Facial Feminisation Surgery
Gender-affirming facial surgery tailored to your anatomy, identity and individual goals.
Facial feminisation surgery, or FFS, refers to a personalised combination of procedures designed to modify facial features that may be perceived as more traditionally masculine and create a softer or more feminine facial appearance.
FFS is not a single operation. Depending on your anatomy and goals, treatment may involve the forehead and brow, hairline, nose, cheeks, lips, jaw, chin or other areas of the face.
The aim is not to apply one definition of femininity or create the same facial shape for every patient. Surgical planning considers your existing facial structure, proportions, soft tissues and the features you would like to change or preserve.
Dr Katie-Beth Webster will assess the face as a whole and develop an individualised treatment plan based on the areas most important to you.
What is facial feminisation surgery (FFS)?
Is facial feminisation surgery right for me?
FFS may be considered by transgender women, transfeminine people and some non-binary individuals who would like their facial features to feel more aligned with their gender identity.
You may be considering FFS if you would like to address features such as:
a prominent brow ridge or forehead
hairline height or shape
nasal shape or proportions
jaw width or angularity
chin width, projection or shape
facial volume and cheek contour
the overall relationship between different facial features
There is no single combination of procedures that defines FFS. Some patients may benefit from treatment to one or two areas, while others may consider a broader surgical plan.
Suitability depends on your anatomy, general health, expectations and individual treatment goals.
What can facial feminisation surgery include?
Forehead and brow contouring
The forehead and brow ridge can be reshaped to reduce prominence and alter the contour of the upper face. Depending on the anatomy of the frontal sinus and forehead, different surgical techniques may be required.
Cheek and midface contour
Fat grafting or other volume-enhancing techniques may be considered to alter midface contour and cheek projection.
Chin contouring
Genioplasty may be used to change chin width, projection or shape where this contributes to the overall lower-face contour.
Hairline advancement
Hairline advancement may reduce forehead height or change the position and shape of the hairline where this forms part of the overall treatment plan.
Lip procedures
Selected patients may consider procedures such as a lip lift or volume enhancement where changes around the lips form part of their goals.
Tracheal shave
Chondrolaryngoplasty may be performed to reduce the prominence of the thyroid cartilage, commonly referred to as the Adam’s apple.
Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty may change the size, shape or proportions of the nose while maintaining structural support and, where relevant, nasal function.
Jaw contouring
Jaw contouring may reduce the width or prominence of the lower jaw and alter the relationship between the jawline, chin and wider face.
What you can expect
FFS is highly individual, and the number and type of procedures involved can vary considerably from one patient to another. Understanding the planning, surgery and recovery process can help you feel more informed and prepared.
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Your consultation begins with a discussion about the facial features that are most important to you and what you would like surgery to achieve.
Dr Webster will assess your forehead, brow, hairline, nose, cheeks, lips, jaw, chin and overall facial proportions. Your bone structure, soft tissues, skin characteristics and any previous facial surgery or treatments will also be considered.
Rather than assuming that every feature needs to be changed, the aim is to identify which areas are contributing most to your concerns and which procedures may provide the most meaningful change.
Your general health, medications, smoking status and any hormone therapy will also be reviewed. Hormone therapy is not required for every person considering FFS, and treatment planning will be based on your individual circumstances.
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FFS may involve one procedure or several procedures performed during the same operation.
The exact surgical approach, length of surgery and hospital stay depend on the procedures included. More extensive FFS may require an overnight stay or several days of postoperative monitoring, while smaller procedures may involve a shorter recovery.
Dr Webster will explain the proposed sequence of procedures, scars, anaesthesia and whether it is safer or more appropriate to stage treatment rather than complete everything at once.
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Recovery varies significantly depending on the procedures performed.
Swelling and bruising are generally most noticeable during the first one to two weeks and gradually improve over the following weeks. More extensive bone or soft-tissue surgery can result in swelling, tightness, numbness and temporary asymmetry that take longer to settle.
Many patients can return to light daily activities within around two weeks, while more strenuous activity may need to be avoided for several weeks. Final refinement can take several months as swelling resolves and the tissues settle.
Why choose Dr Katie-Beth Webster?
As a specialist plastic surgeon, Dr Katie-Beth Webster provides individualised assessment and surgical planning for facial feminisation surgery.
FFS may involve multiple facial regions and requires consideration of both bone and soft-tissue anatomy. Dr Webster will assess how the different areas of your face relate to one another and explain which procedures may be appropriate for your goals.
You will receive clear information about the proposed surgery, scars, recovery, risks and limitations so that you can make an informed decision about treatment.
Her focus is on respectful, evidence-based care and developing a surgical plan that reflects your anatomy, priorities and individual transition journey.
Considering FFS surgery?
A consultation with Dr Katie-Beth Webster provides an opportunity to discuss the facial changes you are considering, understand which procedures may be relevant and receive advice tailored to your anatomy and goals.
Dr Katie-Beth Webster provides compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to every patient's individual journey. Dr Katie-Beth Webster offers FFS consultations in Melbourne, with appointments available in Box Hill and East Melbourne.
Common questions about FFS surgery
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There is no fixed list of procedures included in FFS.
Treatment may involve the forehead and brow, hairline, nose, cheeks, lips, jaw, chin or thyroid cartilage. Some patients may require treatment to only one or two regions, while others consider several procedures as part of a broader surgical plan.
The combination depends on your anatomy and which facial features are most important to you.
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No. Hormone therapy is not a requirement for every person considering facial feminisation surgery.
Feminising hormone therapy can influence the skin, fat distribution and other soft tissues of the face over time, but it does not substantially change mature facial bone structure.
If you are using hormone therapy, its effects and timing can be considered as part of surgical planning. If hormone therapy is not part of your transition, FFS can still be discussed based on your anatomy and goals.
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Sometimes, but not always.
Several procedures may be combined within one operation where this is considered appropriate and safe. More extensive treatment can increase operative time, swelling and recovery, so in some cases Dr Webster may recommend staging procedures across separate surgeries.
The decision depends on the number and complexity of procedures, your general health and the overall treatment plan
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Recovery depends on which procedures are performed.
Swelling and bruising are generally most noticeable during the first one to two weeks and continue to improve over the following several weeks. Bone contouring and more extensive facial procedures can result in swelling and numbness that persist for longer.
Many patients return to light activities within around two weeks, while full exercise and more strenuous activity usually require a longer break.
Final results develop gradually over several months as swelling resolves.
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Scar placement depends on the procedures performed.
Incisions may be concealed within the hairline, around natural facial creases, inside the mouth or beneath the chin. Rhinoplasty and other procedures may involve their own specific incision patterns.
Scars are permanent, although they are positioned as discreetly as possible and generally become less noticeable as they mature.
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No. FFS does not mean changing every facial feature.
Treatment is planned around the features you would like to address and the areas that are likely to have the greatest impact on your overall facial proportions.
For some patients, a relatively small number of procedures may be appropriate. Others may choose a more comprehensive approach.
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Yes. Rhinoplasty is commonly considered as part of FFS where the shape or proportions of the nose are one of the patient’s concerns.
The procedure may alter the bridge, tip, width or projection of the nose while considering its relationship with the forehead, lips, chin and wider face.
Where breathing concerns are also present, nasal function can be assessed as part of surgical planning.
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Risks vary according to the procedures performed.
Potential risks may include bleeding, infection, delayed wound healing, visible scarring, asymmetry, contour irregularity, prolonged swelling and temporary or permanent changes in sensation.
Procedures involving the facial bones can also carry risks of nerve injury or changes in bone contour. Implants or grafts, where used, may have additional risks such as movement, infection or the need for revision.
Dr Webster will discuss the risks specific to each procedure included in your treatment plan.