Gender Affirmative Care

Conveniently located to serve the areas of New York, NY

Gender affirmative care is a comprehensive approach that supports an individual’s expression of their gender identity. Every individual is unique, and we offer a wide range of surgical and non-surgical aesthetic enhancements to achieve results that align with gender identity. By reshaping and refining body contours, gender affirming care promotes well-being and improves quality of life.

Plastic Surgery & Dermatology of NYC seamlessly blends plastic surgery with dermatology to provide beautiful, comprehensive results. Our integrative approach provides our patients with the highest quality medical, cosmetic, and surgical care. Patients from around the world enjoy warm, compassionate support throughout their journeys.

Board-certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon Dr. Elie Levine is known for creating exceptional, natural outcomes with his extensive knowledge and technical expertise. He is one of the top surgeons in NYC and has advanced fellowship training in complex aesthetic procedures. Dr. Jody Levine is double board-certified and one of New York’s leading dermatologists. She has an artistic eye and expertly uses the most advanced aesthetic techniques for excellent results.

Dr. Jody Levine and Dr. Elie Levine blend their expertise in dermatology and plastic surgery for a highly-customized approach leaving patients feeling confident and comfortable in their bodies.

Explore your gender affirming treatment options by requesting a consultation online or calling our Manhattan office directly at (212) 988-1800. If you will be traveling to New York City for treatment, please let us know! We are happy to help you plan your trip so travel, surgery, and recovery can happen smoothly.

About Gender Affirmative Care

Gender affirmative care includes a personalized series of treatments that help your appearance and physique better match your body with your identity. Plastic surgery plays a key role in matching your inner and outer selves, (1) and Plastic Surgery & Dermatology of NYC provides a wide range of treatments that will be customized to suit your unique goals and identity.

Whether you are transgender, non-binary, or cisgender, we can contour your face and body so your appearance better aligns with who you are. (2) Our many surgical and non-surgical treatments can excellently enhance your masculinity or femininity.

Breast

Breast procedures adjust the appearance of the chest. For chest feminization, breast augmentation uses silicone or saline implants to create a fuller, more feminine breast shape. Many patients will also enhance their breast treatment outcomes with autologous fat transfer. For chest masculinization, a breast reduction removes tissue for a flatter, more masculine contour. For cisgender men, gynecomastia surgery offers a way to reduce enlarged male breasts and sculpt a flatter, broad, wall-like masculine chest.

For cisgender women, there are many breast enhancing procedures to emphasize your femininity. A breast augmentation and implants can increase size and restore volume and fullness in the breasts. A breast lift can raise and reshape the breasts for a firmer, perkier chest contour. A breast reduction decreases the breasts size and lifts the position and can balance overall body proportions and eliminate pain and skin irritation.

Face

Facial contouring can include a variety of procedures to reshape the facial features to better align with your gender identity. Facial procedures can be feminizing or masculinizing and typically divide into three distinct zones: upper third, middle third, and lower third.

Buttocks

The Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) enhances the shape and volume of the buttocks and contours the body. It typically transfers fat from your waist, thighs, and flanks to the buttocks for a more shapely silhouette. In fat transfer procedures like the BBL, Dr. Elie Levine employs innovative microdroplet and nanografting techniques. These methods build volume by stacking multiple small fat grafts instead of placing large volumes at once. This creates a smoother, more cohesive contour and enhances cell survivability.

Liposuction

Liposuction is a body-contouring procedure that removes, and when combined with a fat transfer, redistributes fat to create a figure that matches your gender identity. Feminizing contouring creates a more hourglass shape by removing fat from the waist, abdomen, and flanks and can transfer it to the hips and buttocks. Masculinizing contouring removes fat from the hips, thighs, and buttocks to create a straighter torso.

At Plastic Surgery & Dermatology of NYC we offer many advanced liposuction techniques for optimal body contouring. BodyTite™ combines liposuction with radiofrequency technology to remove excess fat and tighten and refresh the skin. Lipo360 is a comprehensive liposuction procedure that sculpts the entire midsection.

Abdomen

An abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, shapes a firmed, toned midsection by removing excess fat and sagging skin while tightening the underlying muscles. To enhance a more masculine shape, a tummy tuck can remove excess volume in the trunk for a more angular and top-heavy silhouette. For a more feminizing effect, a tummy tuck can create the appearance of a cinched waist and an hourglass figure.

Benefits

Gender affirmative care empowers our patients with bodies that match their gender identity. This brings many long-lasting benefits including:

  • Enhanced quality of life
  • Improved mental health
  • Better health outcomes
  • Higher confidence
  • Increased comfort in the body
  • Less daily distress
  • Major reduction in gender dysphoria

Candidates

If you struggle with an appearance that does not match your gender identity, you may be a good candidate for gender affirmative care. A wide range of transgender, non-binary, and cisgender patients find confidence and comfort by better aligning their bodies with their gender identity. Plastic Surgery & Dermatology of NYC has procedures to amplify your femininity and masculinity.

Good candidates are in generally good health and have realistic expectations of outcomes. We welcome patients from around the world; if you are traveling to New York City to receive gender affirmative care at our world-renowned facility, please let us know so we can coordinate a stress-free consultation and treatment process.

Personal Consultation

Your personal consultation creates the foundation for your personalized gender affirming care. Your consultation will include a detailed discussion with Dr. Elie Levine of your medical history, concerns, and desired outcomes. He will complete an examination of your anatomy and explain which procedures can help achieve your body goals.

You will learn about your treatment options, including expectations, preparations, and recovery, and more. We will answer any questions you may have and ensure you have detailed information so you feel confident in the customized treatment plan we develop.

For patients traveling to New York City to receive care at our practice, we are happy to schedule the consultation, procedure, and treatment process around your plans.

Schedule your consultation today to explore your treatment options. If you have any questions or prefer to schedule over the phone, please call our Manhattan office at (212) 988-1800.

Preparation

Your personal treatment plan will include detailed preparation instructions to best support your body through treatment and recovery. These may include:

  • Avoiding blood-thinning medications and supplements
  • Preparing post-operative transportation home
  • Ceasing use of alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis ahead of your procedure
  • Preparing your recovery space so you can rest comfortably
  • Filling an prescriptions you will need after treatment
  • Arranging for trusted support during your recovery process
  • Scheduling time off of work or school so your body has enough time to properly heal

Procedure

Your gender affirmative treatment will be explained in detail in your customized treatment plan. Your specific combination of outpatients procedures will be performed in our state-of-the-art facility that is accredited to the highest safety standards by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities. You will enjoy the highest quality care in our welcoming and comfortable environment.

The duration of your procedure(s) will vary, but with anesthesia and long-acting pain relief you will feel comfortable throughout your treatment.

Recovery

The recovery period varies based on the type and number of procedures performed. Your customized plan will include details specific to your treatment for a smooth healing process and great results.

Swelling, redness, mild bruising are typical initially around the treated areas and will subside on their own. Long-acting pain relief will manage any discomfort and pain. You may have compression garments to support the body as it heals. After a rest period, light activities usually resume within a week or two.

Results

Gender affirmative care successfully brings harmony to the body and gender identity. There will be immediate noticeable improvements, but full results will improve gradually over time as swelling subsides and healing takes place. Your treatment protocol will include scar minimization care, so your scars will fade effectively to be very discreet. Effective scar care alongside Dr. Elie Levine’s meticulous technique frequently results in scars that are hidden and fade significantly. Once healed, you will be able to wear even the most revealing garments without worry.

Corresponding Procedures

As part of your whole-body transformation, Dr. Elie Levine and Dr. Jody Levine may pair your gender affirming treatments with other procedures to enhance your results. We can address the effects of aging or weight loss and reduce sagging skin by including an arm or thigh lift. We offer a wide range of injectables and fillers that can rejuvenate the skin, create and restore volume, and smooth wrinkles for the finishing touch on facial reshaping. Laser skin resurfacing renews the skin for a glowing complexion. In addition to reshaping the face and body, treating hair, either by building it up or removing it from unwanted areas, can create a dramatic change. Laser hair removal eliminates excess hair and hair transplants and NeoGraft can create a thick, full head of hair. For masculine-presenting patients, NeoGraft hair transplants can also enhance facial hair growth.

Cost of Gender Affirmative Care in New York City

The cost of gender affirmative care in NYC varies depending on the details of your personal treatment plan and the procedures included. After your personal consultation, Dr. Elie Levine will provide you with a detailed price estimate. To make gender affirmative care more accessible, we proudly offer financing options to qualifying patients.

Many gender affirming procedures are eligible for insurance coverage when deemed medically necessary. Our knowledgeable team can help you navigate the insurance process.

To learn more about the pricing of gender affirmative care in New York, schedule a consultation online or call (212) 988-1800.

FAQ

What is gender affirmative care?

Gender affirmative care is a comprehensive series of surgical and non-surgical treatments designed to bring harmony between the body and your gender identity.

Who is gender affirming care for?

Gender affirming care is for anyone whose body does not align with their gender identity. Our gender-diverse patients range in identities including transgender, non-binary, cisgender.

Why is gender affirmative care important?

Gender affirmative care improves mental health, reduces gender dysphoria, and improves patients’ quality of life. (3, 4)

Why is Plastic Surgery & Dermatology of NYC a good fit for my gender affirmative care?

Dr. Jody Levine and Dr. Elie Levine combine respectful, individualized care with advanced technical skills and a comprehensive range of sophisticated surgical and non-surgical treatments. This unique blend allows us to provide a custom combination of treatments in an inclusive and warm environment to optimize results. Our patients feel empowered by their natural-looking body refinements.

Does insurance cover gender affirmative care?

It depends on your unique situation. During your consultation, we can review your insurance and provide guidance for a seamless process. Some treatments are covered by some insurance companies when deemed medically necessary.

References

  1. Laungani A, Brassard P. Gender Confirmation Surgery: Cosmetic or Reconstructive Procedure? Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2017;5(6):e1401. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001401
  2. 4.Wang M, Manzaneda Cipriani RM, Eppley B, Gallagher S. Body Contouring in Gender-Affirming Care. Clin Plast Surg. 2025;52(4):531-551. doi:10.1016/j.cps.2025.06.010
  3. Nguyen HB, Chavez AM, Lipner E, et al. Gender-Affirming Hormone Use in Transgender Individuals: Impact on Behavioral Health and Cognition. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2018;20(12):110. doi:10.1007/s11920-018-0973-0
  4. Green AE, DeChants JP, Price MN, Davis CK. Association of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy With Depression, Thoughts of Suicide, and Attempted Suicide Among Transgender and Nonbinary Youth. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2021;70(4):643-649. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.10.036