Facial Feminization Surgery

[Guest ShannaJ]

Hi,

My name is Shanna and I am new to the forum. I would like to ask for your guidance or comments you have from your facial feminization experiences. I live in the Chicago area and would prefer to stay close to home to help with recovery time and costs but am willing to travel if needed. I have read some horror stories coming and would like to avoid those types of situations. What is important to me is finding someone I can trust who cares about me and not just looking at me as their next new Porsche. I know you cannot endorse but if you can share your experiences I would really appreciate it. Thank you!

Very kind regards,

Shanna

[Guest Donna Jean]

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Hello, Shanna.....

I'm Donna Jean.....about 28 HRT months and full time.....

I don't plan on any FFS......

But, I did want to say "Welcome to the Playground" and offer you a cup of coco....ok?

Nice to have you here!

Huggs

Donna Jean

[Guest ShannaJ]

.

Hello, Shanna.....

I'm Donna Jean.....about 28 HRT months and full time.....

I don't plan on any FFS......

But, I did want to say "Welcome to the Playground" and offer you a cup of coco....ok?

Nice to have you here!

Huggs

Donna Jean

Hi Donna Jean and thank you so much for the warm "welcome to the forum". It put a smile on my face.

Hugs,

Shanna

[Guest Elizabeth K]

FFS isn't as common among transpeople as you might think, but I have a few acquaintances who have had it performed. The commendation will probably depend on the work you need done. and it seems a rhinoplasty, brow reduction and a trachea shave are most common. There are other surgeries, including implants.

Some standard plastic surgeons can perform 'nose jobs' and face lifts.

I always suggest at least a yer on HRT before looking at surgery as HRT does a lot of feminization. If I was to have it performed, I would consider the surgeons in Thailand - where I will go for my SRS. But that is just me.

My friend Veronica cautioned me her FFS was the most painful and expensive work she had done, so be prepared.

Sorry I can't help more than that.

Lizzy

[~Nova~]

I don't know many trans, but it seems it's the norm here to have it done. Maybe it's the geographical local, but I know many that have gone through it. I will ask one of the more knowledgeable girls for her advice. She seems to know a lot about it.

I went to a surgeon and he told me he wouldn't even consider long at me until I was on the hormones for 6-8 mths. He said he preferred a year. He said the skin will change, the fatty areas will move and it's beet to wait, so I'm waiting. I'll wait 9mths, 6 more to go.

I know I need a chin reduction, at least the fat sucked out, and a rhinoplasty. I was a pretty feisty male and got into a lot of fights and I got really good at stopping punches with my nose.

I'll get back to you.

Welcome.

Nova

[Guest kelise]

Just want to say because I was just sitting down to type up this exact thread here. Now I can just read the resposes to yours:)! I live in Orlando, I've been full-time for 4 years, HRT for 5, and post-op for 7 months. In a classic case of "never enough" I have become determined to get FFS. I already had a rhinoplasty when I first went full-time, only because I had never heard of FFS at the time, otherwise I would have gone the whole 9 and gotten the full FFS at that time. What I really need is a forehead reconstruction and scalp advancment with hairline correction, a chin reduction, and cheek implants. I also really want BA.

So far my research has uncovered a place in Lima, Peru called FemiLife which offered everything above plus more and all accomodations for $6500, plus $3000 for BA. One plus side is that outside the US you can get the cohesive gel implants, AKA the "gummy bear" implants, which if I'm going to get BA, that's a must. The downside is I haven't been able to find any reviews on their work other than their own website, which is obviously biased. It seems they are rather new. There's also a Dr. DiMaggio in Argentina who has a good reputation, but costs almost as much as a US Dr. I'm looking into Dr. Ousterhout in San Fransisco (who pretty much invented FFS) and Dr. Spiegel in Boston. Both of them require a consultation fee of $100 to get a diagnostic review and price quote.

Anyway, I too would love some reviews from girls who've actually had FFS.

[Guest Leah1026]

I'm looking into Dr. Ousterhout in San Fransisco (who pretty much invented FFS) and Dr. Spiegel in Boston. Both of them require a consultation fee of $100 to get a diagnostic review and price quote.

Go to a regional gender conference and get a consultation for FREE.

I went to First Event back in Jan 2005 and got FREE consultations with Drs Ousterhout, Spiegel and Zukowski.

I chose Dr O because he was the most experienced (by far at the time), he really got into his work and he was very personable. Dr O basically invented FFS and has been doing it since 1982 I believe. His surgical philosphy isn't to give you a new face; it's to reduce the male "tells" on your face... which naturally makes you look more like you should have. Anywho, I was quite satisfied with my results. I look like a cross between my sister and my mother, which is as it should be.

I didn't chose Dr Spiegel, even though he was only 40 miles away, because he was new to FFS at the time. If I was making the decision now I'd probably go to him. He's very upfront, honest and professional.

I didn't chose Dr Zukowski for a couple reasons. I didn't like the way he put other surgeons down. He also was a little too free with personal details about his patients (Can you say HIPAA?). His surgical philosophy contrasted with Dr O in that he wanted to give you a totally new face and he would decide what that was. He also was too friendly with many of his patients, if you know what I mean. And last, he struck me as a used car salesman.

These were my impressions from dealing with the "Big 3".

[Guest Karen K]

Shanna,

You have Dr Zukowski right there in Chicago. I have heard good things about him, and have viewed the small collection of before and after images of some of his patients. It is true that Dr's will post only the best of the best, this is one of the way we decide who to research. Dr Speigel is in Boston and has a nice array of before and afters, And Dr. O is in San Fransico.

Today, I sent my photo's (five different view of my face) to Dr Zukowski. His Admin Assistant called and scheduled a telephone consult for next Wednesday, 31 Aug. Also she emailed me a Biography and Medical History questionaire to fill out. I did that this afternoon as well.

I feel FFS is almost as important as SRS. FFS is for everyone else and SRS is for me alone. I want FFS so when others see me, they will see "female". Now they may stare because I'm 5'!1" barefoot (and I like heels), or because I have large feet and hands. But I don't want them to stare because, though I'm dressed in female attire, I have "manly" facial features.

I'll let everyone know how my telephone consult goes and what Dr Z's assesment is. I'm hoping the cost wont be too exhorbitant as I do have some money set aside, but don't want to deplete in completely.

Laura Jane

[Guest Leah1026]

FFS is for everyone else and SRS is for me alone. I want FFS so when others see me, they will see "female".

Part of transition is breaking the cycle of living for others. Do not have FFS for others! Have it for yourself.

Also, never pick a doctor simply based on proximity or price. Evaluate their skills, surgical philosphy and, of course, results.

[Guest Karen K]

Leah, you are right. I am living for myself, and I misspoke. What I should have said is: my face is what everyone else sees, it's public and what's between my legs is private. If you ladies are interested, my telephone consult went very well:

The telephone consult was very informative. I could tell with the way Dr. Zukowski spoke, he is a very busy man. As he rattled off the procedures he recommended for me, I feared the amount it would cost.

Forehead recontouring

brow lift

Rhinoplasty

Upper lip lift

Cheek inplants

Chin and Jaw reduction

Scalp advance: 1/2" in front, 3/4" on sides

This is quite a list, and I do agree that the whole face should be done in one fell swoop. This to avoid what Dr Z call, " a Picaso face".

Given the extensive nature of this list, the quote was surprising to me. The amount includes: the operating room, anesthesia, the surgery, hospital stay over night, daily visits by Dr Z (for 8-9 days). He guarantees his work and any needed revisions are free of charge. I had fully expected to be paying 60-70K for all this, but not so!

He told me a brief history for his experience. 18 years with the Transgender communtity after serving in the U.S. Navy as a surgeon. When I commented on the quote, he said he is very sensitive to the needs of our communitity and given the state of the economy, this is what he believes would be fair. This quote is good until 1 October 2012.

BTW, he said he tells his patients that fifty is the new twenty-one! He also believes I will be very pretty!

I am thinking of several options: 1) have this done soon, go into RLE and then persue employment as Laura Jane; 2) do this sometime next year, in hopes of finding employ before hand and then transition on the job; 3) seek an alternate career, have the FFS and seek employ as L.J. in the new field.

So many ways to go, and I have until October 2012, if I am to secure that amount. Incidently $1,000 secures the surgery date. The 1/2 due in advance and the remainder due day of surgery. I am awaiting an information package which explains everything.

Laura Jane

PS I puposely didn't post the amount because that was for me, and you may get a different quote based on your facial features .