Facial Feminization: Perioperative Care and Surgical Approaches | Journal CME Article-Journal CME Article: Facial Feminization: Perioperative Care and Surgical Approaches Article

Journal CME Article: Facial Feminization: Perioperative Care and Surgical Approaches Article

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The document provides an in-depth exploration of Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS), which is a series of gender-affirming surgical procedures aimed at altering facial features to create a more feminine appearance for transgender women experiencing gender dysphoria. FFS focuses on regions such as the forehead, jawline, chin, and nose, which display sexual dimorphism. Established by Dr. Douglas Ousterhout in the 1980s, these procedures significantly enhance psychological and social well-being by aligning facial appearance with gender identity.<br /><br />FFS involves various techniques, including forehead contouring, jaw reshaping, and rhinoplasty. Virtual preoperative planning through computed tomography is utilized for accurate surgical interventions, thereby improving outcomes and minimizing complications and injuries. The paper stresses the importance of comprehensive psychosocial evaluation beforehand, ensuring realistic patient expectations and respect for personal pronouns and identity throughout care.<br /><br />Despite challenges with insurance coverage, FFS demand grows as societal recognition and support for transgender healthcare advance. Insurance policies are slowly adapting to cover such gender-affirming procedures, acknowledging their crucial role in improving transgender individuals' quality of life.<br /><br />The document also highlights the perioperative process, including patient evaluation, preoperative planning, and potential surgical complications. FFS's positive impact on mental health and societal recognition for transgender individuals is backed by various studies confirming improved gender identification in social environments and reduced gender dysphoric symptoms post-surgery.<br /><br />Overall, this comprehensive overview of FFS underscores its vital role in transgender healthcare, emphasizing a blend of technical surgical techniques with personalized preoperative planning and holistic patient care.

Keywords

Facial Feminization Surgery

gender-affirming procedures

transgender healthcare

psychosocial evaluation

virtual preoperative planning

insurance coverage

mental health

gender dysphoria

surgical techniques

personalized patient care