As a transgender female, you may feel like your outward appearance doesn’t reflect the actual gender you are. Luckily, there are a few different ways you can alter your facial features to make them appear more feminine. This can be done through facial feminization surgery (FFS), a combination of cheek augmentation, rhinoplasty, lip augmentation, jaw contouring and forehead contouring.
At Pacific Sound Plastic Surgery in Bellevue, our board-certified craniofacial surgeon, Dr. Kris Day, is an expert in facial feminization and various transgender surgeries. This extensive expertise makes him uniquely qualified to perform facial feminization to the highest standards. He can help you achieve your ideal female facial features with precision and care.
Facial feminization aims to make one’s facial features appear more feminine. This is a crucial part of the transition process for individuals transitioning from male to female, solidifying that their outer appearance matches their gender identity.
Generally speaking, masculine features include more angular faces with more prominent foreheads, larger noses, more defined, wider jawlines, and a more prominent chin. Facial feminization requires a plastic surgeon to alter those male facial features, making them appear smaller and more delicate.
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A cheek augmentation is one of the main procedures involved in facial feminization surgery. Your surgeon will either perform a fat transfer, undergo bone grafting, or use implants to create more supple, sculpted cheeks.
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A rhinoplasty, or nose job, can be an important facial feminizing procedure. This often involves reducing the size of the nose, narrowing the bridge, and refining and slightly upturning the tip of the nose.
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Lip augmentation is another surgery performed for facial feminization. You can either undergo a fat transfer, surgical lip lift or inject dermal fillers to create fuller, more pouty lips.
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Forehead contouring that seeks to reduce bony prominence above the eyebrows helps feminize the upper face. A brow lift can be performed in combination with this to elevate the sides of the eyebrows, round out the upper orbit, and eliminate features of the male pattern hairline.
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Jawline contouring is often the main procedure in facial feminization surgery. It involves creating a softer, less chiseled, more tapered, and sometimes narrower jaw through removing portions to reshape the bone.
Facial feminization surgery is a life-changing option for individuals struggling with gender dysphoria and who want to align their physical appearance with their gender identity. You are considered a good candidate for facial feminization surgery if you meet the following criteria:
The benefits of undergoing facial feminization surgery are vast. Foremost, it allows transgender individuals to achieve a more feminine appearance that reflects their gender identity. This can have an incredibly profound impact on one's confidence and mental well-being. Additionally, facial feminization surgery can also help to reduce psychological distress, body dysmorphia, and feeling of shame and confusion related to gender dysphoria.
Your journey will begin with an extensive consultation with Dr. Kris Day, your board-certified plastic surgeon in Bellevue. During this consultation, Dr. Day will carefully review your medical background, transition history, past surgeries, medication regimen, and, most importantly, your desired physical appearance. He understands that facial feminization is a highly sensitive decision, and he will work with you to ensure that you are comfortable and informed every step of the way.
Dr. Day will also examine your facial features, taking precise measurements and a facial CT scan. He will use this information to develop a customized surgical plan to help create the feminine appearance you desire. Rest assured that you’ll have the opportunity to review various before and after photos so that you can visualize the potential results of your surgery.
At Pacific Sound Plastic Surgery in Bellevue, we follow the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) standards of care, which include the collection of a letter from a licensed mental health professional. This letter confirms that another clinician has diagnosed gender dysphoria and the patient’s desire to undertake an irreversible procedure. Dr. Day collaborates with these other medical professionals to ensure you receive comprehensive, top-quality care.
Facial feminization is an outpatient procedure that takes place at our accredited plastic surgery center in Bellevue. There are a few choices for facial feminization surgery, but patients typically undergo forehead contouring, brow lift, cheek augmentation, rhinoplasty, lip augmentation, jaw, and chin contouring.
The specifics of your surgery are to be based on your unique aesthetic goals and what Dr. Day thinks is best for your individual circumstances. At the end of the day, his primary goal is to help you look how you feel on the inside, with feminine facial features.
After your facial feminization procedure at Pacific Sound Plastic Surgery, Dr. Kris Day and the team will debrief you on the recovery process. During the first few days following the procedure, you should avoid sleeping on your face and keep your head elevated using pillows.
You’ll experience mild to moderate swelling and tenderness for around two weeks. Rest assured, this is entirely normal and a part of the healing process. Please refrain from alcohol, smoking, vigorous exercise, heat, and humidity for a minimum of two weeks, as these things can disrupt the recovery process and increase your risk of complications. Our team will schedule your required follow-up appointments with Dr. Day.
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Like any surgical intervention, there is a risk of experiencing some adverse side effects, which may include facial numbness, bleeding, swelling, bruising, pain, discomfort, infections, and hematomas. Dr. Day will go over all the associated risks of the surgery during your consultation.
At Pacific Sound Plastic Surgery, there is no fixed cost for facial feminization surgery, as each of our patient's circumstances is different. However, keep in mind that some insurance providers will cover a portion of your surgery, which will help to reduce overall costs.
Yes, most insurance companies cover at least a portion of the costs associated with facial feminization surgery, provided that you meet certain requirements. At Pacific Sound Plastic Surgery, we work with numerous insurance providers to ensure that our patients receive adequate coverage. We recommend speaking with your health insurance provider to learn more about their policies regarding this procedure.
The duration of your facial feminization surgery depends on your combination of procedures. For instance, if you are undergoing a jawline reduction, chin augmentation, rhinoplasty, and lip augmentation, the surgery could last anywhere from 4 to 6 hours.
WHAT IS FACIAL FEMINIZATION SURGERY?
Facial feminization surgery refers to a group of procedures that help affirm the identity of individuals on a male-to-female transformative journey. There are facial features that are traditionally identified with masculinity or femininity, which lead to others’ perception of one’s gender. The areas that typically are addressed in surgery are the: forehead, nose, cheeks, jawline, chin, and thyroid cartilage, or “Adam’s apple.” Post-operatively, patients can expect to have less prominent features and smoother contours in each of these areas, which results: in a less pronounced forehead, slimmer nose, fuller cheeks and lips, a narrower jaw, shorter chin, and more concealed throat. These changes are meant to harmonize the patient’s appearance and affirm gender and identity.
Since surgery is typically not reversible, the best candidates for a gender-affirming procedures are those that has undergone steps in their gender transition prior to surgery. Such steps would include living as one’s identified gender in society, having consulted with a primary care doctor that follows the affirmation process, and possible use of hormone therapy under the care of an endocrinologist or other physician. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), who sets international standards for multi-disciplinary gender-affirming care, also mandates a consultation with a licensed mental health professional, such as a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist, who can provide a letter acknowledging a patient’s intent and capacity to undergo irreversible surgery. With the appropriate multi-disciplinary approach, we seek to best support patients in their transformation:
If you are interested in a facial feminization surgery, or “FFS,” remember that these procedures require surgery in an operating room, usually in a staged fashion. FFS is usually performed by plastic and reconstructive surgeons with specialized training in surgery of the facial skeleton and soft tissue. While the recovery process can take some time, patients who undergo facial feminization surgery are typically glad they undertook the process of becoming themselves.
If you would like to learn more about your facial feminization surgical options, don’t hesitate to ask Kristopher M. Day, MD, FACS by emailing Info@KrisDayPlasticSurgery.com to schedule a complementary consultation. Dr. Day has specialized training and experience working with members of the LGBTQ+ community and enjoys the opportunity to be part of an important step in helping transgendered individuals make positive life changes. He looks forward to designing a custom approach that will help you become your best self!
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