Dr. Praful Ramineni
Experienced Top Surgery Surgeon in Washington DC
Dr. Praful Ramineni, MD is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Washington D.C. who specializes in gender-affirming Top Surgery. He has more than 15 years of surgical experience and performs more than 600 surgeries every year. Dr. Ramineni's trans and non-binary patients make up more than three-quarters of his practice. They love his natural-looking Top Surgery results and his kind and professional personality.
After completing medical school and residency training, Dr. Ramineni became one of the busiest plastic surgeons at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He focused on treating patients needing cancer and trauma reconstruction, as well as microsurgery and aesthetic surgery. Dr. Ramineni served as the Chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery at MedStar and taught over 100 plastic surgery residents, earning him numerous teaching awards.
After 10 years of academic and research medicine, Dr. Ramineni founded District Plastic Surgery, a practice focused on providing compassionate, gender-affirming care for patients of all identities and backgrounds. The staff at District Plastic Surgery has received transgender competency training and is committed to supporting patients through each stage of their surgical journey. Se habla Español.
"I am very impressed with Dr. Ramineni and his office staff. When I met Dr. Ramineni for my consultation, I instantly knew he was the right doctor for me, making me feel confident and comfortable. His support staff is extremely attentive and responsive to any questions/follow ups that I have had. I also LOVE my new chest and couldn't be happier with the results! I've waited so long for this surgery and I'm glad I made the decision to go with Dr. Ramineni." -Russell L.
Professional Memberships:
- American Board of Plastic Surgery
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH)
Top Surgery in DC
Dr. Ramineni performs all of the popular methods of gender-affirming Chest Reconstruction, including Double Incision, Peri-Areolar, Keyhole, Inverted-T and Buttonhole. Chest size is one of the primary factors to consider when choosing a Top Surgery method. For those with smaller chests, Keyhole or Peri-areolar are usually recommended. When a larger amount of chest tissue needs to be removed, the nipples and areolas need to be resized and repositioned to get the most natural-looking results. This is typically done with the Double Incision and nipple grafting technique, but can also be achieved using the Inverted-T or Buttonhole methods.
Your Top Surgery Consultation
Dr. Ramineni offers FREE in-person, phone and virtual consultations. The wait time for a consultation is about two weeks, and the wait time for a surgery date is two to four months following consultation.
During your consultation, Dr. Ramineni will ask about your preferred chest contours and medical history. He'll also perform a respectful examination of your chest, and then offer his professional opinion about which Top Surgery method should be used based on chest size, skin elasticity and your preferences. Dr. Ramineni has many non-binary patients and is pleased to customize the procedure to meet your needs. You'll have the chance to ask any questions you might have and view before-and-after photos of Dr. Ramineni's previous Top Surgery patients. Once you've agreed on a treatment plan, Dr. Ramineni will go over how to prepare for surgery and what to expect during recovery. A cost estimate will also be provided and financing and insurance options will be discussed.
Top Surgery Cost
The cost of surgery will depend on the surgical techniques needed to reconstruct your chest, plus anesthesia and facility fees. Dr. Ramineni is currently accepting insurance from the following companies: Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Blue Cross Federal, Cigna and United Health Care. His team is knowledgeable about how to get your surgery covered by insurance. Please note that Dr. Ramineni does not accept Medicaid or Medicare.
Dr. Ramineni also accepts CareCredit, a type of medical financing that works much like a credit card.
For those coming to see Dr. Ramineni from out-of-state, be sure to ask about discounted hotel rates and options for remote follow-up care.
Dr. Ramineni is affiliated with George Washington University Hospital, Sibley Memorial Hospital and Glen Echo Surgery Center. Top Surgeries are typically performed at Glen Echo Surgery Center.
Top Surgery Recovery
Immediately following surgery, you'll be monitored as the anesthesia wears off until you're ready to safely leave the facility. You'll be able to return to where you'll be recovering the same day as your surgery. You'll need to make arrangements to have someone drive you there and stay with you for a minimum of 24 hours.
Swelling, bruising and some pain are normal during the initial stage of recovery but will gradually diminish as you heal. Pain can be managed with medication. You'll be provided with recovery and aftercare instructions and it's critical that you follow these instructions to ensure the best outcome.
Surgery Requirements
To be eligible for Top Surgery, patients need to be generally healthy and free of medical conditions that can negatively impact wound-healing. Smokers can safely have Top Surgery if they agree to abstain from smoking for a period of time before and after the procedure. Dr. Ramineni doesn't have a BMI requirement. If you're using insurance, you'll need to provide a support letter from a mental health expert to your insurance company. Typically, the requirement is one letter but some insurance carriers may require two letters. Dr. Ramineni will operate on minors with parental consent and letter(s) from a mental health provider that support the medical necessity of the surgery.
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