FACIAL CORRECTIONS IN MALE TO FEMALE TRANSSEXUALS - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT ON 16 PATIENTS

Purpose: The need for facial corrective surgery to facilitate passing as a member of the other sex occurs in a relatively low percentage of male-to-female transsexuals. The aim of this study was to explore crit eria and techniques for facial corrections in male-to-female transsexu als because little is known on objective measures for meaningfull faci al alterations in the female direction. Patients and Methods: In the p eriod 1992 to 1994, 16 male-to-female transsexual patients were eligib le for bony facial corrections. Several techniques were used to femini ze the masculine appearance: mandibular angle reduction, genioplasty, bimaxillary osteotomy, and zygoma onlay and zygoma sandwich osteotomie s.Results: Subjectively good results were obtained. Improvement in qua lity of life was not objectively assessed. Conclusions: Facial correct ive surgery seems to be promising in selected cases of male-to-female transsexualism. Further research is recommended on quantification of t he differences in male and female faces for optimal indications and de sign of this type of surgery. The psychosocial aspects of the facial s urgery and long-term stability of the surgical result also need to be further investigated.