Unmatched training & expertise.
All for you.
Featuring a track record of academic excellence, award-winning research, and internationally-recognized clinical expertise, Dr. James Lee is dedicated to delivering personalized care that represents the best that modern medicine can offer.
Undergraduate
University of California, Berkeley
BA, Molecular and Cell Biology
BA, Economics
Honors & Highest Distinction
Medical School
UCLA School of Medicine
Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Medical Society Honors
Plastic Surgery REsidency
Columbia & Cornell University
Chief Resident in Plastic Surgery
Dicran Goulian, MD Award for Academic Excellence
Craniofacial Surgery Fellowship
UCLA School of Medicine
Clinical Instructor, Division of Plastic Surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Science | Plastic Surgery Specialty Director | Research Mentor
Keck School of Medicine of USC
Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery | Resident Mentor | Clinical Competency Committee Member
Southern California Permanente Medical Group
Partner Physician, Department of Plastic Surgery
Physician Lead, Gender-Affirming Surgery, Kaiser Permanente Southern California
Professional Associations
American Board of Plastic Surgery
Board-Certified Diplomate in Plastic Surgery
FACE Journal
Section Editor, Gender-Affirming Surgery
Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal
Specialty Reviewer Board, Plastic Surgery
Professional Memberships
American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons (ASMS)
California Society of Plastic Surgeons (CSPS)
Awards
Castle Connolly Top Doctors 2024-2026
Best Research Award, Plastic Surgery The Meeting 2023 & 2025
Outstanding Research Scholarship and Mentorship Award, Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine 2024
Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center Research Poster Award 2024 & 2025
California Society of Plastic Surgeons 1st Place Research Poster Award, Craniofacial Surgery 2024
Dicran Goulian, MD Award for Academic Excellence 2019 & 2018
American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Resident Scholar Award 2018
Distinguished Housestaff Award, Weill Cornell 2018
Best Aesthetic Paper Award, Plastic Surgery The Meeting 2016 & 2017
Resident of the Month, Columbia & Cornell 2016
Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honors, UCLA School of Medicine 2012
Letter of Distinction in Surgery, Medicine, and Psychiatry, UCLA 2012
Oliver Goldsmith, MD Scholarship Award 2011
The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Award 2010
Dean’s Letter of Commendation for Head & Neck Dissection, UCLA 2010
Lewis A. Eldrige Medical Scholarship, UCLA School of Medicine 2009
I.L. Chaikoff Memorial Award, University of California, Berkeley 2009
30+
Publications and Book Chapters
50+
Abstracts, Posters, and Presentations
13
Years of Experience
The Power of Facial Feminization Surgery: A Prospective Study of Validated Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures
A long-term cohort study demonstrating huge improvements in appearance scores, psychological outcomes, and social function after facial feminization surgery.
Temporal Rotation Flaps for Gender-Affirming Hairline Feminization: Taking the “M” Shape Out of Masculine Hairlines
Description and review of our innovative technique to address the receding temporal hairline often found in transfeminine patients undergoing facial feminization surgery.
Ambulatory Facial Feminization Surgery: A Comparative Analysis of Outcomes and Complications
A deep retrospective review of our long-term outcomes comparing same-day to inpatient facial feminization surgery showing low complication rates, similar emergency room visits, and minimal hospital readmissions.
Publications
Vardanian AJ, Kusnezov N, Im DD, Lee JC, Jarrahy R. Social media use and impact on plastic surgery practice. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2013 May;131(5):1184-93.
Granzow JW, Suliman A, Roostaeiean J, Perry A, Boyd B. Acknowledgments (contributing researchers): James Lee and Neil Tanna. The supraclavicular island flap (SCAIF) for head and neck reconstruction: surgical technique and refinements. Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. 2013 Jun;148(6):933-40.
Granzow JW, Suliman A, Roostaeiean J, Perry A, Boyd B. Acknowledgments (contributing researchers): James Lee and Neil Tanna. Supraclavicular artery island flap vs free fasciocutaneous flaps for head and neck reconstruction. Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. 2013 Jun;148(6):941-8.
Hokugo A, Sorice S, Yalom A, Lee JC, Li A, Zuk P, Jarrahy R. In vitro study of a novel oxysterol for osteogenic differentiation on rabbit bone marrow stromal cells. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2013 Jul;132(1):70e-80e.
Chao JW, Lee JC, Chang MM, Kwan E. Alloplastic Augmentation of the Asian Face: A Review of 215 Patients. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2016 Sep;36(8):861-8.
Morrison KA, Lee JC, Souweidane MM, Feldstein NA, Ascherman JA. Twenty-Year Outcomes Experience with Primary Open Craniosynostosis Repairs: An Analysis of Reoperation and Complication Rates. Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2018 Apr;80(4 Suppl 4):S158-163.
Lee JC, Morrison KA, Chang MM, Ascherman JA, Rohde CH. Financial Implications of Atypical Mycobacterial Infections After Cosmetic Tourism: Is It Worth the Risk? Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2018 Sep; 81(3):269-273.
Lee JC, Ishtihar S, Means JJ, Wu J, Rohde CH. In Search of An Ideal Closure Method: A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Octyl-2-cyanoacrylate and Adhesive Mesh Versus Subcuticular Suture in Reduction Mammoplasty. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2018 Oct;142(4):850-856.
Lopez MM, Lee JC, Morrison KA, Hoffman C, Souweidane MM, Ascherman JA. Calculated Blood loss and Transfusion Requirements in Primary Open Repair of Craniosynostosis. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open. 2019 Feb 8;7(2):e2112.
Laifer-Narin S, Schlechtweg K, Lee JC, Booker W, Miller R, Ayyala R, Imahiyerobo T. A Comparison of Early and Late Prenatal MRI in the Diagnosis of Cleft Palate. Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2019 Apr;82(4S Suppl 3):S242-S246.
Lee JC, Pfaff MJ, Lee, JC. Discussion: Prospective Quality of Life Outcomes after Facial Feminization: An International Multi-Center Study. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2020 June; 145(6):1510-1511.
Pfaff MJ, Lee JC, Lee, JC. Discussion: Sleep Outcomes in Neonates with Robin Sequence Undergoing External Mandibular Distraction: A Longitudinal Analysis. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2020 Nov;146(5):1116-1117.
Lee JC, Modiri O, England RW, Shawber CJ, Wu J. Propranolol Therapy in Infantile Hemangioma: It is Not Just About the Beta. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2021 Apr 1;147(4):875-885.
Lee JC, Ozaki A, Ozaki W. The Impact of COVID-19 on the Personal Protective Equipment Practices and Preferences of Craniofacial Surgeons. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open. 2021 Jun 22;9(6):e3686.
Dang BN, Pfaff M, Jain NS, Hu AC, Bertrand AA, Chan CH, Kang V, Lee JC, Bradley JP, Lee JC. Component Restoration in the Bilateral Intermediate Cleft Tip Rhinoplasty. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2021 Aug 1;148(2):243e-247e.
Dang BN, Hu AC, Bertrand AA, Chan CH, Jain NS, Pfaff MJ, Lee JC, Lee JC. Evaluation and treatment of facial feminization surgery: part I. forehead, orbits, eyebrows, eyes, and nose. Archives of Plastic Surgery. 2021 Sep; 48(5):503-510.
Dang BN, Hu AC, Bertrand AA, Chan CH, Jain NS, Pfaff MJ, Lee JC, Lee JC. Evaluation and treatment of facial feminization surgery: part II. lips, midface, mandible, chin, and laryngeal prominence. Archives of Plastic Surgery. 2022 Jan; 49(1):5-11.
Lee JC, Alford J, Willson T, Ozaki W. Improved success rate with corticocancellous block compared to cancellous-only trephine technique in alveolar bone grafting from the iliac crest. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2022 Aug 1;150(2):387e-395e.
Cordero J, Frediani T, Carre AL, Lee JC, Francis SH, Chu MW. Complexity of online facial feminization surgery material exceeds patient health literacy. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. 2022 Nov-Dec;33(8):e818-e820.
Lee JC, Martin A, Ozaki W. Changes in Personal Protective Equipment Practices and Perceptions of Craniofacial Surgeons During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open. 2023 Jan; 11(1): e4793.
Nguyen N, Lee JC, Liu Y. A Case Report of Craniofacial Intraosseous Xanthoma in a Patient Seeking Facial Feminization Surgery. Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2024 May 1;92(5):537-539.
Nguyen N, Doan L, Jiang F, Chu M, Liu Y, Francis S, Lee JC. Ambulatory Facial Feminization Surgery: A Comparative Analysis of Outcomes and Complications. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery. 2024 Mar 22:93:30-35.
Doan L, Ives G, Cordero J, Lee JC. A Differential Analysis of Preferred Feminine Facial Contours for Transfeminine Individuals. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. 2024 Jul-Aug;35(5):1389-1393.
Nguyen N, Doan L, Jiang F, Chu M, Liu Y, Francis S, Lee JC. The Evolution of a Large-Scale Facial Gender Affirmation Program: A Comparative Outcomes Analysis. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery. 2024 Dec:99:416-419.
Ives GC, Martin A, Munabi N, Lee JC, Ames JA, Chu M, Kim DC, Francis SH. Temporal Rotation Flaps for Gender Affirming Hairline Feminization: Taking the “M” Shape Out of the Masculine Hairline. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery. 2025 Mar:102:404-411.
Deng I, Nguyen N, Argame A, Lee JC, Chu MW. Comparison of Transoral and Transcutaneous Approaches for Gender-Affirming Thyroid Cartilage Reduction: A Case Series of 238 Patients. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2025 Aug 1;156(2):319-327.
Deng I, Argame A, Nguyen N, Lee JC, Francis SH, Chu M. Assessment of Regionalized Facial Feminization Surgery: Impact of Patient Travel Distance on Surgical Outcomes. Submitted to Transgender Health.
Nguyen N, Argame A, Deng I, Doan L, Chu M, Liu Y, Francis S, Lee JC. Incidence, Outcomes, and Systematic Review of Postoperative Acute Telogen Effluvium After Facial Feminization Surgery. Submitted to: Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery.
Nguyen N, Argame A, Newton K, Shakoori P, Francis SH, Liu Y, Lee JC. The Power of Facial Feminization Surgery: A Prospective Study of Validated Patient-reported Outcomes Measures. Submitted to: Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery.