Gender-Affirming Surgery FAQ
Here are the questions patients considering gender-affirming surgery in Tijuana ask us most — about safety, the surgeon’s certification, logistics, and confidentiality — so you arrive at your consultation informed.
No image on this page depicts an actual patient or clinical result. Editorial images are used for illustration only.
On safety and the surgeon’s certification
Every surgery has risks — here they’re explained, not minimized
Like any surgery, gender-affirming surgery carries risks that are explained in detail during your evaluation — they are not minimized or left out. Dr. Alfredo Chama Naranjo is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who operates in a hospital setting.
Safety starts with two things: an honest, individual review of your medical history, and a surgical plan built for you — not a generic procedure applied the same way to every patient.
Bilingual care, starting with a virtual consultation
You don’t have to travel for your first conversation
Consultation, planning, and follow-up are all bilingual (Spanish and English), for local patients and patients traveling from the United States alike. You can start with a virtual consultation: you share your goals, the doctor evaluates your case and explains options, with no need to travel for that first conversation.
That first conversation is also where specific questions about your case get answered, before any plan or date is set.
How your quote is defined, and what’s required before surgery
A personalized plan, not a generic price list
Your plan and quote are handled individually after your evaluation, because every case — and every scope of surgery — is different. We don’t publish a generic figure because it wouldn’t match your actual situation.
Pre-operative requirements are discussed in your consultation and follow the standard of care for each procedure; the team supports you so you arrive informed and prepared for your surgery.
The practice evaluates different areas of gender affirmation — body, facial, and chest — case by case; when applicable, genital surgery is also reviewed and defined in your evaluation, with no standardized, one-size-fits-all procedure.
Dr. Chama explains every risk, requirement, and realistic expectation in your consultation, including the evidence on regret — before you decide. Skipping that conversation is not an option here.
What the evidence says about regret
Published research points to a low prevalence of regret
A 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis pooling 27 studies and 7,928 transgender patients who underwent gender-affirmation surgery found an overall pooled regret prevalence of about 1% (95% CI <1–2%) (Bustos et al., Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery — Global Open, 2021). That figure doesn’t replace your own evaluation — it’s context for a conversation Dr. Chama has with every patient, individually.
Discretion at every stage, results only with consent
Your information stays yours
Your information and your process are handled with discretion at every stage, from your first consultation to your last follow-up review.
Real results are shared only with written informed consent, in accordance with NOM-004; in the meantime, our results gallery remains in preparation.
Frequently asked questions
The full list
Is gender-affirming surgery safe?
Like any surgery, it carries risks that are explained during your evaluation. Dr. Chama is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who operates in a hospital setting. Safety starts with an individual evaluation and a plan built for you.
Do you provide care in English?
Yes. Consultation, planning, and follow-up are all bilingual (Spanish and English), for local patients and patients from the U.S.
Can I start with a virtual consultation?
Yes. The first conversation is remote: you share your goals, the doctor evaluates your case and explains options, with no need to travel.
How does logistics work from the United States?
The office is a short drive from the San Ysidro border crossing. We guide you on the crossing, recovery lodging, and transportation — see also our page on your surgery process, step by step.
How much does it cost?
Your plan and quote are handled individually after your evaluation, because every case is different. Message us on WhatsApp and we’ll gladly guide you.
Do many patients regret it?
The evidence says no: a 2021 meta-analysis pooling 7,928 patients found an overall regret prevalence of about 1% (95% CI <1–2%) after gender-affirmation surgery (Bustos et al., PRS Global Open, PMID 33968550).
Is there a required evaluation or prerequisite?
Requirements are discussed in your consultation and follow the standard of care for each procedure. The team supports you so you arrive informed and prepared.
Is it confidential?
Yes. Your information and your process are handled with discretion at every stage.
What is recovery like?
It varies by procedure and by patient. Your consultation explains what to expect stage by stage, and post-operative care, whether in-person or remote.
What if I live far away and can’t travel often?
The initial consultation is always virtual, and follow-up afterward can be coordinated remotely when your case allows it. Distance doesn’t have to be an obstacle to getting your questions answered.
Related Procedures
Consultation
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Last updated: September 19, 2026