The upper third of the face contains 2 features that are particularly important for facial gender recognition: the frontonasoorbital region and the hairline. The supraorbital ridge, which determines the position and exposure of the eyebrows, is almost invariably more developed in the male than in the female. Surgical modification of the frontonasoorbital complex, considered a standard procedure in facial feminization, is reliable and predictable, and also delivers satisfactory results that are stable over time.
A prototypical male hairline has an M-shaped pattern compared to the more rounded shape often seen in female hairlines. Feminization of the hairline requires minimizing the temples as well as rounding out the overall shape, optimizing hair density, and occasionally changing the height of the hairline.
This article provides an update on our forehead reconstruction technique and our experience in the treatment of hairline redefinition.
Background:
Of the primary procedures associated with facial gender confirmation surgery, those involving the mentomandibular complex have received the least attention in the literature.
Methods:
The authors present their experience with 837 trans feminine patients operated on for facial gender confirmation surgery who underwent mandibular bone contouring procedures, including bone contouring, chin and mandibular body and angle ostectomies, and osteotomies to reposition the chin. The authors describe the surgical techniques and materials used, and present a customized lower border–supported cutting guide designed by their team and used with 205 patients. A femininity perception score was calculated preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively, and satisfaction with the results was measured 12 months postoperatively.
Results:
The postoperative follow-up ranged from 12 to 110 months. The mean femininity perception score increased from 47.86 preoperatively to 76.41 at 12 months postoperatively (p < 0.001). No emergency surgical operations were required. In no case was there any permanent damage to the mental or inferior dental nerve. The reoperation percentage because of problems detected during the postoperative period was 2.63 percent (22 patients).
Conclusions:
With facial gender confirmation surgery of the jawline and chin, it is possible to modify the transverse and vertical components of the jaw; soften the gonial angles; change the format, bone volume, and position of the chin; and harmonize the entire mandibular line. The facial feminization achieved high satisfaction scores regarding the results and feminine gender appearance 12 months after surgery. The future of mandibular bone contouring techniques includes planning with virtual software and surgical support with patient-specific cutting guides.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.