Frequently Asked Questions
Is gender confirmation surgery covered by insurance?
We are advocates for insurance auth no matter your insurance status for all transgender procedures. If we aren’t able to secure insurance coverage for your procedures, we have several non-insurance payment options, including cash pay, payment plans, and plastic surgery care credit. Inquire with our office to learn more.
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How long does it take to schedule a top or bottom surgery?
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From booking your procedure(s) to operation, the timeline is generally quite efficient — usually one to two months. Factors that affect this timeline are type and complexity of surgical procedures scheduled.
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How long do these procedures take?
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Some facial feminization or masculinization procedures can often be performed within a day. Vaginoplasty and phalloplasty (bottom surgery) are more complex, and could require as much as a one-week hospital stay.
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Where does the surgery take place?
Vaginoplasty and phalloplasty (bottom surgeries) require hospital facilities. For those procedures and other procedures to take place in a hospital, Dr. Mundinger's team works with Ochsner Baptist. Ask your surgeon about their hospital affiliation in your early research phase.
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For single-stage or minor procedures, these can be done in a hospital or in an outpatient plastic surgery center. Dr. Mundinger's team also works in many of the region's cosmetic surgery centers in the region to offer additional options to patients who want a more plush experience or prefer to pay out of pocket.
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Who performs these procedures in the Gulf Coast region?
For hormone therapy, there are a fair number of providers. Ochsner and Crescent City are two of the most reputable. See our list of partners for bottom surgery, top surgery, facial feminization procedures, pelvic floor therapies, fertility counseling and more.
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How do I prepare for my gender confirmation surgery?
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In preparing for surgery, your surgeon may advise you to:
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Stop smoking
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Avoid anti-inflammatories,aspirin, and certain herbal supplements
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Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
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Provide letters of recommendation from mental health professionals
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Take certain medications or adjust existing medications
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Top surgery and facial surgeries can often be performed in out-patient plastic surgery centers. Bottom surgery is typically performed in a hospital, with anesthesia.
Depending on your individualized plan of care, and as per your surgeon’s best judgement, one or multiple follow-up procedures may be performed on an outpatient basis.
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What drugs are used during the surgeries?
Talk to your surgeon in advance of your procedure for the specifics of your care plan. Common drugs administered during gender affirming surgeries include local anesthesia (a drug injected directly to the site of an incision during an operation to relieve pain), intravenous sedation (administered by injection into a vein to help you relax), and general anesthesia (a drug or gas during an operation to relieve pain and alter consciousness).
For Medical Care Providers: Words Matter
One struggle for the transgender community has been the gap in understanding between the transgender experience and the medical community at large.
Transgender patients are often confronted with incorrect pronouns, terminology, and a general lack of understanding around their preferences, options, and expectations when discussing medical and surgical options with medical professionals.
Learn more about Gender Dysphoria, Gender Incongruence, and language around transgender procedures.