The topic of facial feminization surgery is a category all its own, compromised of complimentary operations that collaborate to deliver the patient’s vision of their transition. Because specific facial features naturally relay gender, it’s important that minute details are assessed and treated meticulously to arrange for the safest, most effective procedure, as well as optimal results.
In this article we’ll be focusing on cheekbone augmentation and chin reduction, two commonly combined procedures that when performed by an experienced surgeon, beautifully relay femininity via facial features that appear more characteristically feminine.
Along with a long list of other indicative features, men typically have chins that are more prominent, and jaws that appear more square. A woman’s features are smoother and more delicate however, with a subtly curved jawline and a jaw structure resembling a V-shape that carries down to the chin.
The cheeks and cheekbones of men and women vary greatly as well. A more heart-shaped face with full cheeks is indicative of a healthy, beautiful woman. Because men typically have flatter or more sunken cheeks, transgender patients would opt for cheek or cheekbone enhancement to better relay a more feminine profile and aesthetic. This can be done via fillers or implants. Medpore implants are permanent and reversible, a convenient feature that patients may benefit from as they age and their facial structure and skin changes. Transgender patients may opt for cheek implants to give the appearance of feminine cheeks and cheekbones via a procedure that consists of incisions made through the mouth with no visible sign of having had a procedure. Patients should expect bruising and swelling that will subside greatly within 2 weeks. Fat grafting can also be used for a customized natural check augmentation with limited recovery.
For patients looking for cheekbone augmentation without having surgery, dermal fillers like Restylane can be used to safely and temporarily add volume and fullness to the cheek and give the illusion of a high, natural and chiseled cheekbone. The filler is injected and adheres to the patient’s bone equating to enhancement and a glamorous contoured effect that frames the face. There’s also no downtime and the procedure is simple and quick enough to be done during a lunch break. As they age, women also naturally tend to lose volume in their cheeks so female patients as well as transgender patients find great benefits and results from both cheek fillers and implants.
Chin and jaw contouring helps to shape the bottom half of a patient’s face and affects his or her’s appearance and how their gender is interpreted. Chin contouring and reduction (alongside jaw contouring) is a delicate procedure that most transgender patients undergo in order to alter their more masculine jawline and square chin into one that appears more delicate, heart-shaped and more classically feminine. This procedure requires reduction in not only the size and prominence of the chin, but also contouring the shape of the chin to allow it to look effeminate. For transgender patients with wide masculine jaws, Elements Spa’s Dr. Adibfar may suggest jaw contouring alongside a chin reduction. This would involve an incision made inside the mouth that would allow access to the jaw. Dr. Adibfar would then start at the back of the jaw (closer to the ear) and work his way forward to the chin, contouring the bone with surgical instruments and burs that shape the structure into one that’s smoother, more rounded and results in facial harmony and balance.
If you’re considering alterations and/or contouring to your facial features then please do diligent research on the history, success rate and experience of your chosen board-certified cosmetic plastic surgeon. Transgender patients will need to seek the expertise of a surgeon with extensive experience and skill in having performed facial contouring and restructuring procedures on various transgender patients as well. Elements Spa’s Dr. Adibfar is a board-certified cosmetic plastic surgeon as well an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, making him the only surgeon in Canada to hold both certifications with the extensive knowledge needed to assess and manipulate the jaw, chin and adjacent bones making up the facial structure.
If you’re a transgender patient looking to learn more about cheekbone and chin augmentation/reduction then feel free to contact Toronto’s Elements Spa to learn more about the procedure’s specifics. Click here to book a consultation with board-certified cosmetic plastic surgeon Dr. Adibfar and his medically-trained staff.