Can I Get Facial Masculinization Surgery?

Q: Dr. Eppley,I am looking to get facial masculinization surgery. The aspects I dislike the most are how “flat” my face looks from the side and that I don’t have a very broad brow from the front which imo makes me seem like my face has a very “open” and “feminine” look. I also dislike that my chin is weak and narrow. Looking extensively around your website I feel as though I look like the “after” for the “facial feminization” and need the reverse. 

A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures. I have done some imaging looking at potential changes to the brow bone, cheek and chin/anterior jaw area. The brow bone and cheek augmentation are fairly straightforward using custom brow bone and infraorbital-malar implants. The chin and lower jaw has more challenges/options to it because the primary problem is the lack of vertical height and width. (with some slight need for horizontal projection) A custom chin implant would provide some height and good width but the soft tissue chin pad is only going to permit so much lengthening to be done as its ability to stretch over an implant is limited. Conversely a vertical lengthening sliding genioplasty allows much greater length to be created because the soft tissue chin pad remains attached to it as it is brought down. However it has no ability to add width unless implants are added to the sides of it. As you can see there are several options for your chin each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana