Quality of Life Outcomes After Facial Feminization Surgery

Abstract

Objective:

Report a large single-institution cohort of quality of life (QOL) data before and after facial feminization surgery (FFS).

Study Design:

Case series.

Methods:

Patients who underwent FFS at our institution between 2017 and 2019 and completed a pre- and postoperative QOL survey were included in this study. Responses were scored on a 5-point scale with 1 corresponding to least agreement and 5 corresponding to most agreement. Paired t-test was used to compare pre- and postoperative mean scores for each response. Two-tailed t-test was used to compare the mean postoperative delta for each response by demographics.

Results:

One hundred seven of 341 patients completed a pre- and postoperative survey. The average age was 36 years (range 18–67). The mean time to postoperative survey completion was 96 days (interquartile range 43). Significant improvements in all aspects of QOL assessed on the survey were noted after surgery, including self-perceived facial femininity (2.1–3.8, p < 0.001) and publicly perceived facial femininity (2.0–3.6, p < 0.001). Patients also felt less limited in social activities (3.2–2.0, p < 0.001) and professional activities (2.7–1.7, p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

FFS improves self-perceived and externally perceived facial femininity and reduces limitations in social and professional activities.