Forums:
My girlfriend is transitioning and she is looking at a tracheal shave and voice modification. She already had a consult with Toby Mayer from The Beverly Hills Institute, and wanted a second opinion and option. I know it varies and usually requires a consult, but would your rate be any different than his quoted $8,200 or so for those procedures? We obviously want the best possible care, but also aren't made of money (as is probably the case with many younger transitioning mtf transgenders.
Thanks so much,
Sage
The procedure that I perform, called feminization laryngoplasty, is likely quite different them the one you have received a quote for. The most common procedure performed by surgeons in the US to alter voice is the cricothyroid approximation. A cricothyroid approximation places the voice into falsetto, which while it might be a female pitch has a different quality sometimes described as a "gay male quality". You would need to compare this quality with a procedure such as Feminization Laryngoplasty where the vocal cords are altered directly with a procedure to shorten and tighten them. I have voice recordings from before and after surgery posted on this website at http://old.voicedoctor.net/audio-files-current where you can listen to the quality of the voice for both types of procedure.
For current cost of surgery, you may contact my office at (503) 478-1845.