Facial Feminization
What does Facial Feminization Surgery Involve?
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Many Transgender women would like to alter their faces to appear less masculine, and more feminine. Fortunately, leading FFS plastic surgeon in Seattle, USA, Dr. Javad Sajan has extensive experience with these types of procedures, altering the hairline, brow, nose and chin to sculpt a distinctly feminine look that’s all your own.
Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS)
Male and female faces traditionally have small differences that indicate gender expression. For transgender woman, even if they present femininely, may feel dysphoria or experience misgendering due to traditionally male facial features. A gender affirming procedure known as facial feminization, or FFS, can take traditionally male facial features and make them look feminine via a custom combination of procedures. Dr. Javad Sajan performs the best facial feminization surgery in the USA.
What Is Facial Feminization?
Facial feminization surgery—often abbreviated to FFS in US — is a combination of facial plastic surgeries meant to make the patient’s face appear more feminine. It is common among transgender women, but cisgender women occasionally undergo the procedure as well. FFS can address the entire face or one portion of it. However, it will always include more than one surgery.
Benefits
Patients undergoing FFS will likely see many benefits once they heal and see their final results. Some of the possible benefits and advantages include:
- More feminine looking facial features
- Treat gender dysphoria
- Allow patients to feel more confident in their appearance
- Customized to maintain a patient’s unique features
- Appearance matches patients’ gender identity
- Use of high tech equipment to map out facial structure
- Increased quality of life
- Performed all at once to avoid multiple surgical sessions over the course of several years
- Enjoy results as soon as healed
- Performed by a surgeon experienced in gender affirming procedures
FFS Procedures USA
Facial feminization surgery can involve numerous different surgeries. During a consultation with Dr. Sajan, the patient can discuss the areas of the face they want to address. Dr. Sajan can then provide recommendations based on what is safe and viable for each patient. Below are some of the possible and common procedures Dr. Sajan may perform during a facial feminization surgery.
Hairline Feminization
Hairline feminization involves enhancing the position and shape of the hairline to appear more feminine. Women tend to have hairlines that are further forward and are rounded around the head. Men often see hair loss along the hairline and have a more uneven hairline shape.
To feminize the hairline, Dr. Sajan may use a scalp reduction which removes a portion of skin between the forehead and hairline. He then repositions the hairline into the optimal position. It may also require a hair restoration procedure to obtain the ideal hairline.
Hair Transplant
Hair transplant surgery is the most effective and longest lasting way to address a receded hairline or hair loss traditionally associated with men. Taking hormone resistant hair from the back and sides of the head, Dr. Sajan transplants it along the hairline and other areas of hair loss. This can help fill out the hairline inconjunction with or instead of a scalp reduction.
Dr. Sajan is one of the only facial feminization surgeons who also performs hair transplant at the same time as FFS. Often, surgeons will separate the two procedures since they are both long. However, hair transplant does not require general anesthesia, so it is possible to perform with facial feminization without the patient going under sedation for the full surgical session.
Brow Lift
A brow lift—while usually an anti-aging procedure—can help feminize the face by lifting the brows higher on the forehead. A woman’s eyebrows are generally positioned right along the brow bone. In contrast, a man’s are often just barely below it. While a subtle difference, the small change in position can provide a significantly more feminine appearance for some patients.
Brow Bone Reduction
Along with the position of the eyebrows, a man’s brow bone projects further outward than a woman’s. This also creates a more straight forehead appearance for men while a woman’s is softer and rounded. Dr. Sajan can shave down the brow bone to both reduce it’s projection and shape it into a softer angle. Occasionally, Dr. Sajan may remove a portion of the brow bone and reduce the frontal sinus as well. This provides the adequate amount of reduction for patients with an especially pronounced brow bone.
Orbital Bone Reduction
Often performed in tandem with a brow bone reduction, the orbital bones, or the upper bones of the eye socket, also tend to be larger and project more in men. Dr. Sajan can shave down these bones slightly to achieve harmony between the features of the upper face. If the brow bone is shaved down, it may look uneven and unnatural if the orbital bones are also not addressed.
Rhinoplasty
The nose is significant to many FFS patients. It is a feature that can quickly reveal gender assigned at birth. While not all men and women have noses that fall into these categories, men tend to have wider and bigger noses. Women tend to have smaller, narrower noses. It is common for both to have irregularities, such as unwanted humps or bumps. These can also be addressed at the same time.
Jawline Feminization
A male jawline takes on a sharper, square, and wider appearance than a woman’s. Usually, jawline feminization involves shaving down the jaw to make it narrower and softer. However, occasionally, patients may also benefit from non-surgical procedures such as jaw filler to further accentuate their jawline feminization results.
Lip Feminization
Lip feminization can include a couple of different procedures. First, a surgical lip lift shortens the length between the nose and upper lip. Women tend to have less room between these two features and more shape and vertical height to their lips. Second, lip filler can also address this by adding volume to the lips. Patients may also undergo both procedures to feminize the lips.
Tracheal Shave
A feature men have that women do not is an Adam’s Apple. Located in the mid neck, this additional cartilage is a feature specific only to people assigned male at birth. Therefore, many transgender women want to disguise the look of the Adam’s Apple. Unfortunately, it cannot be removed without major risk to the vocal cords and nearby structures. However, Dr. Sajan can shave down the cartilage to reduce or remove a visible protrusion from the neck. On its own, a tracheal shave procedure usually takes under an hour. Therefore, it is an ideal procedure to add onto a facial feminization surgery.
Laser Hair Removal
While not performed during FFS surgery, an important part of feminizing the face for some patients is removing facial hair. If taking hormones, this can help reduce facial hair growth. However, it does not necessarily permanently address unwanted hair. Laser hair removal on the face and neck can help permanently reduce facial hair for transgender women.
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FAQ
Is Facial Feminization Surgery Risky?
Facial feminization surgery comes with traditional surgical and anesthesia risks. As an extended surgery, it can have added risks for some patient. However, for most healthy patients, there are no major or additional risks.
During the consultation appointment, Dr. Sajan will review the patient’s medical history and candidacy for surgery. He will discuss that patient’s individual risk and what that may mean for them.
Does Insurance Cover FFS?
Insurance does normally cover facial feminization surgery. We accept all private insurances. Patients may also pay for FFS out of pocket or through financing companies such as Care Credit.
Is Facial Feminization Permanent?
Yes, for the most part. The enhancements made to the bone and cartilage is usually permanent. Certain procedures such as a brow lift or skin removal procedures may shift with age. Though, this is typical of both the procedure and how a woman would age.
What Is Recovery Like?
A facial feminization surgery does involve a sometimes intense recovery patients should anticipate. Swelling, bruising, redness, and post-operative pain call be expected. Dr. Sajan will provide prescription medications and aftercare instructions to mitigate side effects and discomfort. Some possible aftercare recommendations Dr. Sajan may provide include:
- Wear provided wrap and do not remove, Dr. Sajan will remove it during a post-operative appointment
- Keep head elevated to prevent swelling
- Avoid strenuous activities or exercise
- Take light walks every few hours
- Keep surgical area covered and protected from direct sunlight
- Do not bend over
- Refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol
- Do not return to work or activities until cleared
The exact recovery and instructions will vary based on the procedures performed during an individual FFS procedure. Regardless, patients should rest and follow Dr. Sajan’s instructions for scar care and aftercare.
The Best Facial Feminization Surgery By Dr. Javad Sajan
Dr. Javad Sajan is a plastic surgeon who specializes in gender affirming procedures including facial feminization. Having attended a prestiguous fellowship specifically in FFS, Dr. Sajan is one of the foremost facial feminization surgery experts in the US. In addition to FFS, Dr. Sajan also performs procedures including Brazilian butt lift, MTF breast augmentation, and body contouring. Dr. Sajan of Allure Esthetic Plastic Surgery performs the best facial feminization surgery.
To learn more and schedule a consultation with Dr. Sajan, call us at 206.990.0060. You can also reach out online via chat, contact form, or Price Simulator.
Allure Esthetic Plastic Surgery
600 Broadway Suite 320 G
Seattle, WA 98122