Facial Masculinization Surgery: What Is It & Process

As medical techniques advance, new types of surgeries emerge with better results and improved patient satisfaction. Facial masculinization procedures encompass a range of different methods.

Let’s explore the subject of facial masculinization surgery from every angle. We’ll cover everything from objectives and methods to the real-world experiences of people who undergo the process.

What Is Facial Masculinization?

Any type of treatment or procedure that creates more masculine facial features can be included in this broad category. A masculine face is characterized by features such as a more defined jawline, angular cheeks, or a broader forehead with a prominent ridge.

No two procedures are exactly alike. For best results, patients must work closely with a skilled surgeon to achieve their unique objectives.

Over time, however, the ideal facial structure can be achieved for life-changing results.

Background and Goals

Facial masculinization is a relatively new concept, brought into the mainstream with rising instances of gender dysphoria. Women or other individuals transitioning to male and seeking to affirm their gender with defining physical features may find that these procedures help them feel more aligned with their true identity.

It’s not just the FTM crowd that finds a use for masculinization surgery. Biologically born men have succeeded with these measures as they aim to appear more masculine, targeting what they perceive to be a specific flaw or shortcoming in their appearance, such as a weak chin.

With the medical space pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in cosmetic surgery and hormonal manipulation, we’ve only just begun to watch a major interdisciplinary trend develop.

Key Features and Focus Areas

Each client will have certain areas of the face which will be addressed through various treatments or surgeries. The jawline is a common focus area since this can be a quick and recognizable way to determine whether someone is male or female.

Jaw and cheek surgeries can be done to either add tissue to the area to create a broader chin or more angular jaw, typically accomplished through a fat grating or fillers administered via injection.

For others, the forehead and hairline are the focal points of the masculinization process. Feminine hairlines tend to be lower, more rounded, and complete. In contrast, masculine hairlines may be described as “mature” (sitting slightly further back) with some minor recession characteristic of early stage pattern balding.

Ideally, patients will be able to maintain their real hair and a full hairline but still demonstrate masculine features with a mature appearance.

Finally, patients may target secondary features of the face and surrounding areas such as the nose, throat, and neck. A combination of rhinoplasty and other cosmetic procedures, along with hormone therapy and additional treatments, can dramatically enhance the masculine appearance of one’s face in a relatively short time frame.

Support and Personnel

One procedure is often not enough to achieve a complete overhaul of someone’s facial features. With so many possible routes to choose from, today’s patients can benefit from a diverse team of doctors, therapists, and medical consultants to get their desired results.

For instance, a person identifying as male and beginning the transition journey may connect first with a gender affirmation counselor. Then, the person turns to specialists in various fields, from plastic surgeons and hormone therapists to hair transplant professionals and experts in orthotropic.

It’s a good way to get the latest, most relevant information about procedures and practices that may benefit them. Since the field is advancing rapidly, the most recent information is vital.

To get the best possible results, clients may coordinate a broad blueprint of treatments and surgeries to help achieve their goals.

Masculinization Surgery Walkthrough

What does the experience of facial masculinization surgery like for the typical patient, and what can someone expect as they begin the process from square one?

Here’s an overview of the step-by-step process and what’s involved in terms of time, cost, comfort, and other key factors.

Consultation and Cost

As soon as a client determines their target areas and what they wish to achieve, they will reach out to a surgical specialist in that particular field for a consultation.

Some cosmetic surgeons are generalists and can perform several procedures in a single session, but more commonly, the client will be required to arrange separate consultations to get the full picture of what’s possible — along with expected costs and timeframes.

This is where an experienced professional like Jae Pak, M.D., enters the picture. During a consultation, the client and physician will start a dialogue about the goals and parameters of the surgery. This will include the expectations and realities of the procedures and the likely cost of the procedure.

In general, the most expensive procedures involve the middle and lower third of the face, primarily and sculpting or reconfiguration of the cheeks, jaw, chin, Adam’s apple, or lips. These areas are not only more sensitive and prone to error, but they require more medical attention, technical capacity, recovery and follow-up, and general supervision with more staff.

The more drastic and ambitious the surgery (measured typically by the amount of tissue and surface area covered), the higher the overall cost will be. This is why facial masculinization surgeries can range so broadly in cost.

You can expect to pay anywhere from $5,000 for a small procedure to $20,000 or more for more complete transformations. Don’t skimp on experience to try to save money. An experienced surgeon is worth their weight in gold and can help you better achieve your goals.

Surgical Process

Each masculinization procedure follows a unique protocol based on the goals established in consultation. Procedures typically fall into one of two categories. They either add tissue or material volume to the area or remove and refine tissue to deemphasize the area or articulate an adjacent area of the face.

When adding tissue, surgeons may take existing fat from another area of the body, then isolate and mold it into a particular form before inserting it beneath the skin. This may occur along the jawline, on the chin, or elsewhere. Cartilage may also be used to add more definition to the Adam’s apple, the brow, or the nose.

Alternatively, soft tissue from the neck or jaw area may be removed in order to create a more defined and masculine structure. A leaner, more angular face creates the masculine appearance that many clients strive for.

These types of procedures may take anywhere from a few hours to complete to a full day of surgery or multiple sessions over the course of a year. These are invasive procedures that require anesthesia and other pain reduction agents to keep patients comfortable before, during, and after surgery.