Chondrolaryngoplasty

Chondrolaryngoplasty, often referred to as "tracheal shave" involves surgical removal of the anterior projection of the thyroid cartilage and is most often performed in transgender women. This procedure was popularized by Wolfort and Parry in 1975 and was later modified by Wolfort in 1990. Since then, there have been multiple surgical approaches published. These include the transcervical chondrolaryngoplasty, originally described in 2008 by the senior author, followed by a transoral technique, and additional endoscopic approaches. The most common complications of this surgery include scarring and patient dissatisfaction with the amount of cartilage removed. More rare complications of chondrolaryngoplasty include dysphonia, hematoma, dysphagia, thyroid cartilage fracture, and laryngospasm, although these are all quite rare. Overall, chondrolaryngoplasty is a safe procedure that can provide immense patient satisfaction and is a mainstay of care in the transgender patient population.