Source
r/asktransgender•
Atorm587

Considering FFS in a few years. Experiences with Facial Team?

I am around 16 months into HRT. I am pretty fortunate thus far in that I don't have a lot of very masculine features. Really, I just hate my nose and would like to reduce my brow bone a bit. My main source of dysphoria is my hairline. It's very bad. I am 100% set on getting a hair transplant, but I want FFS first so I can cover the scar. My jaw and chin are fairly soft already and I don't have a visible adam's apple.

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From what I have gathered, Facial Team is a good group to look into. Deschamps-Braly, while amazing, is very expensive and I am not sure if I need aggressive work done. My top priority, above all else, is safety. I would rather get 50% of what I want with zero long-term complications than 100% with permanent nerve damage, scarring, etc. So, I have a few questions.

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  1. Is it true FT is less aggressive?

  2. How does safety rank in terms of how aggressive they go?

  3. What sort of price range can I expect for mostly forehead area and (maybe) a rhinoplasty? I have heard mixed opinions on their rhinoplasty outcomes.

Posted Sep 29, 2018, 1:44 AM UTC

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[deleted]

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hmmmnoidea•

  1. No. This is a silly rumor spread by those who think that the purpose of FFS is to turn a caveman into a hideously plastic and fake looking Kardashian. FT are very good at producing natural results, not "ew, that girl has had obvious plastic surgery" results. FT have one of the best reputations out there.

  2. They're very safe. Modern private hospital, lots of staff, recovery in hospital for two nights, always on call. Compared to some Thai and US "fuck off and recover in a filthy motel" stuff, it's a class above.

  3. Between 10,000 and 15,000 euros. Their prices are average to slightly above average.

Their nose work is fine. They don't do shitty noses. Surgeons work with what you bring them. If you walk in with nose and bone anatomy that doesn't lend itself to supporting the results you want, then no doctor will give you a perfect result. FT have great surgeons. Their poor results (and I've rarely seen any, especially compared to other surgeons, some of whom produce some fugly results) are down to patient anatomy, not surgical skill. FT tends not to take huge risks with your face. They tell you what they can do, then they deliver on those promises. They don't overpromise and underdeliver.

They also place incisions so they're hidden back on your head and you don't end up with ugly scarring along your hairline which is often noticeable and looks very "wiggy" without makeup. Hairline incisions and hairline advances are lazy surgery and rarely look very natural in my opinion.

You pay your money and you take your choice with FFS, GRS, etc. All the major names are good. Don't nitpick over who is the "best" surgeon. It's a waste of time.

The simultaneous transplants aren't cheap, but they're not outrageous either. Plus they save the precious follicles from the strip of scalp removed during surgery. If hair loss is a problem, it's a great way to preserve what little you have. If you have a thick head of hair, then yes it's expensive and can be done cheaper elsewhere.

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HiddenStillTransgender MtF•

There's some info on them here.

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GrilledTuna29 F | HRT 2/28/13 | FFS 10/9/18•

I considered FT, but decided not to go with them. I will relate to you what I know about them and FFS in general, but I won't be able to answer your questions like someone who actually was a FT patient.

The main thing that I want to point out here is that FT (and other surgeons) hide the scar in the hairline, so hair transplants aren't necessary to cover it up. I'll explain. For FFS on the forehead, surgeons can make their incision in one of two places: either right at the hairline (leaving a scar that may or may not be visible over time) or further back within the line (leaving the scar covered by your hair). Doing the incision right at the hairline will allow the surgeon to reshape the hairline somewhat and form a more feminine look. However, there are limits to this, so if your hairline is in a pretty sharp M shape, then you probably won't have much to gain from an incision at the hairline.

I will also say that FT does sometimes offer a simultaneous hair transplant as part of their FFS. However, given quotes that I've seen from others, I would say that their prices on hair transplants are not even remotely competitive. Also, as someone who has gotten a hair transplant, I'm not really sure what the follicle survival rate is like for a hair transplant immediately following a procedure as invasive as forehead reconstruction. If you're set on hair transplant, I would probably go to a doctor who does just (or mostly) hair transplants. Either before or 6+ months after your FFS.

Regarding your questions, I have heard that FT is on the less aggressive side, but I don't put a whole lot of weight behind these rumors and I certainly don't believe that aggressive means better all the time.

I haven't heard any serious complaints about FT's safety. However, I suspect that most well-qualified surgeons who have been doing this for a while do send most of their patients home complication-free. You should ask any surgeon that you consult with about their complication rate and what kinds of complications they see most often, but if performed well to a healthy patient, I think most FFS procedures are pretty dang safe.

u/Strells may be able to provide some info on recent FT pricing if she has the time.

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