Tracheal shave

One of the procedures trans women most often request, after vaginoplasty and breast augmentation, is reduction of their Adam’s apple. This surgery is called a thyroplasty.

Procedure offered in collaboration with Facialteam.

What is a tracheal shave?

In men the thyroid cartilage (colloquially called the Adam’s apple) is much more prominent and visible than in women. Adam’s apple reduction surgery or tracheal shave basically consists of reducing and contouring the Adam’s apple cartilage to aesthetically resemble that of cis women. In cases of exceptional cartilage prominence, some trans women request adam’s apple reduction surgery as one of the first surgeries or treatments to be performed.

This surgery can improve quality of life for trans women in whom this cartilage is very evident, including those who are transitioning.

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More results

Facial Feminization results

Knowing the before and after of facial feminization surgery that the IM GENDER team performs can help you gain a clearer picture of the results you may attain. It helps you to see cases similar to yours and gain an idea of the final result.

HOW TO PREPARE

During your first appointment, your surgeon will study the volume and prominence of your thyroid cartilage. He will advise you on the factors involved in the operation and its results. Your surgeon will ask you about your medical history and give you guidelines to follow before the procedure. It is also recommended to perform some blood tests to evaluate your health condition.
If you have any doubts, now is the time to raise them. It is important that you trust and listen to advice from your surgeon, following his or her instructions before your tracheal shave feminization.

Procedure

You are admitted to IM CLINIC on the same day as your operation. In the hours prior to your tracheal shave, you will undergo the appropriate monitoring. While the choice of anaesthesia will depend on the assessment of your surgeon and their medical team, Adam’s apple reduction is most often performed under local anaesthesia plus sedation. The procedure usually takes about an hour.

The technique consists of making an incision in the most prominent area of the neck, approximately two to three centimetres long, coinciding with a natural wrinkle or fold in the skin, so that the resulting scar is practically imperceptible. Your surgeon then proceeds carefully and thoroughly to reduce the cartilage so as not to affect your vocal cords.

You should demand that the operation is carried out by an expert surgeon in a hospital centre with every medical and surgical assurance. This is because there is a risk of overcorrecting the cartilage, possibly resulting in vocal cord injury and permanent voice dysfunction.

Feminización facial-diferencias-entre-mujer-y-hombre

Postoperative period

It is most common, after the operation, for trans women to stay in hospital for a few hours, returning home the same day. Your medical team will advise you on the correct post-operative follow-up..

After the procedure, you may experience some discomfort and swelling for the next 24–48 hours. Your surgeon will advise you on suitable medication to best reduce this discomfort and improve your well-being.
In the first few days, some people experience a lowering in their voice tone, which may be accentuated to a greater or lesser degree, but this is transitory.

RISKS

As with all surgeries, there are some risks after tracheal shave feminization. These may include:

Bleeding.
Infection.
Scarring.
Nerve damage.
Voice changes.

It is important to follow surgeon recommendations before surgery and during the recovery period to reduce the possible complications.

Results

The results are immediately noticeable, although will become more noticeable as the swelling disappears. Your Adam’s apple will disappear visually while the resulting scar will become virtually invisible in time.

It is very important not to skip any of your post-operative visits with a member of the IM Gender team. Only they will be able to assess the progress of your adam’s apple reduction surgery recovery.

At all times, you will have a post-operative support telephone number available to answer any questions you may have.

TIPS AFTER ADAM’S APPLE REDUCTION SURGERY

DON’T GO AWAY WITH DOUBTS

It is important that you have no doubts about the post-operative thyroplasty procedure. Ask us, we will be happy to help you.

PLAYING SPORT AGAIN

Check with your doctor when it is appropriate to start and what type of physical activity is most suitable until you fully recover.

POST-OPERATIVE VISITS

It is very important you do not miss any visits after your surgery so that the IM GENDER medical team can evaluate your progress.

IM GENDER team

At IM GENDER we have been specialising in the care of transgender people for more than 20 years. Two decades of experience, professionalism, research and training endorse our medical team.