Non-Surgical Facial Feminization Treatments

Before Taking the Leap, You May Also Want to Explore Facial Feminization Without Surgery

If you’re considering facial feminization surgery you may also want to take a look at non-surgical, non-invasive facial treatments AKA “liquid facial feminization”. Of course, feminization without surgery will not produce the same dramatic results that surgical feminization will produce, but there are several facial treatments that will assist in feminizing the face to a degree–depending on your age, facial bone structure, and skin condition.

The following treatments are a great way to dip your toe into feminization gradually feminize–and depending on your age–rejuvenate your facial features…

Masseter (jaw) muscle reduction via Botox® or Dysport®

One of the most requested facial feminization procedures is jaw contouring (jaw reshaping or tapering). However, depending on your facial structure, you may also want to ask your surgeon about masseter muscle reduction via Botox® or Dysport® injections.

The masseter muscle runs down the cheekbone down to the lower jaw on both sides of the face. The masseter may be enlarged in some people if there is frequent grinding of teeth (bruxism) resulting in increased muscle bulk, facial asymmetries, and an overly-square and masculine jawline. Injections of Botox® or Dysport® injections directly into the muscle work by essentially relaxing and ‘atrophying’ the muscle and thereby reducing its size. Depending on the individual, the masseter may stay reduced permanently – even without further injections.

Botox® or Dysport® for frown lines and wrinkles

Botox® and Dysport® injections are one of the most popular treatments for reducing lines and wrinkles. They work to feminize the face by smoothening the skin and reducing signs of aging such as crow’s feet and frown lines. This treatment is also ideal if you have deep ‘furrow’ lines between your brows causing an overly ‘serious’ expression or heavy appearance to the brow.

It is critical that your chosen Botox® and Dysport® treatment provider has had experience with injecting transgender women. This is because the careful and precise placement of injections is the key to producing a positive result. Essentially, the skill of injecting Botox® accurately is not only that of a medical professional and also of an artist who is sensitive to the overall aesthetic of your face.
Read more about Botox® and Dysport® injections here.

Dermal facial fillers (facial volume) via Restylane®

Depending on your facial features and underlying structure there may be certain areas of the face that appear sunken or hollow, such as the under-eye area, cheeks, around the mouth, and lips. Dermal fillers such as Restylane® are an ideal way to fill out these hollow areas, correct any volume loss due to aging and feminize facial contours. Dermal fillers are ideal for:

  • Lip filling and plumping
  • Alleviating crow’s feet and forehead wrinkles
  • Adding volume to cheeks, chin contours, forehead, and nose
  • Filling facial hollows especially sunken areas under the eyes
  • Reducing the appearance of “sad mouth” (oral commissure creases)

One of the biggest advantages of Restylane® is that you can dissolve the filler if the placement needs fine-tuning or adjusting. It is this incremental approach which makes it ideal for those new to facial feminization and rejuvenation.
Read more about Restylane® dermal fillers here.

Perioral (around the mouth) feminization & rejuvenation

The ‘perioral’ area of your face is the area immediately surrounding the mouth, including several features: lips, upper lip area (under the nose), nasolabial folds (“smile lines” or “laugh lines”), and the corners of the mouth. There are several non-surgical treatments that will help to feminize and rejuvenate this lower part of the face:

  • Dermal fillers such as Restylane® add volume and fullness to the lips as an injectable, non-surgical treatment consisting of hyaluronic acid — a safe, natural, and long-lasting substance that boosts lip volume, improves structure–and most critically for feminization–improves the overall lip shape.
  • When injected with the correct skill and artistry to areas around the mouth, Botox® and Dysport® injections can result in a very feminine and natural-looking result.
    Read more about perioral rejuvenation here.

Microneedling for smoothing imperfections and skin texture

Microneedling (skin needling) involves is the use of a series of tiny and very short needles to penetrate the skin. The procedure sounds painful but the needle is tiny creating a very mild sensation and only very superficial punctures of the skin’s epidermis. Microneedling is ideal for smoothing skin texture and for reducing the appearance of skin imperfections such as acne scarring, uneven pigmentation, and enlarged pores.
Read more about microneedling here.

Kybella® “Double Chin” reduction

Kybella® is an ideal treatment for those seeking a non-surgical and relatively painless solution to reduce a “double chin”. A short series of injections of a naturally-occurring molecule called deoxycholic acid targets submental fullness – the very specific type of fat molecule that creates a double chin.
Read more about Kybella® here.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) AKA the “Vampire Facelift”

PRP is not technically a ‘facelift’ but it’s a relatively non-invasive procedure that works by harnessing your own biological nutrient-rich cells to stimulate the regeneration of the underlying structural integrity of your skin to stimulate the release of the skin’s own cells encouraging the skin to create new blood vessels, new collagen, and new skin cells.
Read more about PRP here.

Who performs non-surgical facial feminization?

All non-surgical facial feminization procedures are performed by Jennifer Fick, FNP-C, CANS, a Board Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist, read more about Jennifer Fick here. If necessary, Dr. Deschamps-Braly is on hand to consult in more complex cases.

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Dr. Deschamps-Braly is a board-certified plastic and craniofacial surgeon specializing in facial plastic surgery, orthognathic (jaw) surgery, and craniofacial surgery for adults and children. He is also one of the world’s foremost leaders and innovators in facial gender confirmation surgery.