Dr. Charles Lee

Microsurgical Phalloplasty In San Francisco

Dr. Charles K. Lee, MD is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who performs microsurgical Phalloplasty in San Francisco. In practice since 2003, Dr. Lee works with the urologists at Crane Center for Transgender Surgery as a microsurgeon on the Phalloplasty team.

Dr. Lee is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He completed fellowship training in microsurgery at the Buncke Clinic, one of the top microsurgery centers in the world. Dr. Lee currently serves as Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at University of California-San Francisco and as Chief of Plastic Surgery and Director of Reconstructive Microsurgery at St. Mary's Medical Center.

What Is Microsurgical Phalloplasty?

Microsurgery is a type of surgery that requires an operating microscope so that the surgeon can connect very small blood vessels and nerves. This means that tissue can be transferred from one part of the body to another. In Phalloplasty, microsurgery is used to transfer pedicled or microvascular free flaps to the groin area to create the phallus. Radial forearm flap (RFF) and anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap Phalloplasty are the most commonly performed microsurgical Phalloplasty techniques. At centers that perform these types of Phalloplasty with urethral reconstruction, a multidisciplinary team that includes a microsurgeon and a reconstructive urologist is essential. At the Crane Center in San Francisco, Dr. Lee and Reconstructive Urologist Dr. Kenan Celtik work together as a team to perform Phalloplasty.

Surgeries are performed 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.

Eligibility for Phalloplasty

Good general health
If you smoke, you will need to quit.
Two referrals from qualified mental health professionals recommending surgery.
A letter from your hormone specialist stating you have been on 12 months of continuous hormones (unless clinically contraindicated)
18+ years of age

Insurance Coverage For Phalloplasty

Crane Center in San Francisco 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.

Dr. Lee does not work with the following insurance providers: Medicare, Tri-Care, Kaiser, Ambetter and Oscar Health.

Booking Your Phalloplasty Consultation

Virtual and in-person consultations as available for a fee of $200. If Crane Center is in-network with your insurance, the consultation fee is the co-pay. An in-person consultation is not required for booking a surgery date.