Facial feminization surgery

Chinplasty and jawcontouring

The blue areas indicate where bone can be removed.
Notice the differences between the male and female skull. The mandible is larger, thicker and higher in men. The chin is broader, higher and squarer in men than women.

Catalina Before   Catalina After
male cranium		female cranium

Procedure

Incisions are all made intraorally, so no scars will be visible on the outside.

Jaw contouring

The bone at the mandibular angles that is flaring laterally and posteriorly is trimmed off. The Masseter muscle is reduced on its inner aspect.

Chinplasty

If the chin is not too heavy, trimming off the corners could be enough. However, if the chin is very wide or too high a sliding osteotomy is necessary. The chin is cut from back to front on both sides, separating a horseshoe-shape of bone. A second cut parallel to and a few millimetres over the first one can be made, and a slice of bone removed. This will reduce the height of the chin.
The middle part of the horseshoe-shaped bone can be removed to make the chin more pointed.

Also the chin can be moved forwards or backwards if necessary. The bone parts are fixed using titanium miniplates and screws. These will never be removed.

Before chinplasty		After chinplasty

Recovery

A tape will be left over the chin to reduce hematoma. It can be removed on the next day. The chin and lower border of the mandible will be swollen for about 6 weeks, but even until 6 months postoperative the patient will notice a reduction of the volumes.
There will be little pain.

Complications

Infections are possible but rare and extremely rare is permanent numbness of one half of the lower lip and chin due to damage to the mental nerve.