Facial Feminisation Surgery in Bangkok, Thailand
Dr. Rushapol Sdawat, M.D. — Thai Board-Certified Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
Forehead contouring, rhinoplasty, jaw and chin, tracheal shave | CT-planned bony work | Intrarat Hospital, Bangkok
Facial feminisation surgery (FFS) is a group of procedures, not one operation. It modifies the bony and soft-tissue features that are read, on average, as more masculine: the brow bone, the hairline, the nose, the jaw angles, the chin, the upper lip and the thyroid cartilage. Some patients need several; some need one; some, after an honest assessment, need none of the bony work at all. This is the treatment page for FFS with Dr. Rushapol Sdawat in Bangkok; for the full guide, read Facial feminisation surgery in Bangkok: procedures, staging and recovery.
How you are assessed
The features that carry most of the signal are the upper third of the face, the forehead and brow, followed by the lower third, the jaw and chin. Assessment begins with the whole face rather than a list of wishes, using photographs and, for bony work, a CT scan to see how prominent the brow bone is, how the frontal sinus is shaped, the angle and width of the jaw, and the height and projection of the chin. The goal is a face that looks like you, read differently, not a generic face. Dr. Rushapol's foundation in this work is a craniofacial and microsurgery scholarship at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, in 2001.
Forehead contouring and brow reduction
The single most impactful FFS procedure for many patients. When the bone over the frontal sinus is thick it can be burred down; when it is thin, which is common, the front wall of the sinus is removed, reshaped and fixed back in a flatter position with small plates (a type III forehead reduction). The incision is at or just behind the hairline, and a high hairline can be lowered at the same time. Swelling around the eyes is significant for two weeks; scalp numbness behind the incision improves over months and may not fully recover.
Feminisation rhinoplasty
Reduces overall nasal size, lowers or removes a dorsal hump, refines the tip and slightly raises the angle between nose and upper lip, using preservation techniques where the anatomy allows. Forehead and nose are done in the same stage so the junction between them can be shaped as one line. Read: rhinoplasty in Bangkok.
Jaw and chin feminisation
Both are altered from inside the mouth, so there are no external scars. Jaw angles are reduced by removing bone along the lower border and outer surface, sometimes with thinning of the masseter. The chin is reshaped by sliding genioplasty, fixed with small plates. Dr. Rushapol is conservative here: removing too much bone weakens the jaw and can make the face look hollow. Swelling is marked for two to three weeks, the chin and lower lip are numb for weeks to months, and a soft diet is needed for the first fortnight. A lip lift can complement the lower face.
Tracheal shave
Chondrolaryngoplasty reduces the prominence of the thyroid cartilage through a small incision in a natural neck crease placed above the cartilage. The vocal cords attach on the inside of this cartilage, so the reduction is deliberately limited to protect the voice; complete removal of the prominence is not attempted. Soreness on swallowing lasts a few days.
Staging
| Stage | Procedures commonly grouped | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Upper face | Forehead contouring, hairline lowering, brow lift, rhinoplasty, tracheal shave | Forehead and nose are shaped as one line; the shave adds little time |
| Lower face | Jaw angle reduction, sliding genioplasty, lip lift | Shares the same swelling and diet restrictions |
| Soft tissue (later) | Fat transfer to cheeks, lip augmentation, facelift where age-related laxity is present | Best judged once bony swelling has fully settled |
A full programme in a single operation is long, and long operations carry more risk of bleeding, clots, cooling and slow recovery. Where a patient is fit with no factors raising clot or bleeding risk, upper and lower face are sometimes done together with an overnight stay in intensive care; more often they are staged, a week or two apart in the same trip or on two trips.
Recovery and stay
One to three nights in Intrarat Hospital depending on the stage. Sutures at the hairline come out at around ten days. Stay in Bangkok for at least two weeks after bony surgery, and three is better, so wounds, plates and any early haematoma are managed in person before you fly. Most visible swelling settles by six weeks; the final bony contour of jaw and chin takes six months to a year. Video reviews with photographs follow after you return home. Read: how long to stay in Bangkok and when it is safe to fly.
Planning from Australia and New Zealand
Since 1 July 2023 Australians need a GP referral before a consultation for cosmetic surgery; that visit is a good opportunity to involve your GP in aftercare. Medicare does not cover purely cosmetic surgery; whether particular FFS procedures are assessed differently is a question for your Australian doctors. Travel insurance generally excludes elective cosmetic surgery abroad. Bring a full list of medications including hormone therapy to the anaesthetic assessment: oestrogen raises clot risk, and the anaesthetist will discuss adjustment around surgery. Read: your medications and cosmetic surgery and the international patient pathway.
Cost
FFS is quoted per procedure and per stage after assessment; your itemised quotation follows consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Which facial feminisation procedures make the biggest difference?
For most patients, forehead contouring and brow reduction in the upper face, and jaw and chin reshaping in the lower face. These change bone, which carries most of the signal. Nose, lips and tracheal shave refine the result but rarely shift perception on their own.
Can all FFS procedures be done in one operation?
Technically often yes, but not always safely or wisely. A full upper and lower face procedure is a long operation and is staged for many patients, either within the same trip or on two trips, depending on health, clot risk and the number of procedures.
How long is recovery from facial feminisation surgery?
Two to three weeks in Bangkok, roughly six weeks until most swelling is gone, and six to twelve months until the final bony contour and sensation settle.
Does a tracheal shave affect the voice?
It should not if the reduction is limited to the cartilage above the vocal cord attachment, which is how it is performed here. Removing too much cartilage can change the voice.
Is facial feminisation surgery in Bangkok safe for overseas patients?
Safety depends on the surgeon's training, the hospital and the planning of the operation rather than the country. Verify the surgeon's licence, confirm an anaesthetist and overnight monitoring, and ask how the surgeon decides when to stage rather than combine.
Request a consultation
Consultations are in person in Bangkok or by video; you receive a written treatment plan and an itemised quotation.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Rushapol Sdawat, M.D., Medical Council of Thailand licence No. 17689. Last reviewed: 7 September 2026. This page is general information, not medical advice. All surgery carries risk; individual results vary and are not guaranteed. Suitability can only be determined after consultation and examination.
