One of the World’s Most Experienced Gender Surgeons
Dr. Curtis Crane, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon who performs Gender Reassignment Surgery procedures in Austin, Texas. Dr. Crane is one of only a few surgeons in the world who is trained as both a plastic surgeon and urologist and has also completed fellowships in reconstructive urology and gender reassignment surgery. He has completed more than 10 years of post-medical school surgical training in urology, reconstructive urology, and plastic surgery.
Dr. Crane has been performing gender surgery since 2005, working extensively with Dr. Djordjevic in Serbia, Dr. Preecha in Thailand, and Dr. Monstrey in Belgium, before opening his San Francisco practice in 2012. Now with offices in both San Francisco and Austin, Dr. Crane and his team of surgeons at the Crane Center for Transgender Surgery have performed more than 1000 Phalloplasty surgeries since 2012, and also perform approximately 130 Vaginoplasty and 120 Top Surgery procedures every year.
Dr. Crane became interested in pursuing a medical career after obtaining a degree in mechanical engineering from the world-class School of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University, and making hip implants at DePuy Orthopaedics, a global leader in the orthopaedic implant industry. He obtained his medical degree at the University of Iowa College of Medicine and was subsequently accepted into the prestigious Dartmouth Hitchcock Urology program in Lebanon, New Hampshire, where he completed a six-year residency. Dr. Crane’s deep interest in complex urological surgery led to a fellowship in trauma and reconstructive urology at Detroit Receiving Hospital with the renowned academic Reconstructive Urologist, Dr. Richard Santucci. Dr. Crane then completed a three-year residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas, followed by fellowship training in transgender surgery at Ghent University Hospital in Belgium.
View Dr. Crane’s latest research on Gender Surgery »
Dr. Crane practices exclusively with the Crane Center for Transgender Surgery in Austin, Texas, offering surgical solutions for transgender and non-binary patients as well as specialized training for surgeons interested in learning gender surgery.
Austin has seen a slow but steady increase in accessible and affirming trans and GNC health care and this need was a deciding factor when Dr. Crane moved to Texas. The state “is behind, in terms of transgender acceptance,” he said. “I hope moving here and opening a practice with a strong presence would maybe help the state’s legislators see that the trans community is courageous and deserves recognition and rights.”
Dr. Crane is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He is a member of the Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH.)
Top Surgery in Texas
In January 2013, Dr. Crane took over the practice of world-renowned surgeon, Dr. Michael Brownstein. For 35 years, Dr. Brownstein was one of only a handful of surgeons in the United States who would perform Top Surgery. Dr. Brownstein’s Top Surgery results were consistently excellent and Dr. Crane received training from Dr. Brownstein in his Double Incision and Keyhole techniques. Since then, Dr. Crane has further optimized these procedures and patients now travel to Austin from all over the country to have Top Surgery with Dr. Crane.
Metoidioplasty & Phalloplasty in Texas
In addition to continuing Dr. Brownstein’s Top Surgery work, Dr. Crane expanded the practice by also offering female-to-male bottom surgery. Uniquely qualified to provide major genitourinary reconstruction, Dr. Crane is able to offer variations of Metoidioplasty and Phalloplasty to suit patients’ different needs: with or without Vaginectomy; with or without Urethral Lengthening, with or without Scrotoplasty. Testicular and Penile Implants are also optional. Dr. Crane uses testicular implants made by Alpha Aesthetics.
For Phalloplasty, Dr. Crane can use one of three different donor sites: forearm (RFF), thigh (ALT) or back (MLD). In addition to the standard Glansplasty procedure, Dr. Crane also offers a glans implant that’s designed to better maintain the coronal ridge of the penis. The glans implant is typically reserved for those who have had ALT Phalloplasty.
Feminizing Surgery in Texas
Breast Augmentation: For a more feminine breast contour, silicone or saline breast implants can be inserted through an incision under the breast, in the armpit, or around the nipple. There are significant differences between trans and cis chest measurements that have implications concerning breast implant selection and surgical approach. Dr. Crane has the training and experience necessary for understanding these differences and maximizing your surgery results.
Feminizing Genital Surgery: Extensively trained in genitourinary reconstruction, Dr. Crane is able to offer multiple feminizing genital surgeries to meet different patients’ goals. From simply removing the testicles (Orchiectomy), and creation of a vulva without a vaginal canal (Vulvoplasty), to the more complex penile inversion method of creating a vagina (Vaginoplasty), Dr. Crane will assist you in choosing a procedure that’s best for you.
Dr. Crane operates at Arise Austin Medical Center and Westlake Hills Surgery Center, both in Austin, Texas.
“Dr. Crane and his staff are great . The surgeons—Dr. Crane, Dr. Deleon and Dr. Santucci —take time with patients in this very busy practice. I always had my after hours questions answered in a timely manner. The people that work in the office get you the information you need. They do care and listen.” –Pat G., Google Reviews
Surgery Requirements
Dr. Crane follows WPATH guidelines for surgery:
- You will need to provide two referrals from qualified mental health professionals for genital procedures; one referral for other procedures unless otherwise specified by insurance.
- A letter from your hormone specialist stating you have been on 12 months of continuous hormones for genital procedures, unless clinically contraindicated.
Additionally, patients must be 18+ years of age.
Financing & Insurance
Dr. Crane accepts credit/debit cards, cashier’s check, money order, wire transfer and medical financing via CareCredit. He also accepts insurance and is in-network with Cigna PPO, Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Commercial United Healthcare PPO and Employer Health Network (Whole Foods). He has also had success billing as an out-of-network provider with Aetna, Group Health, Harvard Pilgrim, HealthPartners and Medica.
Dr. Crane does not work with the following insurance providers: Medicare, Medicaid, Tri-Care, Kaiser, Ambetter and Oscar Health.
Booking a Consultation
Dr. Crane is available for phone or in-person consultations in Austin. If insurance is out-of-network, then the cost of the consultation is $200. If in-network, the consultation fee is the specialist co-pay. An in-person consultation is not required for booking a surgery date. Contact Dr. Crane’s office to book your consult and you’ll hear back with more details.
Current wait list: 4-6 weeks for a consultation, 5-6 weeks for a surgery date (after all requirements, such as letters and hair removal, are met.)
