Facial feminization surgery: current state of the art

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Gender Affirming Care

Background:

• Facial feminization surgery (FFS) addresses gender dysphoria in transgender women.
• FFS aims to create a more feminine facial appearance, distinct from facial rejuvenation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of the current state of the art in facial feminization surgery.
• To detail the various surgical procedures involved in facial feminization.

Main Methods:

• FFS involves surgical sculpting and contouring of the facial skeleton.
• Procedures include hairline correction, forehead contouring, brow lift, rhinoplasty, cheek augmentation, lip procedures, mandible reduction, genioplasty, and thyroid cartilage reduction.

Main Results:

• FFS utilizes a comprehensive set of surgical techniques to feminize facial features.
• These procedures are crucial for transgender women seeking to align their physical appearance with their gender identity.

Conclusions:

• Facial feminization surgery is a complex set of procedures designed to alter male facial characteristics to female ones.
• FFS plays a significant role in the gender affirmation process for transgender women, facilitating social integration.