FFS pictures

Many trans-folk like to post pictures of themselves before and after.  I’m thinking that I should join that rite of passage, but at the same time  I sometimes wonder about the benefits of showing pictures to others.  I can see how it boosts the poster’s confidence, like saying “Hey world, I’m out here!”   I remember seeing how before/after transition pictures had given me much hope as to my ability to look completely female and be different than the male me.  To risk public exposure on the internet is courageous, and I respect those who did. 

But I do find posting Facial Feminization Surgery pictures safer for preserving my identity.  At the same time, the benefits for others for putting up FFS pictures are more dubious to me.  I did not look at any FFS pictures before my decision.  It was all about the words, the tone, the emotions that made think FFS would be worth it.  Perhaps those who are currently suffering through FFS hell can find solace in seeing fellow individuals like myself who had to go through misery and look like dog poo?  Perhaps they do help one make a decision whether or not to have FFS?  Whatever the case, I feel compelled to show mine too.  Feel free to let me know if you think this is useful or useless…I can then decide whether or not to keep these pictures up.

My before-and-after profiles most clearly show the eyebrow arch ridge disappearing, the chin pointing, the nose developing a little convexity, and the forehead sloping.  The camera angles are not perfect so there might be some misleading optical illusion.  Not shown is the tracheal shave.  The scalp advancement is difficult to see although one can see the scar disappearing at the forehead.  The jaw shape is also hard to see.  Swelling was most noticeably gone after two months.  Also, I should add that Dr. Ousterhout commented that I healed extremely fast because I was not a “bleeder.”  In the pictures, you can see that most of my bruising is gone by the time I left the Cocoon House.

May 18, 2008–this was seven months into hormones, not yet fulltime, me as an androgynous dude

Oct 14, 2008–night before the surgery

Oct 17, 2008–two days after FFS, right before leaving for the Cocoon house, love that hair!

Oct 19, 2008–there’s a famous ritual where Trish washes a person’s  hair while in her fireman pants and boots and standing on top of a ladder, this is me after the washing and a change of clean dressings

Oct 22, 2008–only the nose splint is left

Oct 25, 2008–splint is gone!  picture taken after leaving Cocoon house

Oct 29, 2008–some of that clumpy hair-straightener grease they used during FFS is finally starting to come off, the tracheal shave ridge scar on the bottom of my chin has lessened

Nov 6, 2008–nose is looking more convex

1-month postop–jaw swelling has lessened

2-month postop–scalp advancement scar is not noticeable, forehead is considerably less swollen

3-month postop–chin is much more pronounced, swelling is considerably less

6-month postop–swelling is gone, yay for smooth non-bumpy sloping forehead!

Sagittal Facial Profile