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Summary
Surgical alteration of the larynx by creating an anterior vocal fold web can elevate vocal pitch. This procedure offers a physiological solution for male-to-female transgender individuals seeking a more feminine speaking voice.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Gender Affirming Surgery
- Speech Science
Background:
- Male-to-female (MTF) sexual reassignment surgery is often successful, but persistent male vocal characteristics pose challenges.
- Hormone therapy and falsetto voice training offer limited efficacy in feminizing the voice.
- Altering the male larynx anatomy is necessary for a physiological voice transformation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a surgical method for achieving a more feminine vocal quality in MTF individuals.
- To assess the effectiveness of shortening vocal fold vibrating length for pitch elevation.
Main Methods:
- A surgical technique involving laryngofissure was performed on three transgender patients.
- The anterior one-third of each vocal fold was denuded, and raw edges were approximated.
- This created an anterior web, effectively shortening the vibrating length of the vocal folds.
Main Results:
- All three patients demonstrated successful elevation of vocal pitch post-surgery.
- The surgical intervention resulted in a more feminine tonal quality.
Conclusions:
- Surgical shortening of vocal fold vibrating length via anterior web creation is a viable method for pitch elevation.
- This procedure offers a physiological approach to voice feminization for transgender individuals.