Align Surgical Associates Blog

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 …

Earlier this month, the Align Surgical team proudly showed up—and showed out—at the 75th Annual Meeting of the California Society of Plastic Surgeons (CSPS). With a presence that spanned research presentations, panel moderation, new member inductions, and meaningful conversations across the field, Align was deeply embedded in every corner of this landmark event. Here’s what …

Helping Redefine What Quality Care Means in Gender-Affirming Surgery We’re proud to share that Dr. Thomas Satterwhite and Dr. John Henry Pang of Align Surgical Associates have contributed to a major international study published in JAMA Network Open. The study introduces the GENDER-Q—the first comprehensive, validated tool that helps us better understand how gender-affirming care …

Dr. Gurjala, a board-certified plastic surgeon at Align Surgical Associates, recently hosted an Instagram Live on top surgery. During the discussion, Dr. Gurjala breaks down how to define your embodiment goals, how to communicate them to your surgeon, and how to avoid common pitfalls—giving you the knowledge to shape your best outcome. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTIBDiODlcI Caption/subtitle instructions: …

Facial features can play a key role in how we see ourselves and how we are perceived by others. For the transgender community, gender-affirming surgeries help align outer appearance with a person’s gender identity. Orthognathic surgery is one example of a transformative surgery that can make a significant impact on gender expression and self-confidence. What …

Dr. Satterwhite, a board-certified plastic surgeon, hosted an Instagram Live discussion with author of Tits Up, Sarah Thornton, on the cultural, medial, and personal meanings of breasts. https://youtu.be/ylp4pG7kLfACaption/subtitle instructions: To turn on subtitles, turn on closed captioning (CC icon), located at the bottom right of the video. To change the language, go to settings > …