MONDAY, Sept. 17, 2007 (HealthDay News) -- Rhinoplasties, or nose reshaping surgeries, can help create feminine profiles in transsexual patients undergoing male-to-female gender reassignment, a U.K. study of 12 patients finds.
The surgery reduced the overall size of the nose and changed nasal angles to more closely match those of women.
"The surgical procedure resulted in a more feminine nasal profile in all patients," wrote the study authors from Charing Cross Hospital in London. "One patient was subjectively unhappy with the results of surgery and underwent revision surgery, and the remaining patients were very satisfied with the results of surgical treatment, both in the early postoperative period and at the one-year follow visit. Five patients stated at the one-year visit that their nasal procedure had had one of the greatest impacts on their overall perception of themselves as female."
None of the patients experienced problems with nasal valve functioning.
"Rhinoplasty is effective in achieving feminine facial profiles in patients undergoing male-to-female gender reassignment," the study authors concluded.
"Because of the extensive resections often required to modify the nasal form, it is important to pay particular attention to preserving function, which may require concomitant nasal valve reconstruction," they noted.
The study is published in the September/October issue of the journal Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery.
More information
The American Psychological Association has more about gender identity issues.
