Facial Feminization

Consultations offered at our three convenient locations in Austin, TX, San Antonio, TX and Westlake Hills, TX

Facial Feminization Austin Plastic Surgeon

Facial feminization surgery (FFS) is a collection of procedures that create a feminine facial appearance and affirm a person’s gender identity. If you want to transform your appearance with specialized procedures that minimize downtime, FFS can provide you with stunning results.

The team at Austin Plastic Surgeon has helped many patients improve their well-being with customizable face and body treatments. Facial feminization, which involves treating the entire face from the hairline to the jawline, can help you achieve a more feminine face shape. Our team will work with you to help you achieve your desired results.

Contact any of our offices online or over the phone to learn more about how facial feminization can help you feel like your true self inside and out:

About Facial Feminization

FFS, sometimes called Gender-Affirming Facial Surgery (GAFS), is commonly sought by transgender women. FFS can reshape facial features commonly associated with masculine traits, such as the forehead, eyes, eyebrows, hairline, midface, chin, and nose. (1) Modifying these traits can improve your self-confidence and reduce the potential for having your gender mistaken–or being misgendered–for a gender that does not align with your identity.

Our team carefully considers your goals; FFS is not just about aesthetics. The way you feel about your appearance can impact your quality of life. Many people feel as though they cannot express their true selves or feel comfortable in their bodies. (1) At Austin Plastic Surgeon, we want to change that.

Everyone deserves to feel comfortable with their appearance. With our collection of customizable procedures, you can enjoy beautiful results that proudly express who you are.

Facial feminization can significantly improve feelings of gender dysphoria by helping patients achieve a look that aligns with their gender identity. Contact our office to learn more.

Facial Feminization Treatments

Your facial features affect the presentation of your femininity, including the nose shape, brows, hair, and skin texture. (2) Depending on your needs, we can perform a collection of procedures in one appointment:

  • Forehead contouring reduces the size or shape of the forehead, creating a more feminine, softer appearance. Depending on the anatomy, this can be a Type 3 cranioplasty or a reduction with a burr. A CT scan helps to determine the size of the frontal sinus, and therefore, which option is most appropriate.
  • Chin reduction (genioplasty) sculpts the chin for a more delicate, rounded appearance and feminine look.
  • Jaw angle reduction (jaw shave) reshapes the jawbone to improve the contour of your lower face.
  • Nose reshaping (rhinoplasty) is a procedure that reshapes the nose by modifying the underlying cartilage and bone. We can soften your facial features with reduced rhinoplasty for a more feminine appearance. (3)
  • Lip lift and augmentation is a procedure that volumizes the lips with injectable soft tissue fillers. If you want to increase your lip volume, we can design a treatment based on your aesthetic goals.
  • Hairline lowering shortens the forehead to balance your features, and the procedure can also create a more feminine appearance.
  • Cheek augmentation adds volume to the cheeks with soft tissue fillers or implants for a plumper, smoother look.
  • An eyelid lift brightens the eyes by removing excess skin from the upper or lower eyelids and/or repositioning the fat pads beneath the eyes to help you look more awake.
  • A brow lift reduces wrinkles and droopy skin above the brows and raises them for a smoother and more youthful appearance.
  • Fat grafting improves your skin’s volume with a fat transfer–we can take fat from one area of the body and inject it into another for a plumper appearance.
  • Facial implants (most often cheeks and chin) reshape the cheeks and chin for a more defined jawline and smoother, rounder face.
  • Buccal fat pad reduction is a procedure that reduces the buccal fat pads–a layer of tissue that provides volume to the cheeks–for a more slender, feminine facial shape.
  • Tracheal shave (thyroid cartilage reduction) reduces the size of the Adam’s apple for a more feminine appearance.
  • Otoplasty reshapes the ears to balance your facial features for a more proportional look.

Facial Feminization Benefits

After facial feminization, you can enjoy:

  • Improved self-esteem: Many patients feel better about an appearance that aligns with their identity.
  • Aligned gender identity: You can better express yourself with natural-looking results.
  • A natural-looking appearance: We can help you achieve a balanced and natural appearance.
  • Customizable treatments: We can perform several procedures during your appointment to minimize downtime.
  • Long-lasting results: Enhancements provide long-lasting changes, and in some cases, we can make multiple changes in a single procedure for fewer follow-ups.
  • A more feminine appearance: You can enjoy feeling more confident and comfortable with your gender expression.

Candidates

Facial feminization could be the right option for anyone wanting a more feminine appearance. These candidates include transgender women and non-binary individuals who would like more feminine facial features. Some women who identify with the sex they were assigned at birth (cisgender women) want their feminine facial features to be more pronounced as well.

If you would like to undergo facial feminization, you will need to feel ready to make lasting modifications to your appearance. Some procedures that make changes to your bone structure are irreversible.

Personal Consultation

During your consultation, your surgeon will review your goals and determine a surgical plan that may include several facial plastic surgery procedures. We will ask about your medical history, current medications, and aesthetic goals. We will also examine your underlying bone structure to create a treatment plan.

Before your surgery, you will consult with one of our experienced surgeons and discuss treatment options. The procedure for facial feminization varies from person to person, depending on the features you want to modify. You might need only one surgery or multiple procedures, meaning the process and recovery time will differ in each situation.

We also offer other gender-affirming surgeries to help you feel more comfortable in your body and achieve your aesthetic goals. Visit our blog to learn more!

How to Prepare for Facial Feminization

To prepare for facial feminization, you will need to:

  • Stop taking blood thinners
  • Avoid excessive sun exposure
  • Delay medspa treatments
  • Stop smoking temporarily (if applicable)
  • Refrain from drinking alcohol for 2 weeks before and after
  • Schedule time off work
  • Arrange for someone you trust to drive you home

To prepare for your procedure, you may also need to complete a pre-operative assessment, including lab tests, CT scans, and X-rays. We may also photograph your face to help us plan your treatment. It is crucial to follow our instructions, such as dietary changes and medication adjustments, to help you prepare for the procedure.

Procedure, Recovery & Results

Your procedure will vary depending on what treatments are required in your treatment plan. After modifying your facial structure, it is common to experience discomfort, redness, and swelling. We can provide specific instructions to help you recover, as each patient’s recovery process will differ.

After we remove your stitches, your surgeon will let you know when you can return to work. Most patients will need to avoid intense exercise for several weeks. If you play contact sports, you must refrain from participating for eight weeks.

Please keep in mind that it could take a few months before you experience the full benefits of your procedure. Our team is here to support you throughout your recovery. Please do not hesitate to reach out!

The Cost of Facial Feminization in Austin

The cost of facial feminization will depend on your treatment plan and whether or not you need additional procedures. We can discuss other gender-affirming treatments and provide an all-inclusive quote for your needs.

Working with our skilled team of plastic surgeons at Austin Plastic Surgeon can help you achieve remarkable outcomes. Contact our office to start your journey with facial feminization:

FAQ

Is facial feminization permanent?

Some procedures incorporated in facial feminization can permanently change your appearance. However, most injectable treatments offer only temporary results.

Will I have visible scars after facial feminization?

We take care to make well-hidden incisions for a natural appearance. We can discuss the placements for your incisions during your consultation.

Can I combine facial feminization with other treatments?

Yes, we can combine facial feminization with other treatments for more comprehensive results.

How long will a facial feminization procedure take?

This will depend on the type of procedures you have. If you want to receive a combination of facial contouring treatments, we can discuss the best treatment plan for you.

Can I combine facial feminization with other gender-affirming surgeries?

Yes. We can discuss other gender-affirming surgeries and body contouring procedures as part of your overall treatment plan.

References

  1. Dang BN, Hu AC, Bertrand AA, et al. Evaluation and treatment of facial feminization surgery: part I. forehead, orbits, eyebrows, eyes, and nose. Archives of Plastic Surgery. 2021;48(5):503-510. doi:https://doi.org/10.5999/aps.2021.00199
  2. Hoss RA, Ramsey JL, Griffin AM, Langlois JH. The Role of Facial Attractiveness and Facial Masculinity/Femininity in Sex Classification of Faces. Perception. 2005;34(12):1459-1474. doi:https://doi.org/10.1068/p5154
  3. Hohman MH, Teixeira J. Transgender Surgery of the Head and Neck. PubMed. Published 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33760488/