Tracheal Shave: Procedure, Cost, Side Effects, and Finding a Surgeon – Healthline

A tracheal shave is a type of facial feminization surgery. Its used primarily by trans women and non-binary trans people who wish their faces to appear more feminine. It may also be done on cisgender women who want the same effect.

This procedure is commonly referred to as Adams apple reduction surgery. Its also known as chondrolaryngoplasty, or thyroid cartilage reduction.

A large Adams apple is an obvious, male secondary sex characteristic. For people who are transitioning from male to female, having a tracheal shave can be liberating and empowering.

A tracheal shave can, however, be expensive, and isnt without risk. In this article well go over how a tracheal shave is done, the results you can expect, how much it costs, and possible side effects.

A tracheal shave is a surgical procedure thats often performed on an outpatient basis, under general anesthesia.

Its done to reduce the size of the laryngeal prominence, which is located on top of the thyroid gland in the middle of the throat. The laryngeal prominence is more commonly referred to as an Adams apple.

During a tracheal shave, thyroid cartilage is removed from the front of the larynx. The role of thyroid cartilage is to protect the vocal cords from damage or strain.

In people assigned male at birth, hormones such as testosterone increase the size and volume of the larynx and thyroid cartilage during puberty. The vocal cords also get longer during this time.

These changes cause the voice to deepen. They also cause the formation of a prominent bump in the front of the throat.

Since people assigned female at birth dont usually acquire this bump during puberty, removing it helps make the entire face appear more feminine.

Some people opt to have a tracheal shave simultaneously with other facial feminization procedures, such as:

Your doctor will medically evaluate you for this procedure. Theyll have you take some diagnostic tests to determine if youre healthy enough for surgery. These include an electrocardiogram (EKG) and blood tests.

Your doctor will also want to know about any medications or over-the-counter supplements you take.

Prior to the procedure, youll be told to stop taking aspirin, or any medications which might cause bleeding, or inhibit blood clotting. If you smoke or vape, your doctor will ask you to stop for at least several days before surgery.

Youll also receive written instructions that indicate when you should stop eating and drinking before the procedure.

A tracheal shave is typically done under general anesthesia. It takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour, from start to finish.

After surgery, youll be taken to a recovery room and observed for a period of time before being discharged.

If you have several facial feminization procedures done at once, you may be required to stay for a night in the hospital.

As with any surgery, youll need to have someone pick you up and take you home. Its recommended that you rest for a day or two. Its also suggested that you avoid vigorous activity and singing or speaking loudly.

You can expect to feel some discomfort after a tracheal shave for several days following surgery. Your surgeon will recommend that you rest your voice as much as possible during this time.

You should eat soft foods or a liquid diet until your throat feels comfortable when you swallow. Follow your doctors instructions for cleaning the area, and for having any stitches removed.

Post-operative side effects include:

If you continue to feel discomfort, icing the area and taking over-the-counter pain medication should help.

Once the initial swelling subsides, the results of a tracheal shave should be immediately apparent. You should see a smoother neck with a non-existent, or less-noticeable Adams apple.

The incision scar shouldnt be visible unless you lift the skin crease within which it was made. The scar will become less red over time.

If you routinely have facial hair removed from your neck or chin through procedures such as laser hair removal, waxing, or electrolysis, ask your doctor when you can resume treatment.

Its important to choose an experienced surgeon to perform this procedure. This will help reduce the potential for risk. Itll also help you set realistic expectations for the surgery.

In some instances, a very large Adams apple cant be removed completely, or diminished significantly. An experienced surgeon will be able to assess the results you can realistically expect, eliminating disappointment later on.

As with any surgery, there are certain risks associated with having anesthesia. These include:

In addition to potential risks from surgery, its important to speak with your doctor in order to understand the purpose of this procedure, and to clarify the results youre hoping to obtain.

A tracheal shave isnt done to raise or change voice pitch permanently. If a higher-sounding voice is part of your feminization goal, talk to your doctor about a separate procedure known as voice cord or voice feminization surgery.

If you dont have health insurance that covers this procedure, you can expect your out-of-pocket cost to be around $3,000 to $4,000. Some health insurance companies cover the cost of facial feminization surgeries, but this isnt the norm.

Talk to your health insurance company to see if theyll cover the cost of a tracheal shave. Since the procedure is considered elective, or cosmetic, your insurance company may not give you the answer youre hoping for.

If youre transitioning and wish to contest your health insurance companys decision, you may be able to find pro bono or low-cost legal representation to help you pursue coverage. You can access an attorney through the National Center for Transgender Equalitys Trans Legal Services Network Directory.

If youre employed, talking to your HR department about the type of coverage they supply to employees may also make a difference.

Its very important that you find a highly-experienced, qualified surgeon who has done this procedure many times before.

You can find a plastic surgeon through the American Society of Plastic Surgeons or a gender surgeon through Trans Healthcare.

You should have confidence in the surgeon you choose, and be comfortable asking them questions.

Things to ask include:

Tracheal shave is a type of facial feminization surgery thats used to reduce the size of the Adams apple. It may be done on trans women, non-binary trans people, and cisgender women.

This procedure is typically done on an outpatient basis.

Its important to use a highly-skilled surgeon to avoid risks to the vocal cords or scarring.

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Tracheal Shave: Procedure, Cost, Side Effects, and Finding a Surgeon - Healthline