Is MTF Facial Feminization Worth It?

Every trans woman, at one point in her life, might have read up about facial feminization surgery. But what exactly does it entail and is it really worth it?

As far as the first question is concerned, several small procedures are conducted based on your needs and requirements to feminize a face.

Many trans women opt for this surgery in order to pass and get rid of any features and attributes that are considered masculine according to society’s beauty standards. 

 

The second question is more tricky to answer. The majority of trans women who undergo this surgery report that it is totally worth it.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have trans women who would never want to undergo it. Therefore, whether it is worth it might largely depend on your specific needs as well as your self-perception.

In addition, the significance of FFS also largely relies on how important passing is for you. However, how can we measure whether it is worth it?

In essence, you would be paying for a service that would be rendered to you and the aim is to ensure that all your needs are met. That is why the second question is tricky.

It is impossible to determine whether FFS is worth all the money you are putting into it, since it would depend on your needs as well as your self-perception and dysphoria.

If your goal is to pass, you may be able to determine whether the surgery was successful in bringing you a step closer to this need. In addition, you can also measure its worth depending on how substantially it has affected your appearance.

If you come out of the surgery with a slightly less big forehead and no other changes, you may feel underwhelmed. Finally, to measure whether FFS is worth it, you might want to assess how your self-perception has changed with the surgery.

For any trans woman, passing in the mirror is significantly  more important than passing in a social setting. Therefore, if you come out of the surgery, look in the mirror, and feel more connected to yourself, FFS is definitely worth it. 

 

If you just underwent FFS, take some time before you begin assessing the value of it. The reason is that, right out of surgery, it is likely that your face would be swollen.

Therefore, you must allow adequate time for recovery and healing before you can determine whether the surgery was actually helpful. It takes at least 3 months to see the results to a significant extent. However, it is not until a year later that you can actually gauge the changes on your face.   

 

During the initial days after the surgery, making a fair assessment is challenging but you may be able to create first impressions.

The aim of facial feminization surgery is to feminize a person’s face by operating on different problem areas. This may include your jaw, forehead, nose, or any other regions that you want fixed.

If you are considering FFS and are uncertain about its merits, you need to ask yourself a few questions.

Firstly, how important is it for you to pass and are you passing right now? If you do value passing and you aren’t right now, you must determine if FFS can resolve that for you.

Secondly, what kind of a relationship do you have with your mirror? Do you look at yourself and find it hard to connect with what you see? Do you still see who you were before you began transitioning?

Does looking at a mirror induce dysphoria? If the answer to these questions is a resounding yes, you may benefit from FFS.  

 

While it is true that putting in mental work can also help with self-acceptance and one need not resort to surgeries, the latter is definitely easier and less taxing mentally and emotionally.

For many people, their struggle with their acceptance levels leads to depression and other mental trauma.

FFS is an easy way to avoid all that and live your life unabashedly, confident in your own skin. Therefore, if your relationship with your body is strained or you are not far along in your transitioning journey and are beginning to feel frustrated and helpless, FFS is a definitive solution for you.

In essence, your expectations from transitioning and your satisfaction with where you are right now will determine if FFS is valuable for you.  

 

If you are worried about the expenses, remember that you would be investing into your mental health and peace when you opt for FFS. We hope this article will help you make a decision that is best for you. Good luck!!  

 

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