MTF Surgery » Surgeons

Dr. Christopher Salgado

One of the Most Experienced Gender Surgeons in the U.S.

Dr. Christopher Salgado, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Florida who has deep expertise in Gender Affirming Surgery. In practice for more than 20 years, Dr. Salgado performs all aspects of male-to-female surgery, from Facial Feminization and Breast Augmentation to Vaginoplasty, giving patients the opportunity to experience a continuity of care throughout their surgical transition. After many years in academic practice, Dr. Salgado opened his private practice in Miami in 2019. More than 3/4 of his patients are transgender and all the staff at Constructive Surgery has completed comprehensive training in transgender health care and follow WPATH guidelines for patient care.

As a 63 year old trans woman, I was convinced I wouldn't be able to find a doctor who would be able to address my concerns about transitioning late in life. From my first consultation to my recent transitional surgery, Dr Salgado has proven himself to be an exemplary medical practitioner! I couldn't be more pleased with the outcome! Dr Salgado and his brilliant staff went out of their way to make me feel confident that my Vaginoplasty procedure would be successful. I can't thank Dr. Salgado and his staff enough for making my dream of a lifetime come true. - Christina S. (Source: vitals.com)

Education, Training and Experience:

• Bachelors in Anatomy and Physiology, Boston University
• Medical Degree and General Surgery training, Georgetown University in Washington D.C.
• Plastic Surgery residency, University of Rochester
• Fellowship in Microsurgery, I-Shou University, Taiwan
• Served as a reconstructive surgeon in the U.S. Army for 4 years
• Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery at Cooper University Hospital in New Jersey, 2005-2007.
• Assistant Professor of Surgery in Department of Plastic Surgery at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, 2008-2010.
• Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Miami, 2010-2013.
• Professor of Surgery and Interim Chief of Division of Plastic Surgery at the University of Miami, 2013-2019.
• Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Dr. Salgado is an active researcher who has authored over 120 peer-reviewed scientific articles. He is on the editorial board of the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery and is a reviewer for Seminars in Plastic Surgery among others. He has edited three books, including the essential Gender Affirmation: Medical and Surgical Perspectives, published by Thieme in 2017. He has presented many times at WPATH, EPATH and ASPS conferences and has been featured in top news outlets around the world, including CNN, Channel 7 News, The Miami Herald, NBC 6 and Univision.

Relevant Publications by Dr. Salgado:

Evaluation of BMI as a Risk Factor for Complications following Gender-affirming Penile Inversion Vaginoplasty [FULL TEXT]
Graham C. Ives, MD, Lydia A. Fein, MD, MPH, Lindsey Finch, JD, Emily C. Sluiter, BS, Megan Lane, MD, William M. Kuzon, MD, PhD, and Christopher J. Salgado, MD. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2019 Mar; 7(3): e2097.
Gender affirmation surgery (GAS) has a positive impact on the health of transgender patients; however, some centers employ body mass index (BMI) as a strict selection criterion for surgical candidacy. Several single-center studies have found no clear correlation between BMI and complication rates. We conducted a retrospective multicenter study at 2 university-based centers to test the null hypothesis: obesity is not a significant determinant of the risk of acute surgical complications in patients undergoing penile inversion vaginoplasty (PIV).

Feminizing the Face: Combination of Frontal Bone Reduction and Reduction Rhinoplasty [FULL TEXT]
C. J. Salgado, H. AlQattan, A. Nugent, D. Gerth, W. Kassira, C. S. McGee, and L. Wo. Case Rep Surg. 2018; 2018: 1947807.
FFS improves mental health and quality of life in transgender patients. The nose and forehead are critical in facial attractiveness and gender identity; thus, frontal brow reduction and rhinoplasty are a mainstay of FFS. The open approach to reduction of the frontal brow is very successful in the feminization of the face; however, risks include alopecia and scarring. Endoscopic brow reduction, in properly selected patients, is minimally invasive with excellent outcomes avoiding these risks. Since both reduction rhinoplasty and frontal brow reduction are routinely performed in FFS, a combined approach provides superior control over the nasal radix and profile when performing surgery on the frontal bone region first followed by nose reduction.

Primary Sigmoid Vaginoplasty in Transwomen: Technique and Outcomes [FULL TEXT]
Christopher J Salgado, Ajani Nugent, Joseph Kuhn, Meghan Janette, Heidi Bahna. Biomed Res Int. 2018 May 10; 2018:4907208.
Most often, inverted phallus skin is used to create the neovagina in transwomen. However, not all patients have sufficient tissue to achieve satisfactory depth and those that do must endure cumbersome postoperative dilation routines to prevent contracture. In selected patients, the sigmoid colon can be used to harvest ample tissue while avoiding the limitations of penile inversion techniques It is now our standard of care to offer this surgery to our transfemale patients with phallus length of less than 4.5 inches or 11.4 centimeters.

FFS in Florida

Male-to-female transition is often facilitated by having Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS) done and many choose to undergo FFS prior to any other feminizing procedures. Overall, complications are low from these procedures. Factors such as age, length of time on HRT and ethnicity will all be considered when determining which procedure(s) would be right for you. Dr. Salgado performs the following FFS procedures:

• Hairline Correction
• Forehead Recontouring
• Brow Lift
• Rhinoplasty
• Cheek Implants
• Lip Lift
• Chin Recontouring
• Jaw Recontouring
• Tracheal Shave

Dr. Salgado also offers non-surgical solutions for Facial Feminization, including Botox and Dermal Fillers which help you look younger and fill out the lips and cheeks.

Bottom Surgery in Miami

Dr. Salgado performs the following genital procedures for trans women:

• Orchiectomy
• Vaginoplasty - Penile Inversion or Sigmoid Colon
• Trans Urology (MTF) - Revisions & Repairs

Dr. Salgado also offers Breast Augmentation and Body Contouring.

Dr. Salgado is affiliated with Palmetto General Hospital and Coral Gables Hospital, in Miami, Florida. Out-patient surgeries take place at Sky Surgery Center in Miami.

Patient Testimonials

"Great results... Best customer service ever."

"Very pleased with results."

"My experiences were great."

Surgery Costs
Dr. Salgado is dedicated to acquiring insurance coverage for his patients and his office staff will work on insurance authorization on your behalf. Dr. Salgado accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield, Florida Blue, United Healthcare, Cigna, Aetna, Molina, AvMed and Medicare.

For patients paying out-of-pocket, exact pricing can only be determined following a consultation. Costs vary depending on the facility where your surgery is to be performed, length of the procedure and co-morbidities, if any. Pricing includes surgeon's fee, OR/anesthesia fee and facility fee. Dr. Salgado accepts cash, credit card, check and medical financing (ex. CareCredit).

Surgery Requirements

• Two support letters from a qualified mental health professional for Bottom Surgery; One letter for other procedures.
• Medical clearance if there are significant co-morbidities.
• Because Dr. Salgado works in a large hospital, he is able to accept patients with high BMI and co-morbidities.

Booking a Consultation

Dr. Salgado offers virtual and in-person consultations for a fee of $200. The wait time for a consult is 2 months, with surgery dates booked 4-8 months after consultation. Se habla español. Falando português.

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