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Dr. Nicholas Bene
Fellowship-Trained Gender Affirmation Surgeon at Stanford Medicine
Dr. Nicholas (Nick) Bene, MD, 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 for transgender and nonbinary patients.
Dr. Bene is dedicated to providing affirming, individualized care that prioritizes aesthetics, function, and sensation. His approach emphasizes the preservation and restoration of erogenous sensation, particularly through advanced nerve reconnection techniques that optimize long-term sensory outcomes.
Education and Training
Dr. Bene earned his medical degree from Tufts University, followed by a residency in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at Lahey Clinic in Boston, MA. He then completed a fellowship in Advanced Gender Affirmation Surgery at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)—one of the nation’s highest-volume centers—where he trained with leading experts in gender-affirming plastic and urologic surgery.
Dr. Bene's full credentials and surgical offerings are available on his TransHealthCare.org surgeon profile.
Top Surgery at Stanford Medicine
Dr. Bene offers a full range of masculinizing chest surgeries, including advanced techniques designed to enhance aesthetic outcomes and maximize nipple sensation.
Procedures include:
- Double Incision Mastectomy (with or without nipple grafts)
- Periareolar and Keyhole Mastectomies
- Buttonhole Inferior Dermal Flap Technique
- Sensory Nerve Preservation
Dr. Bene is one of only a handful of surgeons offering Sensory Nerve Preservation, also known as Targeted Nipple Reinnervation, a nerve-preserving method that reconnects the chest’s lateral intercostal nerves to the nipple graft during double incision top surgery. This technique has been shown to accelerate the return of sensation and improve sensory outcomes, including erogenous sensitivity.
Consultation and Wait Times
Dr. Bene encourages informed decision-making by discussing surgical options, expected results, and complication rates openly with patients.
Estimated wait times:
- Consultation: 1–2 months
- Surgery: 3–6 months after consultation
Insurance and Surgery Requirements
Dr. Bene accepts a wide range of insurance providers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Cigna, Aetna, Medicare, and Medi-Cal.
Requirements:
- Minimum age: 19 years
- Letter of support from a qualified mental health provider
- Smoking or vaping must stop at least 2 months before and after surgery
- BMI Criteria for Chest Surgery: <45
- Hormone therapy discontinuation is not required