Facial feminization surgery in Canada incorporates a variety of treatments that alter a person’s facial shape to appear more feminine. Surgery changes the appearance of the brow, cheekbones, lips, chin, and jaw. It can also include moving the hairline to generate a smaller forehead. As well, facelifts may tighten the skin.
The surgery itself is frequently conducted to assist in treating distress from individuals whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex or gender-related physical attributes, which may result in gender dysphoria. Facial feminization surgery allows people to align their facial features with their true identity.
Important Factors to Note
In Toronto, Facial feminization surgery (FFS) involves a series of procedures to generate a more feminine appearance for people receiving gender affirmation treatment.
- FFS can be part of your treatment approach for those who want a more feminine appearance.
- The surgery can occur in one operation or in a staged approach depending on your surgeon’s recommendation.
- Procedures reshape the brows, forehead, nose, jaw, and cheeks. A tracheal shave can minimize the appearance of an Adam’s apple.
- FFS also contains non-surgical treatments like botulinum toxin, cosmetic fillers, liposuction, and fat grafting.
Facial Feminization Procedures
Your surgeon will discuss your priorities for FFS and develop a plan, which may include the following procedures:
Hairline and Forehead Contouring
Shaping a person’s hairline and forehead generates a more heart-like or oval face shape. Surgeons reconstruct the forehead by measuring the bone structure and working around the frontal sinuses behind the forehead’s bones.
The treatment can decrease the prominence of a bony ridge behind your eyes while reshaping the hairline. Your cosmetic surgeon may grind or shave the bony ridge or conduct an osteotomy (removing a piece of existing bone while replacing it with a bone graft containing a smooth surface). Reformatting and cutting the scalp lowers the person’s hairline for a more androgynous or feminine appearance.
Forehead reconstruction surgery involves an incision being made across the head from one ear to the other. Once the surgery is complete, sutures enclose the incision, which does not require removal. When you awaken, you will notice the appearance of a drain. It will likely be removed before going home.
Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty reduces the shape and width of the nose. It involves reshaping and cutting the bones and cartilage. Rhinoplasty also shapes the tip of your nose and the bridge to provide a more delicate look.
Brow and Eye Lifts
A surgeon can elevate your brows to provide a more feminine look. For people electing to have a hairline and forehead contouring, brows are lifted using the same scalp incision. To do a brow lift, surgeons create four to five one-centimetre incisions in the hairline or cut around the brow line.
For older individuals, eyelids may be lifted to create a more open look. Incisions for eyelid lifts are concealed in the eyelid’s crease or put behind to decrease the appearance of visible incisions.
Chin Reduction and Jaw Contouring
Before taking this step, surgeons may recommend an evaluation by an orthodontist or dentist. This ensures that your jaw bones and teeth are healthy and that cavities, infected teeth, or wisdom teeth requiring extraction are absent. Procedures include:
- Genioplasty: Chin bones are cut and moved forward (can be a viable alternative to chin implants). The chin bone can be trimmed or shaved to appear less prominent, oval, or pointed.
- Mandibular Angle Recontouring: This procedure shaves or cuts the corner of the client’s lower jaw, generating a softer angle between the client’s chin and ear.
The incisions for this surgery are placed either inside your mouth or from beneath the chin. For a few weeks after your surgery, your mouth will require cleansing with prescription mouthwash.
After the surgery, the area is bandaged with a compressive dressing and must remain in place for a few weeks. Talking may be uncomfortable, but it can safely be done if you are able to.
Chewing solid food can be painful for a few days. Therefore, ensure you have nutritional shakes and soft food. Also, avoid consuming hot beverages for one to two weeks for your incisions to heal.
Tracheal Shave
Tracheal shaves reduce the appearance of an Adam’s apple for a smoother neck. Your Adam’s apple contains cartilage around your larynx, which is more prominent in people assigned as males during birth.
Tracheal shaves take one or two hours. General anesthesia is used while undergoing surgery. To reach the larynx, an incision is put in the neck. Your surgeon will minimize scarring by placing the incision in a less conspicuous area or by the natural folds of your neck.
Some cartilage is shaved from the front of the larynx for a smaller, less prominent appearance. Sutures close the incision.
Recovery takes one month, and following your surgeon’s advice is essential. You may require rest for a few days and may have throat discomfort or pain. You may need a liquid or soft diet until food can be comfortably swallowed.
Fat Grafting and Liposuction
To reshape your facial contours, you may require a small amount of fat to be taken from one body part and moved to another to smooth out sunken/hollow areas or to add volume. Cheeks can shape various facial features, and silicone implants can sculpt the cheeks to appear more rounder.
Other Nonsurgical Procedures
Some surgeries may also involve:
- Feminizing makeup.
- Skin resurfacing.
- Voice therapy.
- Hair removal using electrolysis or lasers.
- Fillers and injectables for lip augmentation or shaping. Fillers last six months to one year or longer. When fillers dissolve, clients must return for additional treatments.
Book an Appointment With Solomon Facial Plastic to Discuss Facial Feminization Surgery in Toronto
While clients may not see the complete results of facial feminization surgery for one year, facial feminization surgery in Toronto is worth the wait for many. During recovery, follow-up appointments are scheduled with a care team to check on healing and discuss concerns.
At Solomon Facial Plastic, our team can help you achieve the look you want and schedule surgeries in proper succession. To discuss your options, contact us at our two convenient locations: 416-864-6100 (Toronto) and 855-519-2799 (Vaughan). Clients can also complete our online form to request more information.