Medical description
Facial feminisation brings together a set of procedures that alter the bone structures and tissues of the face to give it features perceived as more feminine. It may involve the forehead and brow ridges, the hairline, the nose, the cheekbones, the jaw, the chin and the Adam's apple. The programme is tailored after an analysis of the face: not every area is treated in every patient. It is intended in particular for transgender women, but also for anyone who wishes to soften features they consider too pronounced.
What the procedure can correct
- Prominent forehead and brow ridges
- Square jaw or pronounced jaw angles
- Wide or overly projected chin
- Strongly defined nose
- Visible Adam's apple
The ideal candidate
An adult in good health, with a precise and well-considered request, who accepts a recovery period of several weeks. In the context of a transition, appropriate medical follow-up and stable hormone treatment are generally desirable before the procedure. A detailed assessment, with photographs and imaging, makes it possible to choose the areas to be treated and to schedule the procedures in one or more stages.
The technique
The procedures are performed under general anaesthesia, often during a single operation. The forehead is reshaped by reducing the brow ridges, sometimes with lowering of the hairline; the jaw and chin are refined through the inside of the mouth; the nose may be reshaped by rhinoplasty and the Adam's apple reduced through a short incision in a crease of the neck. The incisions are placed to be as discreet as possible.
Your stay, step by step
- 1
Arrival and consultation
Welcome by your coordinator, examination and pre-operative consultation with the practitioner, who confirms the treatment plan.
- 2
Procedure
General · 3–6 h
- 3
Monitoring in the clinic
Hospital stay: 1–2 nights. The care team looks after your comfort and post-operative monitoring.
- 4
Check-up before departure
Follow-up visit, care, instructions and prescription before your flight home. Recommended stay: 10–14 days.
- 5
Remote follow-up
Back home, your coordinator remains your contact and organises follow-up with the practitioner (photos and messages via WhatsApp, then through your secure patient area once it opens).
Risks and recovery
Significant swelling, bruising and reduced sensation in the forehead, scalp or chin are common for several weeks. Less commonly, infection, a haematoma, lasting nerve injury, asymmetry, a visible scar or a change in the voice after Adam's apple surgery may occur. Your surgeon will explain these in detail during the consultation.
The information on this page is provided for guidance only and does not replace a medical consultation. Every procedure carries risks; the indication is made by the practitioner after examination, and results vary from person to person.
Frequently asked questions
Are all the areas treated at once?
Not necessarily. Depending on the number of procedures and your state of health, your surgeon may suggest a single operation or a programme in several stages.
Why a longer recovery?
These procedures involve the facial bones: the swelling is more marked and takes longer to subside. Allow several weeks before resuming a normal social life.
Does the voice change?
Facial feminisation does not change the voice. The Adam's apple reduction is performed in a way that preserves the vocal cords; voice surgery is a separate procedure.
