Dr. Charles Lee
MTF Top Surgery In San Francisco
Dr. Charles K. Lee, MD is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who has deep expertise in microsurgery and breast surgery. In practice since 2003, Dr. Lee offers MTF Top Surgery at Crane Center for Transgender Surgery in San Francisco.
Training and Experience
- Medical degree, Washington University, St. Louis
- Plastic and reconstructive surgery residency, University of Chicago
- Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
- Fellowship training in microsurgery and hand surgery, Buncke Clinic, San Francisco
- Currently serves as Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery, University of California-San Francisco (UCSF)
- Currently serves as Chief of Plastic Surgery and Director of Reconstructive Microsurgery, St. Mary's Medical Center, San Francisco
Gender-Affirming Breast Augmentation
MTF Top Surgery is very similar to traditional Breast Augmentation surgery with differences that are subtle yet critical to ensure natural-looking results. Using breast implants, MTF Top Surgery can provide an aesthetically female breast contour when hormone replacement therapy alone hasn't resulted in the desired amount of breast development. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, under general anesthesia. An incision about 1" long is made and a "pocket" for the implants is made behind each breast. Either saline-filled or silicone gel-filled implants are inserted and positioned, and the incision is then closed. The procedure takes about one hour to complete.
How Long Is MTF Top Surgery Recovery?
MTF Top Surgery recovery includes bed rest for the first few days after surgery. You won't be able to drive for the first week after surgery. You will also need to avoid lifting your arms above your head and lifting heavy objects for the first two weeks after surgery. You'll be able to resume light exercise like walking two weeks after your surgery but should wait six to eight weeks before going back to vigorous exercise. Those with desk jobs or similar can return to work in as little as a week. Your breast shape and size will be settled about three months after your surgery.
Eligibility for MTF Top Surgery
- Patients must be physically healthy, 18+ years of age and have the capacity to make a fully informed decision.
- If you smoke, you will need to quit.
- You will need to obtain a letter from a qualified mental health care practitioner recommending surgery as a treatment for persistent and well-documented gender dysphoria.
- 12 months of feminizing hormone therapy prior to surgery is recommended to maximize breast growth in order to improve aesthetic outcome.
Dr. Lee is very experienced with reconstructive and aesthetic breast surgery and is highly qualified to perform gender-affirming Breast Augmentation. He is board-certified and has ample experience working with transgender people.
Dr. Lee operates at California Pacific Medical Center – Davies Campus and St. Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco, and Greenbrae Surgery Center and Bon Air Surgery Center in Greenbrae, California.
Financing & Insurance
Credit/debit cards, cashier's check, money order, wire transfer and medical financing via CareCredit are accepted. Crane Center in San Francisco also accepts insurance and is in-network with Cigna PPO, Anthem Blue Cross PPO, Blue Shield of California PPO, Western Health Advantage, Sutter Select, San Francisco Health Plan/Healthy SF and Employer Health Network (Whole Foods). The Crane Center has also had success billing out-of-network with Aetna, Group Health, Harvard Pilgrim, Health Net, HealthPartners, Medica, most managed Medi-Cal plans, Pacific Source, Sharp Health Plan and United Healthcare. Medicare, Tri-Care, Kaiser, Ambetter and Oscar Health are not accepted.
Booking a Consultation
Crane Center in San Francisco offers virtual and in-person consultations for a fee of $200. If you're using insurance with in-network benefits, the co-pay is the consultation fee. Dr. Lee has a wait list of about 4-6 weeks. During your consultation, Dr. Lee will provide detailed information about how to choose between saline-filled and silicone gel-filled implants, implant size, shape, and placement. An in-person consultation is not required for booking a surgery date.
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