Facial feminization surgery (FFS) refers to surgical procedures that alter the human face to increase its femininity. FFS includes various bony and soft tissue craniofacial and trachea surgeries. However, FFS is generally not regarded to include facial hair removal or hair transplants, although a case could be made for their inclusion. A cardiothoracic surgeon performs a mitral valve replacement at the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center. ... A full beard and moustache. ...

FFS surgical techniques are derived from maxillofacial surgery, reconstructive facial surgery and generalized soft tissue plastic surgery. Ousterhout pioneered what is now called FFS During the 1980s and 1990s,in U.S.A. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is a recognized international training course in specialised Medicine, which requires a minimum length of formation of 5 years for a basic medical training and 4 years for a basic medical and dental training, in the European Union. ... Plastic surgery is a specialty that uses surgical techniques to improve the appearance and function of patients bodies. ... Dr. Douglas K. Ousterhout, MD, DDS () is one of the best-known pioneers of facial feminization surgery for transsexual and transgender women. ...

Though the skills required to perform these craniofacial surgeries are as esoteric as the skills required to perform sex reassignment surgery (SRS), there seem surprisingly fewer highly experienced and skilled surgeons than surgeons practicing SRS. FFS has become an increasingly sought field of expertise by women with gender dysphoria who seek medical intervention. There are also FFS support groups worldwide. Sex reassignment surgery (SRS) includes the surgical procedures by which a persons physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are changed to that of the other sex. ...

Surgical procedures

Here is a list of the surgical procedures most frequently performed during FFS. It is by no means a comprehensive list.

• Frontal bone (glabella) bossing reduction osteotomy
• Cranioplasty (removal, reshaping, and replacement of glabella - bone between eyebrows)
• Reduction osteotomy of the supra-orbital rims
• Rhinoplasty
• Nasal tip and nasal alar refinement
• Nasal Dorsum reduction
• Osteotomy of the bony pyramid of the nose
• Zygoma augmentation
• Submalar augmentation
• Sliding genioplasty (chin height reduction osteotomy)
• Lateral lower mandibular shave
• Mandibular angle shave and curvature osteotomy
• Submandibular liposuction
• Scalp advancement
• Brow lift
• Temporal lift
• Neck lift
• Face lift (often SMAS but sometimes MACS)
• Platysma banding elimination
• Thyroid chondroplasty (see trachea shave)
• Otoplasty

Many, if not nearly all, of these procedures are also sometimes carried out individually as part of more routine facial plastic surgery (face lift, neck lift, etc) while some of them are more specific to feminization (mandibular angle osteotomy and shaving, brow bossing reduction). The combination of genioplasty (chin), mandibular angle osteotomy (rear jaw), glabella reduction (forehead between eyebrows), orbital rim reduction burr (outside/lateral eye orbit bones), together produce the often amazing results that give this set of surgeries its highly regarded reputation. These bony craniofacial surgeries require extensive expertise, skill, and experience. This combination of surgeries is also somewhat expensive, together costing $20,000.00 to $40,000.00 (U.S.) as of 2006. Although many patients spend little time hospitalized, specialized expertise by the surgeons' support staffs may be required during the immediate post-operative period. The glabella is the space between the eyebrows and above the nose. ... An osteotomy is a surgical operation whereby a bone is cut to shorten, lengthen, or change its alignment. ... Human nose in profile A typical bulbous human nose Anatomically, a nose is a protuberance in vertebrates that houses the nostrils, or nares, which admit and expel air for respiration. ... Dorsum (pl. ... The zygomatic bone (also known as the zygoma; Os Zygomaticum; Malar Bone) is a paired bone of the human skull. ... There are several meanings for malar: Latin for cheek Tamil for flower Malar (Forgotten Realms), a deity in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of Dungeons & Dragons Mälaren, also know as Lake Malar malar rash, a disease zygomatic bone, also known as malar bone This is a disambiguation page: a... Genioplasty/Mentoplasty is a type of cosmetic surgery that is used to improve the appearance of a persons chin. ... An osteotomy is a surgical operation whereby a bone is cut to shorten, lengthen, or change its alignment. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with jaw. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with jaw. ... An osteotomy is a surgical operation whereby a bone is cut to shorten, lengthen, or change its alignment. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The scalp is the anatomical area bordered by the face anteriorly and the neck to the sides and posteriorly. ... Actor Patrick Stewart; hair loss in males often accentuates the forehead In human anatomy, the forehead or brow is the bony part of the head above the eyes. ... The temporal bones (os temporales) are situated at the sides and base of the skull. ... SMAS is an acronym for Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System. ... Macintosh, also known as Mac, is a family of personal computers manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc. ... The platysma is a superficial muscle that stretches from the clavicle to the mandible overlapping the sternocleidomastoid. ... Chondroplasty refers to surgery of the thyroid chondroplasty (or trachea shave) is used to reduce the visibility of the Adams Apple in transsexual women. ... A trachea shave is a surgical proceedure by which a protruding Adams apple is reduced in size by shaving down the cartilage through an incision in the throat, generally to aid the transsexual or transgender woman in achieving a passable female appearance. ... Otoplasty is a type of cosmetic surgery that is used to improve the appearance of a persons external ears. ...

See also

• List of transgender-related topics

Transgender is a very complex topic, where consensual and precise definitions have not yet been reached. ...

Discussion groups

• http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ffs-support/
• http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Trans-surgery/
• http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dr_O_club/
• http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dr_s_club/ Independent Support Group for patients and prospective patients of Dr Suporn

External links

• http://www.annelawrence.com/facialindex.html
• http://www.tsroadmap.com/physical/face/facesurgidx.html
• http://www.facialfeminizationsurgery.net/ffs_procedures.html
• http://beginninglife.com/FFS.htm
• http://www.europeants.org/surgeons/english/index.html
• http://www.srs-thailand.com/surgeons/