Please note there are mentions of graphic medical side effects, surgical interventions, medications, and post-operative care.
Rebecca is an activist who has worked with local legislators and community leaders to advance transgender rights, acceptance, and safety in all aspects of society. She has also recently joined the Client Advisory Board at the Center for Transgender Care at Northwell Health.
During the first few days home from surgery, my head felt a bit cloudy, and I couldn’t eat, but I didn’t experience any pain, discomfort, or post-surgery complications.
Because of the extensive dental work I had before my surgery, I learned the importance of keeping my mouth free of germs, so I brush and rinse several times a day. During my procedure, my entire jaw, chin, neck, and cheeks were reconstructed. An incision was made in my mouth from one side of my top and bottom jaw to the other, except directly under my nose. This area can become infected if food or bacteria get into the stitches. To prevent infection, I was prescribed a week’s supply of an oral rinse called Chlorhexidine. Once the rinse was complete, I continued rinsing with 8 oz of water and a teaspoon of salt. There was also tightness and a pulling sensation in my mouth, which lasted about 8 weeks.
The first follow-up appointment with my surgeon was 10 days later because of the Thanksgiving holiday. There was a lot of scabbing, and it's important not to let your hair mat into the incision. For my procedure, my entire forehead, hairline, and nose were reconstructed, so an incision was made along the hairline from ear to ear.
All the stitches used in my surgery dissolved, so there was no need to have any of them removed. It’s very important to follow your surgeon's instructions carefully.
After facial feminization surgery, you will need to sleep at a 30- to 40-degree angle while wearing a jaw bra for several weeks, possibly even several months.
Another change after surgery is switching to a soft diet. There was significant swelling, making it difficult to chew or open the mouth wide. After I started my dental work in June, I switched to a soft diet and have continued it ever since.
Some foods I found easy to eat were soup (without chunks), mashed potatoes, refried beans, grits, baby food, couscous, plain yogurt, scrambled eggs, ice cream, and pastina. Another option is to puree food in a food processor or blender.
I am now going on my 10th week of post-surgery, and I'm starting to see changes, and so does everyone else who sees me. I'm constantly complimented, and so is my surgeon. People say he did an unbelievable job, which gives me confidence that I made the right decision in selecting Northwell Health.
Undergoing facial feminization surgery is a major step in the transition process, and it’s a deeply personal experience. For me, very few people have been involved in my transition because it’s my personal journey, and I need to be the one in charge without outside interference. So, it was a big step to let someone else into my transition sphere. However, I developed full confidence in my surgeon after our first consultation.
It's not uncommon to feel a deeper personal connection to the surgeon who performs a procedure with this level of precision and detail. I feel honored and humbled to have been a patient of my surgeon, who has performed more than 3,000 facial feminization surgeries and is considered among the best in the world in this field.
I am grateful to my surgical team for treating me with respect and kindness and for helping me navigate the complex healthcare system.
For me, facial feminization surgery was one of the most euphoric, lifesaving decisions I’ve ever made, and I finally feel completely in control of who I am: my authentic, genuine self.
Pre-surgery
9 weeks post surgery
We’d like to thank Rebecca for her vulnerability, her openness, and for sharing her experience with our readers. It is incredibly powerful and brave to be so visible and willing to describe such a personal and profound process, and we are immensely grateful to her for doing so and proud to be able to bring you her journey!