Your Gender-Affirming Surgery Process, Step by Step
Planning gender-affirming surgery in Tijuana can be straightforward and well-supported. The office is a short drive from the San Ysidro border crossing, the entire process is bilingual and confidential, and here we walk through each stage so you know what to expect before you decide anything.
No image on this page depicts an actual patient or clinical result. Editorial images are used for illustration only.
Consultation
Virtual or in-person review of your case
Preparation
Personalized plan, pre-op studies
Procedure
Hospital setting, certified team
Recovery
In-person or remote follow-up from the U.S.
A process built for patients who travel
Close to the border, thought through for cross-border patients
Dr. Chama’s office is in Plaza Península, a short drive from the San Ysidro border crossing — accessible for patients coming from the United States. The entire process is bilingual (Spanish and English) and handled with discretion at every stage.
What follows is the general path, from your first conversation to follow-up after surgery. Your exact timeline is adjusted to your plan and discussed with you starting at the first consultation.
The five stages of your process
Each stage has a clear purpose
Every stage is coordinated with you before moving to the next one. Here is the full path:
- Virtual consultation. We start remotely: you share your goals, the doctor evaluates your case, answers questions, and explains options — no travel required for this first conversation.
- Personalized surgical plan. Based on your evaluation, the plan and what it includes are defined; details and your quote are handled individually, with you.
- Travel logistics. We guide you on the San Ysidro crossing, nearby recovery lodging options, and transportation, so you can focus on your care.
- Surgery. Performed in a hospital setting, with the corresponding safety standards.
- Recovery and follow-up. Post-operative care with clear instructions; follow-up can be in-person or remote, depending on your case and location.
Logistics from the United States
The border crossing is part of the plan, not a detail you figure out alone
If you’re coming from San Diego, Chula Vista, Los Angeles, or anywhere else in the United States, crossing at San Ysidro toward Plaza Península is a short drive. We guide you on the crossing itself, local transportation, and what to bring.
Travel logistics are part of your plan, not something you sort out on your own. You can also review our guide on medical tourism for more detail on recovery lodging and transportation.
Dr. Chama discusses every risk, requirement, and realistic expectation in your consultation — before you decide. A process page that skips the safety questions is not giving you complete information.
Surgery in a hospital setting
Confirming where and how you’re operated on matters
Surgery is performed to the safety standards of a full hospital setting — not in an office or an improvised outpatient clinic.
Verifying where and how a procedure is performed is one of the most important questions you can ask before deciding; our guide on planning your trip safely covers what else is worth confirming.
Your information, handled with discretion
Confidential at every stage
Your information and your process are handled with discretion at every stage, from your first virtual consultation to your last follow-up review. Nothing about your case is shared without your explicit authorization.
That same discretion applies to results: they are shared only with written informed consent, in accordance with NOM-004.
Frequently asked questions
What patients ask us most
Do I need to travel more than once?
The initial consultation is virtual, so you don’t need to travel for that first conversation. Travel is concentrated on surgery and whatever in-person follow-up your plan requires; the rest can be coordinated remotely.
How long do I need to stay in Tijuana?
It depends on the scope of your plan and your recovery. Your consultation covers the estimated time for your case and which check-ins are worth doing before you travel back.
Do you help with recovery lodging?
Yes. We guide you toward recovery lodging options near the hospital and toward transportation, so your only priority is your care.
Do I need a companion?
Traveling with someone is recommended, especially for the first days after surgery. Your consultation covers what kind of support makes sense for your plan.
Can follow-up be done remotely?
Yes, when your case allows it. Follow-up can be in-person or remote, depending on your recovery and your location — that’s decided with you, not applied generically.
How much does the whole process cost?
Your quote is handled individually after your evaluation, because every plan is different. Message us on WhatsApp and we’ll guide you.
Is surgery in Tijuana safe?
Surgery is performed in a hospital setting by a board-certified plastic surgeon. Confirming the hospital setting and the surgeon’s certification is exactly what our guide on medical tourism recommends checking.
Do you provide care in English throughout the process?
Yes. Consultation, planning, and follow-up are all bilingual (Spanish and English), for local patients and patients from the U.S. alike.
Related Procedures
Consultation
Schedule your consultation
Direct attention from Dr. Alfredo Chama's team, board-certified plastic surgeon in Tijuana. Message us or call to schedule your appointment.
or if you prefer, directly:
Last updated: September 19, 2026