Facial Feminization Surgery

Overview 

• Facial feminization surgery involves various procedures to make the face appear more feminine.
• Common changes include reshaping/repositioning the cheekbones, brow, lips, jaw, and chin.
• The surgery may also include hair transplants or moving the hairline to reduce forehead size.
• Skin-tightening procedures, such as face-lifts, might be part of the process.
• This surgery can help alleviate gender dysphoria by aligning facial features with a person’s gender identity. 

 

Why it’s done: 

• Facial features like the jaw, brow, and chin often reflect sex differences and are easily visible. 
• For individuals whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth, altering facial features can be a key step in affirming their gender. 

Insurance coverage for facial feminization surgery varies significantly. Be sure to check with your insurance provider to understand what is covered before proceeding with the surgery.

 

During facial feminization surgery, the following procedures may be performed: 

• Forehead contouring: Reshaping the bony ridge above the eyes and adjusting the forehead to appear smoother and more rounded for a feminine look. 
• Eye and eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty): Removing excess eyelid tissue to create a more feminine appearance. Change the shape of your eye and brow for a more feminine appearance.  
• Cheek augmentation: Enhancing the cheeks with implants or fat transfer to achieve a rounder, more feminine look. 
• Cheek reduction: Repositioning the zygoma (cheekbone) to adjust the prominence of the cheekbone. 
• Nose reshaping (rhinoplasty): Altering the size and shape of the nose to make it smaller and more feminine. 
• Lip changes: Lifting and enhancing the lips to reduce the space between the nose and upper lip, and adding volume through fillers, or fat transfer. 
• Jaw angle reduction: Making the jaw smaller and narrower by removing layers of bone. 
• Orthognathic (jaw) surgery: Repositioning your jawbone to make your face more feminine.  
• Chin reduction: Shortening and narrowing the chin by removing a wedge of bone and repositioning it for a more feminine appearance. 

Other possible surgeries include: 

• Tracheal shave: Reducing the size of the Adam’s apple by removing and reshaping thyroid cartilage. 
• Hair transplantation: Moving hair follicles to balding areas on the head and temples. 
• Hairline lowering: Cutting and moving the scalp to reduce forehead size and lower the hairline. 
  • Skin-tightening procedures: Considerations such as face-lifts to further enhance a feminine look.