trachea shave

[lovely2008]

   Hi people,

    I am going to have my SRS by Dr Suporn next year and  I have also been thinking about having trachea shave done at the same time so as to save one time having to undergo general anaesthesia again later ( found out later that it can be done with local anaesthesia only).

    I have sent some pictures outlining how much the throat reduction I had expected to Dr Suporn Clinic. I got the reply yesterday, and found the result was much less satisfactory than what I wanted. They say that the area underneath and surrounding the adam's apple cannot be touched because it's involved with a reconstruction of voice box (! Why is my VOICE BOX so big? Why is it so much bigger than others? ), not thyroid cartilage. Also, they say that reducing the size of it falls beyound the scope of a typical TCR, rather, it's associated with feminizing Laryngoplasty done to reconstruct the laryngeal area, often being done to give a more feminine voice. 

    Due to the fact that I have a particularly protruding adam's apple and voice box( and it's pricking my throat like hell every day), there is really a need to have them removed. I know there will be higher risks involved, and I am fully prepared for it.

I have seen Brassard's web site about TCR operation and found the animated picture showing how much the throat can be reduced very impressive! (dunno if it's just gimmicks or not). So I wonder if the degree of reduction that can be done would be more significant if I go another surgeon, say Dr Brassard.

    Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

[Sarah Louise]

It sounds like Dr. Suporn's office is trying to be honest with you.  If they are saying they would rather not do it, then I would look elsewhere.

Sarah L.

[Buffy]

Hi Lovely,

The tracheal shave is a fairly easy and uncomplicated operation, UNLESS the surgeon tries to take off to much cartliage and then can damage the vocal chords.

I have known two TS who have had this happen to them because they wanted overly aggressive trachael shaves. It can of course even happen in normal operations (regardless of how good the surgeon is).

I had my FFS with Dr Suporn (including Trachael Shave) in 2002 and only then was he considering voice surgery as an option. I know he now uses another Thai surgeon to do this as it is outside his area of expertise.

The Feminizing Laryngoplasty carries a much higher risk of failure and voice damage that Trachael Shave.

Many women also have prominent Adams Apples.

Buffy

[virago71]

I had a trach shave / laryngeal shave 3 years ago - in my late 30s.  I kind of regret it. 

Two problems:
1) my voice is changed.  it's definitely not as flexible as it used to be - I have almost no falsetto now, and can't sing much.  it also gets quite tired throughout the day, so that by night time my voice is a little gruff.
2) the scar is quite visible.  laser hasn't helped, and doctors don't know of much that will.

of course, my experience is not universal!