Facial Gender Affirming Surgery
What is facial gender affirming surgery?
Facial Gender Affirming is a group of surgeries or procedures that are performed to make the face more feminine in Facial Feminization Surgery or more masculine in Facial Masculinization Surgery. We perform Facial Feminization Surgery more frequently because testosterone works so effectively on the facial structures. (Note, our FFS patients must be over 18 years old.)
Who can benefit from facial gender affirming surgery?
Anyone who wants a more feminine or masculine surgery. We often seen Transgender Women who are interested in feminizing procedures as part of their transition. However, these can be useful for Nonbinary people who are looking for a more androgynous look or Cisgender women who want to look more feminine. Both Cisgender and Transgender men may benefit from implants or liposuction to give a more square or defined jawline.
What procedures are involved?
Dr Sturm specializes in soft tissue Feminizing Facial Gender Affirming Surgery. These procedures include:
- Hairline lowering
- Hair transplantation
- Browlift
- Eyelid lift
- Rhinoplasty
- Lip lift
- Chin augmentation
- Cheek augmentation
- Tracheal shave (chondrolaryngoplasty)
- Facelift
Dr. Sturm collaborates with surgeons who specialize in craniofacial surgery or bony Facial Gender Affirming Surgery, such as forehead bossing reduction, V-line surgery, and genioplasty so you can have sub-specialized surgeons with only one surgery and one downtime.
What is hairline advancement?
Hairline advancement and brow lifting are performed together with forehead bossing reduction to feminize the upper 1/3 of the face. We know from scientific studies that this is the most important area of the face for the recognition of gender. Since they can all be done through the same incision, we often talk about them together.
What is a hairline advancement procedure?
In forehead reduction or hairline advancement, we make an incision at the hairline to bring the hairline forward and shorten the forehead. Of hair procedures, this brings the largest number of hair follices forward creating a thick hairline, shorter forehead and more balance to the face. This can be done at the same time as a brow lift or forehead bossing reduction. Some patients choose to have hair transplantation done 6 months or more after the procedure for even further advancement or shaping of the hairline.
What is hairline advancement recovery like?
Patients should plan for at least one week off from work following a hairline advancement reduction. After surgery, your head may be wrapped with a dressing which is taken off the first day after surgery. Patients should keep their head elevated and avoid strenuous activity for several weeks.
Is there scarring after a hairline reduction?
Scars from hairline advancement surgery are well-hidden at the hairline, so you can wear your hair any way that you please. The incision is pink in the beginning, but fades over time.
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