Melinda A Costa, MD, FACS - San Jose, California

Pia Cruz

Had Facial Feminization Surgery with Dr. Costa in August of 2023. I'M SO HAPPY WITH MY RESULTS! Dr. Costa really took great care to preserve the individuation of my facial features, while at the same time making them look way more feminine. The healing process was smooth, and although FFS results can take up to a year to see final results, I was already seeing wonderful changes by month 3!

I've gotten so many compliments on my face by friends, family and even strangers. I have a confidence now that I never thought I would ever achieve. Would HIGHLY recommend Dr. Costa to anyone, she truly is an artist. 🙂

Macy Valdez

I was nervous to start the process of getting a breast reduction, because of all the stories I’ve heard about how hard it is to get approved, but I am SO happy I followed through and chose Dr. Costa! The process was so seamless from start to finish. Dr. Costa and her team were so supportive. Tina, at the front desk was so flexible and happy to be there as well. I came in for my 6 month post-op appointment and I told Dr. Costa that I truly would do it all over again if I had to and would recommend her to anyone curious or interested in this procedure. I am SO happy with my results and I seriously cannot thank Dr. Costa and her team enough!!

Valeria H

Dr. Costa is an absolute artist and true professional in facial feminization surgery, from the initial consultation to the final results her care and attention to detail are beyond exceptional.
My FFS are beyond what I could have hoped and the results has been life changing both physically and emotionally. If you are considering FFS or any surgery I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Costa services, her expertise and compassion make her the best in the field.

T Stone

Dr. Costa and her staff have great people skills and are very kind.
My procedure outcome turned out better than I ever expected. I am 100% pleased!!

Thomas Henegar

Dr. Costa is the obvious choice. She performed a rather intensive procedure on me and the surgery itself and the result came out perfectly.

I found Dr. Costa via a Google search for head reshaping specialists (assuming there even was such a thing). Then I went to her wanting her to make the shape of my head more “normal” because I hated the way I looked. I had a large forehead and the crown of my head was pointy, making me look somewhat like grandpa Simpson from the TV show (someone literally called me a “grandpa Simpson head” one time and it was true). During our initial consultation (via video chat), Dr. Costa understood exactly what I wanted done and also immediately knew the exact procedure she would do, which she explained to me in detail. As if that didn’t impress me enough, I could tell how confident she was about it. So, between that and her lengthy resume that I read on her website, I had full confidence in her from the beginning. A few months later, I visited her for my in-person consultation during which she was able to explain in more detail what my new look would be. (It is worth mentioning that her office staff offered great customer service during this time. They were always prompt with scheduling my consultations and answering any questions or concerns I had. They are quite busy, but it still never took longer than one or two business days to hear back from them.)

Between the in-person consultation and the actual surgery, she had me get a surgery clearance exam from my local doctor (I live in Georgia). She also had me get an MRI of my head done, so that she would know exactly how much bone to remove from my skull. These are examples of how thorough and diligent she is regarding both my safety during the surgery and keeping the risk level to a minimum (not that there were any serious risks involved anyway. If there was, she would not have done the surgery. I’m just aware that no surgery is completely risk-free).

For the actual procedure, I mentioned it being intensive. Specifically, she had to peel back my scalp enough to expose my entire skull. Then, she used a hand-held machine to burr down the excess bone that was giving my crown the pointy shape, as well as some bone from my forehead so that it would lay flatter. With my skull now slightly smaller, she was able to stretch my scalp forward so that my hairline would be exactly 6.0 cm above my eyebrows (Dr. Costa is that meticulous). The final result is a more normal, spherical head and a normal-sized forehead (as opposed to my “six head,” as people with big foreheads get called). The scar runs in front of my hairline, but it is healing nicely and will be virtually invisible once it finishes healing. The surgery had no complications and she was able to give me the exact look I wanted.

My new look has been literally life-changing for me, because of how self-conscious I felt. It has also boosted my self-confidence and makes me feel photogenic for the first time ever. Dr. Costa is my hero for doing this, which I told her. I also told her I would be leaving her one hell of a Google review as a thank you and that she has my permission to share my before and after pictures on her website. So, in closing, she is once again the obvious choice!

Nicole Maley

After researching dermoid removal on adults, I came across Dr. Costa's name. Given that it's uncommon for adults to undergo this procedure, I was initially very anxious. A prior doctor sharped scars on my face emphasizing where the scares would be and that it was inevitability. Despite not conducting any scans, i was also cautioned that a dent would likely remain after the cyst removal making me hesitant to pursue treatment for years. However, after stumbling across Dr. Costa and reviewing her before and after photos of past procedures, I felt confident in her expertise. Prior to surgery, she arranged for a CT scan, which eased my concerns by ensuring there were no underlying bone deformities caused by the cyst. Thankfully, there weren't any issues, so Dr. Costa's decided to perform the surgery along the hairline, and I couldn't be happier with the results. I'm writing this review one week and two days after my procedure. With the stitches removed, it's remarkable how inconspicuous the incision is; it seamlessly blends into my hairline. I've received numerous compliments from friends and family on the surgeon's skill and the quality of the stitch work. Dr. Costa's work is truly exceptional. While my incision is still healing, it's barely noticeable, and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. My only regret is not finding her sooner.
I'd also like to mention Tina, who works at the front desk; she was absolutely amazing. She was incredibly sweet and helpful throughout my experience. Whenever I had a question, I could simply text her, and she would respond promptly. I never had to wait for my appointments; I always walked right in. I can't recommend Dr. Costa and her team enough!!

Keith Roizman

Starting in November 2023, Melinda Costa MD FACS provided the finest surgical treatment and post-operative care for my face.
Following consultation with several other physician specialists to confirm a diagnosis for my nose and breathing problems, Dr. Costa performed successful corrective surgery on my nose. The functional outcome from Dr. Costa's treatment and post-operative care has allowed me to breathe freely and normally through my nostrils for the first time in nearly a decade. Furthermore, Dr. Costa insisted on obtaining numerous photographs of my face from different angles and perspectives in order to ensure that my surgically repaired nose would look as close as possible to my nose prior to the onset of the significant deformity. Dr. Costa has continued to provide excellent experienced post-operative care as my recovery and healing continues for at least twelve months following surgery. I highly recommend Dr. Costa to anyone seeking facial and cranial surgery and related treatments.

Tiffany Pimentel

I don’t even know where to begin but Dr. Costa is amazing! She recently did surgery on my daughter and the results are great! She’s so kind, patient, and took the best care of her! Also, I can’t forget Tina! She communicated with me during the entire process and has been nothing short of amazing! They were able to get a previously denied procedure by our insurance approved! The 2 hour drives (one way) have been beyond worth it! I would definitely recommend this practice and Dr. Costa!