Transgender Facial Procedures
Our face is the most powerful visual feature we have to convey who we are. Trans women and trans men can modify their facial features through plastic surgery procedures to ease their feelings of dysphoria and to project their gender-affirming image.
Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS)
FFS helps adjust masculine facial features to provide a softer, smoother, more feminine look.
Facial Masculinization Surgery (FMS)
FMS realigns feminine facial features to create more prominent, angular features typical of a masculine appearance.
One or more transgender facial procedures may be right for you.
There are several facial procedures that can lead to a more masculine or more feminine appearance. They include:
Cheek bone contouring and micro fat grafting
Forehead contouring with or without hairline lowering
Take the First Step
The first step in projecting your gender-affirming facial image is to schedule a consultation with Sheldon Lincenberg, MD, at the Trans Top Surgery Center in Atlanta. A Mayo Clinic-trained, board-certified plastic surgeon, he has been performing transgender plastic surgery procedures for more than 20 years.
Your Consultation
At your consultation, you can share your transgender facial goals with Dr. Lincenberg. He will make recommendations and discuss procedures that will help you achieve your new image. Together you can plan your new look!
Trans Facial Surgery and Recovery
Nearly all of the gender affirmation facial procedures are considered a major surgical procedure, so they require general anesthesia. Most of them are outpatient procedures that don’t require an overnight hospital stay. It is very important that you spend time resting and recovering after the surgery. At your pre-op visit, Dr. Lincenberg and the staff will review the specifics of your recovery with you.
Your results may not be seen immediately following the surgery due to significant facial swelling. You may even have some bruising on your face. During this time, it is recommended to rest with your head elevated and allow the swelling to subside. Your pain will be managed by medications recommended by Dr. Lincenberg, and you may want to ask a family member or friend to care for you during the first evening of your recovery.
Within four weeks, most of your swelling will have subsided, and you will be able to better appreciate your results. However, keep in mind that it can take up to a year for all swelling to dissipate.
For the first several weeks after your surgery, your priority should be resting and allowing your body time to recover. You should avoid all physical activity and heavy lifting for at least four weeks, and you should eat a soft food diet during this time. By adhering to these restrictions, you will enjoy the best possible results from your gender affirmation facial surgery.
Gender Affirmation Facial Surgery Cost
Some trans facial patients want to adjust only one facial feature to create their new look, so they undergo a single procedure. Most of our patients, however, want to modify more than one facial feature to create their gender-affirming facial image, requiring two or more surgical procedures.
The biggest factor that influences cost is whether or not a procedure is being performed in tandem with other facial feminization procedures. Undergoing multiple procedures at the same time not only optimizes shaping but affects cost. The combined cost will be less than the sum of the individual costs.
Trans facial procedures are highly individualized. At your consultation, you will share your gender-affirming facial goals with Dr. Lincenberg, he will recommend procedures to accomplish your goals, so together you will create the plan. At the end of your consultation, you can get an accurate estimate of how much your surgery will cost.
It is important to keep in mind that trans facial procedures may be paid for by health insurance plans. After your deductible and co-pay, the insurer will cover the costs of the surgery. Dr. Sheldon Lincenberg offers flexible payment plans that make it possible for as many patients as possible to benefit from this pivotal, gender-affirming surgery.
Choosing a Surgeon for Trans Facial Procedures
Finding the right surgeon for your trans facial surgery involves doing your research and having a consultation with a few cosmetic surgeons in your region. This is what you need to cover during the consultation appointment:
Talk with the surgeon about their experience — not only with cosmetic surgery in general, but specifically with facial feminization procedures. It is CRITICAL that you work with a surgeon who is experienced with this particular surgery and who has worked extensively with transgender patients who are transitioning. You need to partner with a surgeon who has the precise surgical skills that you need as well as the empathetic and understanding approach that you deserve.
Ask to see before and after photos of previous surgeries that the surgeon has completed. The Before & After gallery should include photographs of patients who have had the specific surgery performed by that surgeon.
Ask questions — and lots of them. The surgeon that you choose should be willing to answer all of your questions about this procedure, about their specific approach and about the results that you will receive. The right surgeon will open, honest, patient and transparent.
Some questions you should ask during the consultation include:
How often do you perform this procedure?
What type of results have you been able to achieve in the past for this procedure?
How do you approach this type of surgery?
Will there be visible scarring after my surgery?
What other facial/masculinization procedures do you recommend based on my personal goals?
Dr. Sheldon Lincenberg is considered to be one of the top plastic surgeons in Atlanta. Not only is he double board-certified, but he's also Mayo Clinic-trained. And with more than 20 years of experience performing gender affirmation surgery, he is uniquely qualified to work with patients who are in the midst of transitioning. He understands the important role that gender-affirming surgery plays in an individual's ability to live an authentic and confident life.
Schedule Your Atlanta Consultation Today
If you are interested in Atlanta Trans Facial Surgery and you want to learn more about these procedures, schedule a consultation with Dr. Sheldon Lincenberg today.