Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Voice Therapy and Surgery => Topic started by: Medusa on December 13, 2012, 02:29:18 AM

Title: Considering voice surgery (Cricothyroid approximation)
Post by: Medusa on December 13, 2012, 02:29:18 AM
Hi,
I have scheduled Adam's apple reduction to 11 March, as I talk with surgeon he recommend me to do voice surgery (Cricothyroid approximation) during it
I'm not a fan of this surgeries, but what I read about it, it just block falling to lower tones, so it don't look so drastic
Booth is covered by insurance so I considering it
Title: Re: Considering voice surgery (Cricothyroid approximation)
Post by: Freyja_Joro on December 13, 2012, 05:57:49 PM
I don't about this particular one, but what's the Success and Failure rate?
Title: Re: Considering voice surgery (Cricothyroid approximation)
Post by: Medusa on December 14, 2012, 01:41:50 AM
RESULTS: A response rate of 93% was obtained; 86% of patients thought their laryngeal profile had improved, 79% thought their voice had improved, and 55% thought that surgery and 21% thought that speech therapy had helped more in improving the voice. Overall, 79% were satisfied with the results of the surgery.

CONCLUSIONS: Cricothyroid approximation and thyroid chondroplasty have a high patient satisfaction rate.
Title: Re: Considering voice surgery (Cricothyroid approximation)
Post by: Freyja_Joro on December 14, 2012, 06:12:29 PM
To be honest, it's your choice, if you think the decision is right for you, do it.
Title: Re: Considering voice surgery (Cricothyroid approximation)
Post by: Eve87 on December 15, 2012, 07:59:32 AM
Yes, it raises your "standard" effortless pitch considerably and somehow "blocks" lower registries. (It gets progressively harder for me as I go below 150-160H, for example)
Had it done less than a year ago. One of the best decisions I've ever made. But you know what they say; plural of anecdote is not data. 
Title: Considering voice surgery (Cricothyroid approximation)
Post by: Padma on December 15, 2012, 08:17:40 AM
Quote from: Eve87 on December 15, 2012, 07:59:32 AMBut you know what they say; plural of anecdote is not data.
Wherever that's from, it's brilliant.
Title: Re: Considering voice surgery (Cricothyroid approximation)
Post by: peky on December 15, 2012, 09:19:21 AM
Quote from: Eve87 on December 15, 2012, 07:59:32 AM
Yes, it raises your "standard" effortless pitch considerably and somehow "blocks" lower registries. (It gets progressively harder for me as I go below 150-160H, for example)
Had it done less than a year ago. One of the best decisions I've ever made. But you know what they say; plural of anecdote is not data.

I seen soem of the medical data, and the new procedures seems to be very helpful for people like me who cannot rise the pitch with voice therapy alone.

Could you provide the name of your doctor? also how much was the procedure?
Title: Re: Considering voice surgery (Cricothyroid approximation)
Post by: Eve87 on December 16, 2012, 04:42:37 AM
My surgery (and a friend's soon after me) was done by Dr. Bonte @ Ghent university hospital.

Talked about it a little bit in this thread https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,119773.0.html (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,119773.0.html)
Title: Re: Considering voice surgery (Cricothyroid approximation)
Post by: Rita on December 19, 2012, 09:08:23 AM
omfgbbqwtfthx

I didn't know about this surgury till now and the prices are significantly less than SRS and since my adams apple isn't huge and my vocal range can hit the low level this might be the finishing  touch and omg omg omg.  Please tell me a good surgeon!   

I am now more interested in this than I am SRS. 
Title: Re: Considering voice surgery (Cricothyroid approximation)
Post by: Beverly on December 19, 2012, 09:31:28 AM
Quote from: Rita on December 19, 2012, 09:08:23 AM
I am now more interested in this than I am SRS.

Why? It may raise your pitch, it may reduce your chest resonance, but will it improve your head resonance? Will it change your inflection and intonation? Will it change you word choice? Will it change your breathing?

The point is that if you have already raised your pitch and eliminated resonance then this surgery will make little difference. I know someone who had it and she still speaks in a male pattern - monotone with falling pitch at the end of each sentence. Even after the surgery people still call her 'sir' on the phone.

Title: Re: Considering voice surgery (Cricothyroid approximation)
Post by: Rita on December 19, 2012, 10:18:54 AM
Yes you still need to work on your voice but if it helps make it easier to keep a pitch without getting tired as easily I am all game.  When I talk in a feminine voice I can sound girly but sometimes drop into a scary manly man voice

If this surgery can eliminate the sharp drop to manly man I am all game for it. 

Everything else will come with more, and more practice.  Wording is subjective~ I have heard some cis ladies use very masculine wording.  Although I do not.
Title: Re: Considering voice surgery (Cricothyroid approximation)
Post by: Beverly on December 19, 2012, 01:09:51 PM
Quote from: Rita on December 19, 2012, 10:18:54 AM
Yes you still need to work on your voice but if it helps make it easier to keep a pitch without getting tired as easily I am all game.  When I talk in a feminine voice I can sound girly but sometimes drop into a scary manly man voice

If this surgery can eliminate the sharp drop to manly man I am all game for it. 

That is all it does. It limits your range so that you find it harder to get to the male range. Even the surgeons state that it will not give you a female voice.


Quote from: Rita on December 19, 2012, 10:18:54 AMEverything else will come with more, and more practice.  Wording is subjective~ I have heard some cis ladies use very masculine wording.  Although I do not.

Word choice counts. Inflection and intonation really count.

Well, good luck with it. I hope it works out better for you than it did for my friend.

Title: Re: Considering voice surgery (Cricothyroid approximation)
Post by: Rita on December 19, 2012, 01:23:23 PM
Thanks  ;D
Title: Re: Considering voice surgery (Cricothyroid approximation)
Post by: LilDevilOfPrada on January 04, 2013, 05:05:41 PM
Quote from: Medusa on December 13, 2012, 02:29:18 AM
Hi,
I have scheduled Adam's apple reduction to 11 March, as I talk with surgeon he recommend me to do voice surgery (Cricothyroid approximation) during it
I'm not a fan of this surgeries, but what I read about it, it just block falling to lower tones, so it don't look so drastic
Booth is covered by insurance so I considering it

I am curious just how did you get your insurance to cover such operations?? If its to personal you dont have to tell but i really would to know :)after all I am someone whos going to use my deviated septum to get my insurance to pay for my nose job :P
Title: Re: Considering voice surgery (Cricothyroid approximation)
Post by: Medusa on January 07, 2013, 01:52:14 AM
Quote from: LilDevilOfPrada on January 04, 2013, 05:05:41 PM
I am curious just how did you get your insurance to cover such operations?? If its to personal you dont have to tell but i really would to know :)after all I am someone whos going to use my deviated septum to get my insurance to pay for my nose job :P
One of "advantage" of European healthcare, they take huge amount of your income, but cover lot, from what I paid to this black hole all surgeries can be easy covered  ::)
Title: Re: Considering voice surgery (Cricothyroid approximation)
Post by: LilDevilOfPrada on January 07, 2013, 04:03:06 AM
Quote from: Medusa on January 07, 2013, 01:52:14 AM
One of "advantage" of European healthcare, they take huge amount of your income, but cover lot, from what I paid to this black hole all surgeries can be easy covered  ::)

My country considers transition not as a treatment process but as cosmetic work XD not fair so no one covers anthing related to it.
Title: Re: Considering voice surgery (Cricothyroid approximation)
Post by: Medusa on January 07, 2013, 04:17:52 AM
Quote from: LilDevilOfPrada on January 07, 2013, 04:03:06 AM
My country considers transition not as a treatment process but as cosmetic work XD not fair so no one covers anthing related to it.
This is only "cosmetic surgery" covered where I live.  Then of course SRS and hormones is covered, but BA and get rid of beard is considered as cosmetic, but also GG have problems with that, so it is fair I think.
And that for 13,5 % of gross income  :-\