicago, Illinois 60657
Takes insurance. - Dr. Victor Stams, MD
Carle Outpatient Services at The Fields
Carle Foundation Hospital
3105 Fields South Dr.
Champaign, Illinois 61822
Takes insurance, Medicaid and Medicare. - Dr. Lawrence Zachary, MD
Weiss Memorial Hospital
4646 N. Marine Dr.
Chicago, Illinois 60640
Last updated: 10/19/25