Yearly Archives: 2025

Vaginoplasty is a gender-affirming surgery that creates a vaginal canal through re-arranging tissue in the genital area [4]. It can be a life-changing procedure for many transgender women and nonbinary individuals, helping them feel more aligned with their gender identity. After surgery, proper healing and long-term success depend heavily on following post-op care instructions. One …

Drs. Dev Gurjala and Michael Safir of Align Surgical Associates recently hosted an Instagram Live session focused on single scar phalloplasty (SSP) and microvascular phalloplasties, and how to know which is the right procedure for you. Throughout the discussion, both surgeons clarify what SSP and microvascular phalloplasties entail and answer the most common concerns patients …

This guide will walk you through the steps of vaginoplasty dilation. Dilation becomes easier with time, and having a regular routine helps your body heal well. Editor’s note: In our article, we may use terms that are culturally outdated, as many of our patients still rely on them when searching for information. We want to ensure we remain …

Gender-affirming care is about more than surgery alone—it’s about helping individuals feel fully at home in their bodies. One often overlooked but highly impactful part of this process is surgical tattooing and pigmentation techniques. These procedures can complement gender-affirming surgeries and provide a natural, authentic appearance for trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse individuals at any stage …

Radial forearm phalloplasty (RFF) has long been regarded as the benchmark technique in microvascular phalloplasty, particularly for gender-affirming genital reconstruction. Despite the emergence of alternative donor sites such as the anterolateral thigh (ALT) or latissimus dorsi, RFF continues to set the standard due to its unmatched reliability, versatility, and functional outcomes. Microsurgical Reliability and Vascular …

Dr. Michael Safir of Align Surgical Associates recently hosted an Instagram Live session focused on metoidioplasty, a gender-affirming procedure. Throughout the discussion, Dr. Safir clarifies what metoidioplasty entails, how to prepare for candidacy, and the most common concerns patients express. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cp5rvT4vSU Caption/subtitle instructions: To turn on subtitles, turn on closed captioning (CC icon), located at …

Hi everyone. I hope everyone's having a great day. My name is Dr. Brianna Jedrzejewski. I'm a board eligible plastic and reconstructive surgeon with Align Surgical in San Francisco, California. Thank you for joining our Instagram live today. I want to let you know we've turned off the comments  to avoid any potential harmful commentary, …

Why Research Matters in Trans Healthcare Transformative surgical care begins well before the operating room and continues long after. That’s why we’re committed to research that advances the science of gender-affirming surgery and centers the lived experiences, voices, and outcomes of the patients we serve. As one of the few private surgical practices with a …

Gender-affirming surgery (GAS) represents a significant milestone in many transgender and nonbinary individuals' healthcare journeys. These procedures can be an essential part of aligning their physical appearance with their gender identity. We understand that considering these gender affirming surgeries often comes with numerous questions and concerns. In this comprehensive guide, we answer the most frequently …

For many transgender men and nonbinary individuals, phalloplasty is an important and affirming step in aligning their physical body with their gender identity. While traditional approaches to phalloplasty have evolved significantly over time, they often come with visible scars that can carry both physical and emotional weight. That is where Single Scar Phalloplasty (SSP) offers …

If you’re exploring gender-affirming surgery, you’ve likely come across vaginoplasty—a procedure that creates a vaginal canal. But what if you’re told there’s insufficient tissue for the standard approach? Or perhaps you’ve already undergone vaginoplasty, but the resulting vaginal canal is too short or narrow? This is where robotic vaginoplasty can make a significant difference. What …

What is Pride Month? Pride Month is a time to celebrate the achievements of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, promote equality and acceptance, and importantly, honor the community's long and ongoing history of struggle and resilience. Pride is held in June to commemorate the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, a series of protests led by members …