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Dr. Lee Zhao: Advancing Excellence in Gender-Affirming Vaginoplasty

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Note: Appointments are scheduled through Dr. Rachel Bluebond-Langner's office.

Dr. Lee Zhao

Advancing Excellence in Gender-Affirming Surgery

Dr. Lee Zhao, MD, is a distinguished reconstructive urologist and gender-affirming surgeon at NYU Langone Health in New York City. Specializing in robotic-assisted urologic reconstruction and complex gender-affirming procedures, he is dedicated to providing individualized, compassionate care to transgender and nonbinary patients. As a leader in the field, Dr. Zhao works closely with Dr. Rachel Bluebond-Langner to advance patient safety and surgical excellence in gender-affirming care.

Dr. Zhao holds multiple leadership roles at NYU Langone Health:

  • Co-Director of the Transgender Reconstructive Surgery Program
  • Professor in the Departments of Urology and Plastic Surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine
  • Unit Surgical Director at Tisch Hospital
  • Director of Male Reconstructive Surgery for the NYU Health System

Vaginoplasty Innovations at NYU

Dr. Zhao and Dr. Bluebond-Langner developed the robotic-assisted peritoneal flap technique for gender-affirming vaginoplasty, refining surgical accuracy while reducing procedure times. This method allows for consistent vaginal depth, regardless of a patient’s presurgical anatomy, while optimizing vulvar aesthetics, including defined labia, a sensate clitoris, and aesthetic symmetry.

During the procedure, testicular and erectile tissues are removed, and the clitoris, labia majora, and labia minora are meticulously sculpted. Robotic technology is used to create the vaginal canal between the rectum and prostate, which is then lined with a combination of scrotal skin grafts and vascularized peritoneal flaps to enhance healing and functionality.

With a track record of over 900 successful surgeries, Dr. Zhao and Dr. Bluebond-Langner have extensively published their findings. NYU Langone remains among the few centers in the U.S. to offer this cutting-edge, robotic-assisted vaginoplasty technique.

Learn more about the benefits of Robotic-Assisted Peritoneal Vaginoplasty here. For a visual guide to how the procedure is performed at NYU, please see the animated video below. (YouTube login is required.)

Robotic Peritoneal Flap Vaginoplasty - Dr. Lee Zhao

Insurance Information
  • A wide array of employer/private insurance plans are accepted.
  • Amida Care Medicaid plans are accepted. (No other New York or out-of-state Medicaid are accepted.)
  • Cash-pay, Medicare and Tricare are not accepted.

Surgery Requirements

Dr. Zhao is a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and follows the Standards of Care guidelines for gender-affirming surgery. Requirements include:

  • Adult patients only.
  • A letter of recommendation from a qualified mental health provider.
  • BMI of 35 or less.

Consultations with Dr. Zhao are booked through Dr. Bluebond-Langner’s office. Consultations are in-person in New York City only. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call 646-501-4449. You can also send a request onlinead to schedule an appointment.

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