What to Expect 1 Week After Facial Feminization FFS | MtF Transgender

Note: This article is general information only and is not medical advice. Recovery varies from person to person. Follow your surgeon's instructions and contact your surgical team with questions or concerns about your recovery.

Facial feminization surgery raises eyebrows even in the trans community. It essentially entails one or multiple surgical procedures in order to alter or change many of your physical attributes  that you perceive to be masculine.

As the name suggests, the goal is to ensure that such attributes are feminized so you can pass or alleviate symptoms of gender dysphoria. 

 

Facial feminization has a painful recovery period according to many trans women. The areas where you undergo procedures may look blue and swollen for a couple of weeks.

Especially the first day after the procedure is said to be extremely painful- nausea, headache, grogginess, and disorientation are just some of the symptoms that many trans women have reported experiencing after undergoing FFS.

The nausea, in particular, is said to be particularly extreme, which can be attributed to the potent anesthesia used during the procedure. This could make even the process of drinking water extremely stressful and uncomfortable.

The empty stomach obviously does not help either. It is said that the symptoms of nausea and headache tend to last for four or five days.    

 

Unfortunately, all you can do during this period is wait it out. The symptoms will gradually subside and the swelling will come down over time. However, since it’s an extensive procedure, the swelling will persist for several days. It is important not to be disheartened or lose hope.

Swelling and healing can take time, and final results vary from person to person and take months to settle for many people. Many people find the longer-term result rewarding, but outcomes are individual. 

 

You would no longer have a complex relationship with your mirror. In fact, many trans women have reported that during the first week following the surgery, they have noticed a shift in their relationship with the mirror from negative to neutral.

Self-perception may continue to change as healing progresses, though this varies from person to person. 

 

One common experience during this week is the constant anxiety surrounding whether you overdid it or did not do enough. You may also worry that you did not cover all the problem areas.

This resembles typical buyer’s remorse. If you discussed the plan in detail with your doctor before surgery, it may help to revisit that plan together rather than judging the result in the first week. If you believe that you haven’t done enough, it might help to remember that you are not running out of time.

In some cases, further procedures are possible in the future; this is something to discuss with your surgeon. Once you have saved up an adequate amount. Remember, money comes and goes. Here, you are investing in yourself and your peace of mind.       

 

During the first couple of days, you might find it challenging to eat food. Getting enough rest and following your surgeon's advice can support recovery.

Many people find soft, easy-to-eat foods more comfortable in the first days. Follow your doctor's diet recommendations for your recovery.     

 

Once staples or dressings are removed, sleeping may become more comfortable. Follow your surgeon's guidance on sleep positions and activity. Once you start getting more rest, recovery follows soon enough. Since the surgery is pretty intense, returning to normalcy might take some time. 

Whether the recovery feels worth it is a personal decision, and it is worth thinking it through carefully before surgery. Due to the harsh recovery period, it is important that you really think this decision through.

If you feel like you are already passing and your dysphoria is not intense, you may not even need this surgery. It’s completely your prerogative, since there are no wrong or right decisions here. 

 

We hope this article gave you an insight into what the first week following the FFS could look like. Good luck!!

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