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Dr. Nicholas Bene

Dr. Nicholas Bene - Director of Gender Affirmation Surgery at Stanford Medicine

Fellowship-Trained Gender Affirmation Surgeon at Stanford

Dr. Nick Bene is a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon and the Director of Gender Affirmation Surgery at Stanford Medicine. He offers comprehensive expertise in the full spectrum of gender-affirming procedures, including face, chest, body contouring, and genital surgeries. His practice emphasizes preserving erogenous sensation, optimizing sexual function, and providing affirming, individualized care.

A native of Hong Kong and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Dr. Bene brings a lived perspective and cultural sensitivity to his work.

Education and Training

Dr. Bene earned his medical degree from Tufts University, followed by Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery residency at Lahey Clinic in Boston, MA.

Motivated by a passion for gender-affirming care, Dr. Bene pursued a dedicated fellowship in Advanced Gender Affirmation Surgery at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR—one of the highest volume centers nationally. There, he trained with leading gender-affirming surgeons in plastic and urologic techniques, gaining expertise in innovative approaches that prioritize nerve regeneration, erogenous sensation and sexual function.

Consultations

During consultations, Dr. Bene prioritizes a collaborative approach with patients to develop a personalized surgical plan through informed decision-making and empowerment. He is open about his surgical experience, techniques, and complication rates.

Estimated Wait Times
Consultation: 1-2 months.
Surgery: 3-6 months.

Procedures Offered

Facial Affirming Surgery (Feminizing or Masculinizing)

  • Frontal sinus setback
  • Forehead and orbital contouring
  • Brow lift
  • Hairline advancement
  • Blepharoplasty
  • Rhinoplasty
  • Fat grafting to cheeks, lips
  • Mandible (jaw) contouring
  • Genioplasty (chin)
  • Chin or jaw implant
  • Lip lift
  • Tracheal shave, including trans-oral (scarless) approach


Feminizing Chest Surgery (Breast Augmentation)

Masculinizing Chest Surgery

  • Double incision mastectomy (with or without nipple grafts)
  • Periareolar “keyhole” mastectomy
  • “Buttonhole” inferior dermal flap mastectomy
  • Targeted nipple reinnervation

Targeted Nipple Reinnervation

Targeted Nipple Reinnervation (TNR) is a novel technique used during double incision top surgery to maximize nipple sensation. In this approach, the lateral intercostal nerves that supply the resected chest tissue and skin are preserved and positioned directly beneath the nipple graft. Studies have shown that TNR consistently enhances nipple sensory outcomes, including erogenous function.

Body Contouring (Feminizing and Masculinizing)

Feminizing Genital Surgery

  • Orchiectomy
  • Vulvoplasty
  • Vaginoplasty (penile inversion and robotic peritoneal flap techniques)

Robotic Peritoneal Flap Vaginoplasty

Dr. Bene offers robotic peritoneal flap vaginoplasty, a technique that provides full vaginal depth and greater surgical precision. With this approach, the peritoneum—a membranous tissue layer that lines the abdominal cavity—is utilized as lining for the neovagina.

Dr. Bene collaborates with a robotic surgeon who harvests the peritoneum and ​dissects the neovaginal space with enhanced precision and visualization, thereby enhancing safety outcomes. Since peritoneum is used to line part of the vaginal canal, additional genital skin is available to optimize external vulvar aesthetics, including well-defined outer and inner labia, a sensate clitoris with a clitoral hood, and overall symmetry.

Masculinizing Genital Surgery

  • Metoidioplasty
  • Phalloplasty
    • Radial forearm (RFFF), anterolateral thigh (ALT), abdomen
    • Tube-within-tube or shaft-only
  • Penile and testicular implants

Phalloplasty

Dr. Bene offers phalloplasty using radial forearm (RFFF), anterolateral thigh (ALT), or abdominal donor sites, with or without urethral lengthening for standing or sitting urination. He prioritizes erogenous sensation by routinely connecting two to three sensory nerves and performing intraoperative electrical nerve stimulation to optimize sexual function.

Insurance
Dr. Bene accepts a wide range of insurance providers, including but not limited to United Health Care, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Cigna, Aetna, Medicare and Medicaid (including Medi-Cal).

Surgery Requirements
Dr. Bene is a Member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and
follows WPATH SOC-8 guidelines.

  • Age minimum of 19 years old.
  • Letters of support from a qualified mental health provider.
  • Cessation of hormones around the time of surgery is not required or recommended.
  • Smoking/vaping must be stopped at least 2 months before and after surgery.

BMI Criteria

  • Facial: <45
  • Chest: <45
  • Body contouring: 20-35
  • Vulvoplasty, orchiectomy: <40
  • Vaginoplasty: <35
  • Metoidioplasty, phalloplasty: <35

Multidisciplinary Stanford LGBTQ+ Program

At Stanford, Dr. Bene is part of a comprehensive program dedicated to supporting the full range of healthcare needs for gender-diverse patients. We are committed to providing lifelong, comprehensive medical and surgical care for LGBTQ+ patients. Collaborating across specialties, we offer:

  • LGBQT+ focused primary care
  • Endocrinology (gender-affirming hormone therapy)
  • Voice therapy and voice/vocal fold surgery
  • Pelvic floor physical therapy
  • Fertility preservation and family planning services
  • Urology and gynecology (hysterectomy)
  • Mental health care