Dr. Curtis Crane
One of the World's Most Experienced Phalloplasty Surgeons
Dr. Curtis Crane, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Austin, Texas who specializes in Phalloplasty. Since 2012, Dr. Crane and his team have performed more than 600 Phalloplasty surgeries.
Dr. Crane is one of only a few surgeons in the world who is trained as both a plastic surgeon and urologist and has also completed fellowships in reconstructive urology and transgender surgery, amounting to more than 10 years of post-medical school surgical training. He is a member of the Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH.)
Dr. Crane has been performing Phalloplasty since 2005, working extensively with Dr. Djordjevic in Serbia, Dr. Preecha in Thailand, and Dr. Monstrey in Belgium. When he opened his San Francisco practice in 2012, he was one of only a handful of surgeons in the country offering microsurgical Phalloplasty. Crane Center for Transgender Surgery now has offices in both San Francisco and Austin. Dr. Crane performs Phalloplasty at the Austin location exclusively.
Phalloplasty in Austin, Texas
With deep training and experience in genitourinary reconstruction, Dr. Crane is able to offer variations of Phalloplasty to suit patients' different goals: for example, with or without Vaginectomy and with or without Urethral Lengthening. Dr. Crane is one of the only surgeons in the US who will perform Urethral Lengthening without requiring Vaginectomy. Scrotoplasty, and Testicular and Penile Implants are also optional.
Phalloplasty Donor Sites
Dr. Crane can use one of three different donor sites: forearm (RFF), thigh (ALT) or back (MLD). Radial Forearm Phalloplasty is typically a 2-stage surgery, with implants put in at the second stage. ALT Phalloplasty can be a 2- or 3-stage surgery, with Urethral Lengthening completed at stage 2. Dr. Crane sometimes performs a "delayed flap" procedure for stage 1 with ALT Phalloplasty, improving the donor site's vascularity prior to creation of the phallus in stage 2.
Glansplasty
In addition to the standard Glansplasty procedure, Dr. Crane also offers a glans implant that's designed to better maintain the coronal ridge of the glans. (This is generally only used in those who have had ALT Phalloplasty.)
Testicular and Penile Implants
Implant surgery can take place 9 months after Phalloplasty and Scrotoplasty. Dr. Crane uses solid silicone testicular implants made by Alpha Aesthetics. You can choose between the malleable rod or 3-piece inflatable penile implants.
Dr. Crane operates at Arise Austin Medical Center and Westlake Hills Surgery Center, both in Austin, Texas.
Surgery Requirements
Dr. Crane follows WPATH guidelines for surgery. This means that you will need:
- Two referral letters from qualified mental health professionals.
- A letter from your hormone provider stating you have been on 12 months of continuous hormones, unless clinically contraindicated.
Additionally, patients must be 18+ years of age.
Financing & Insurance
Dr. Crane accepts insurance and is in-network with Cigna PPO, Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Commercial United Healthcare PPO, and Employer Health Network (Whole Foods). He has also had success billing as an out-of-network provider with Aetna, Group Health, Harvard Pilgrim, HealthPartners and Medica. Medicare, Medicaid, Tri-Care, Kaiser, Ambetter and Oscar Health are not accepted. Dr. Crane also accepts credit/debit cards, cashier's check, money order, wire transfer and medical financing via CareCredit.
Booking a Consultation
Dr. Crane is available phone consultations and in-person consultations in Austin. The cost of the consultation is $200 if Dr. Crane is out-of-network with your insurance. If in-network, the consultation fee is the same as the specialist co-pay. An in-person consultation is not required for booking a surgery date. To book a consult, contact Dr. Crane's office.
Current wait list: 4-6 weeks for a consultation; 5-6 weeks for a surgery date following your consultation after requirements such as letters and hair removal are met.
Also see: Phalloplasty Sensation & Nerve "Hook Up" - Interview with Dr. Crane
More information about Dr. Curtis Crane ยป