A New Technique for Chondrolaryngoplasty in Patients Assigned Female at Birth

Abstract

Background Chondrolaryngoplasty is a classical facial feminization surgery for transgender women. In recent years, however, an increasing number of patients assigned female at birth are seeking chondrolaryngoplasty for esthetic purposes. Traditional chondrolaryngoplasty can no longer cope with problems of the growing group whose leading cause of laryngeal prominence differs from the transgender population. Methods A modified technique is designed as a supplement to the classical procedure. After the cartilage reduction process, paired platysma flaps are raised and advanced successively, resulting in an overlapped area over the thyroid notch, to further camouflage the thyroid prominence. To evaluate the efficiency of the new technique, a retrospective survey of 34 patients (5 men and 29 women) who underwent the surgery from 2016 to 2021 was performed, via a 5-point Likert scale including 7 questions. Physician assessment was also accomplished to provide an extra estimation. Complications were followed up and analyzed to evaluate the safety of modified surgery as well. Results Although only half of the patients graded prominence changes more than “moderately changed,” as many as 75.0% of them still expressed “completely satisfied” or “satisfied very much” with the outcome. Similarly, physician assessment indicated a satisfactory result in appearance improvement. No severe and irreversible complications occurred after surgery, but lasting scar-related issues were reported by 4 patients and should be paid more attention to. Conclusions Generally speaking, the new technique is both safe, efficient, and satisfying for most patients, especially ones assigned females at birth with esthetic demand.