Tracheal ShaveAbout The Procedure
A Tracheal Shave is one of the most common surgical procedures for transsexuals. The surgeon reduces the cartilage in the throat to make the shape more feminine.
Procedure Description
The surgeon makes a horizontal incision in a crease of skin on the throat. Then the vertical muscles in the throat are separated to expose the cartilage. Then the surgeon shaves off the most prominent part of the notch and the top of the V-shaped protrusion of cartilage.
Anesthesia
Tracheal Shave surgery is performed using local or general anesthesia, depending on whether or not it is the only surgery to be performed
Inpatient or Outpatient?
Tracheal Shave surgery is usually performed on an outpatient basis, unless it's combined with other surgeries that require hospital stays.
Recovery
The average time for complete recovery from a Tracheal Shave is about two weeks, though sometimes it takes longer than that depending on pre-existing medical conditions the patient has, like anemia.
Swelling and bruising around the site of the incision is the most common phase of Tracheal Shave recovery. Difficulty swallowing and speaking is also a common effect.
Most procedures leave you with a prominent red scar that lightens over the next 1 to 3 months. This can usually be concealed with makeup once any stitches or staples are removed. Depending on the procedure, this scar can be a raised ropy scar that will settle without the indentation common to healed incisions. How noticeable it is depends on the surgeon's skill, and your body's formation of scar tissue. Severe cases might require surgical scar revision or flesh colored tattooing.
Duration of Results
Tracheal Shave results are permanent.
Risks
Due to the proximity to the vocal folds, there is the small possibility that they may be damaged during Tracheal Shave surgery.
Other risks associated with Tracheal Shave surgery include hematoma, infection, and permanent loss of voice.
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