MTF Surgery » Surgeons

Dr. Nicholas Bene

Director of Gender Affirmation Surgery at Stanford Medicine

Dr. Nicholas (Nick) Bene, MD, is a board-certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon and the Director of Gender Affirmation Surgery at Stanford Medicine. He is fellowship-trained in Advanced Gender Affirmation Surgery and specializes in gender-affirming procedures, including facial, chest, and genital surgeries.

Guided by a deep respect for each patient’s goals and identity, Dr. Bene strives to deliver results that honor both form and function. His surgical philosophy centers on maintaining sensitivity and enhancing sexual well-being. His lived experience within the LGBTQ+ community and global perspective inform his inclusive and compassionate approach to every patient.

Education and Training

• Earned his medical degree from Tufts University
• Completed a Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery residency at Lahey Clinic in Boston, MA
• Pursued a fellowship in Advanced Gender Affirmation Surgery at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)—one of the nation’s highest-volume gender surgery centers
• Trained extensively in plastic and urologic techniques with emphasis on nerve regeneration, erogenous sensation, and functional outcomes

Dr. Bene's full credentials and surgical offerings are available on his TransHealthCare.org surgeon profile.

Feminizing Surgery at Stanford Medicine

Dr. Bene provides comprehensive surgical options for transfeminine patients, utilizing both traditional and robotic-assisted approaches to optimize safety, function, and aesthetic outcomes.

Facial Feminization Surgery

Dr. Bene performs a range of procedures designed to create softer, more traditionally feminine facial contours while maintaining harmony and balance with each patient’s features.

Procedures include:

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

Feminizing Chest Surgery (Breast Augmentation)

Dr. Bene offers breast augmentation with an individualized approach to implant selection, pocket design, and fold placement, ensuring results that are natural, proportional, and aligned with each patient’s goals.

As a fellowship-trained gender affirmation surgeon, Dr. Bene understands the anatomical differences between transfeminine and cisgender women that can influence breast augmentation planning and outcomes. For example, many trans women have a wider chest, thicker pectoral muscles, and a shorter distance between the nipple–areola complex and the inframammary fold (IMF). These factors directly affect how implants should be positioned.

In most transfeminine patients, achieving natural alignment requires careful modification of the inframammary fold, often lowering it by several centimeters. This adjustment allows the implant’s meridian to sit at the same level as the nipple, creating a balanced, feminine contour and avoiding the “high-riding” appearance that can occur if the fold is not properly repositioned.

Because Dr. Bene specializes in gender-affirming surgery, he brings a deep understanding of these unique anatomical considerations. His surgical planning prioritizes:

• Precise IMF adjustment to match the nipple’s position
• Thoughtful implant selection based on chest width and skin elasticity
• Meticulous attention to symmetry and long-term aesthetic stability

By combining technical precision with affirming, patient-centered care, Dr. Bene provides trans women with results that look natural, feel authentic, and align with their sense of self.

Feminizing Genital Surgery

Dr. Bene specializes in vaginoplasty and related genital procedures that prioritize both aesthetic and functional outcomes.

Procedures include:

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

Robotic Peritoneal Flap Vaginoplasty

Dr. Bene offers robotic peritoneal flap vaginoplasty, an advanced technique that provides full vaginal depth, enhanced surgical precision, and improved healing. In this procedure, the peritoneum, a membranous tissue that lines the abdominal cavity, is used to create the neovaginal lining. Dr. Bene collaborates with a robotic surgeon who assists in harvesting the peritoneum and preparing the neovaginal space with exceptional accuracy and visualization.

Using the peritoneum as part of the vaginal lining allows for more available genital skin, which can be used to refine external vulvar aesthetics, including:

• Well-defined outer and inner labia
• A sensate clitoris with a clitoral hood
• Natural symmetry and contour

This approach also helps reduce tension, promote faster recovery, and preserve sensation.

Consultation and Wait Times

Dr. Bene takes a collaborative, transparent approach to consultations, guiding patients through the decision-making process with openness about his techniques, outcomes, and complication rates.

Estimated Wait Times:

• Consultation: 1–2 months
• Surgery: 3–6 months after consultation

Insurance and Surgery Requirements

Dr. Bene accepts a wide range of insurance providers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Cigna, Aetna, Medi-Cal, and Medicare.

Surgery Requirements:

• Minimum age: 19 years
• Letter of support from a qualified mental health provider
• Smoking or vaping must stop at least 2 months before and after surgery
• Hormone cessation is not required or recommended
• BMI Criteria:
  • Facial procedures: <45
  • Breast augmentation: <45
  • Vulvoplasty and orchiectomy: <40
  • Vaginoplasty: <35

Contact Dr. Bene’s office at Stanford Medicine to schedule a consultation.