Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Facial feminization surgery => Topic started by: josie76 on January 23, 2017, 04:39:48 AM

Title: Just curious experiences in Chicago
Post by: josie76 on January 23, 2017, 04:39:48 AM
Experiences with Zukowski or the University Plastic Surgery for ffs? I'm a long way from that point but Chicago is within driving distance so just wondering.
Title: Re: Just curious experiences in Chicago
Post by: Sandy on January 23, 2017, 05:44:56 AM
Josie:

I'm a "Z" girl.  Though my experience with Dr. Zukowski was about ten years ago.  Even ten years on, I'm very happy with the results.

I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.

-Sandy
Title: Re: Just curious experiences in Chicago
Post by: Mirya on January 23, 2017, 12:31:13 PM
In addition to Dr Zukowski and Dr Schechter at University Plastic Surgery, the other option for FFS in Chicago is Dr Jeffrey Weinzweig.  He's an experienced craniofacial surgeon.  He also does charity work overseas, and the impression I got when I consulted with him was that he is a genuinely caring man.  I don't think you can go wrong with choosing him either, even though I ended up going with Dr Zukowski for my FFS.
Title: Re: Just curious experiences in Chicago
Post by: Maybebaby56 on January 23, 2017, 06:31:55 PM
Hi Josie,

I am also a Z-girl.  I had extensive FFS four months ago, and I am largely happy with the results, although as Dr. Zukowski points out, the final result won't be seen for few more months. My avatar is me at two-months post-op.

I consulted Dr. Harrison Lee in Beverly Hills, and Dr. Eric Bensimon in Montreal before seeing Dr. Zukowski. Dr. Z has a very direct personality, which puts some people off, but I liked him.  What won me over was his attention to detail.  Within 60 seconds of looking at me, he said, "Your right orbital rim is slightly more pronounced than your left.  You also have a deviated septum."  Neither of the other surgeons noticed or at least said anything about that, and that impressed me. 

~Terri
Title: Re: Just curious experiences in Chicago
Post by: josie76 on January 24, 2017, 06:47:11 AM
Terri, you saying he is very direct makes sense after reading through his website.

Did he use all the endoscopic technics to avoid pulling off the face? I like the idea of how his web site says he does the surgery. How does it heal? How much nerve damage is done with like the forehead?

I'll definitely be researching all three in Chicago. Thanks
Title: Re: Just curious experiences in Chicago
Post by: Maybebaby56 on January 24, 2017, 04:12:45 PM
Quote from: josie76 on January 24, 2017, 06:47:11 AM
Terri, you saying he is very direct makes sense after reading through his website.

Did he use all the endoscopic technics to avoid pulling off the face? I like the idea of how his web site says he does the surgery. How does it heal? How much nerve damage is done with like the forehead?

I'll definitely be researching all three in Chicago. Thanks

I had typical male-pattern baldness, i.e. a widows peak, so I elected to have a scalp advance. Because of that, I have a hairline incision that looks sort of like an inverted horseshoe, and I have the forehead numbness that I assume is similar to a coronal incision.  The incision is much shorter, however. A coronal incision goes from behind one ear, across the top of your head, to behind the other ear.   My incision is at the hairline, and stops at the temporal region of my scalp, so it is about four or five inches shorter than a coronal incision on each side. If you do not have a scalp advance, you will have much less of an incision, as he uses four small incisions near the hairline to contour the forehead. 

I am four months post-op, and the feeling has already started to return to my forehead.  It first started coming back in a strip right in the middle of my forehead, and now is returning near my temples as well.

I hope that helps.  If you have any other questions about Dr. Z, feel free to ask.  You can PM me if you wish.

With kindness,

Terri
Title: Re: Just curious experiences in Chicago
Post by: Maria77 on January 27, 2017, 11:41:51 PM
I too am a Dr. Z girl.   He is very direct and he has been doing FFS for many years.   His prices are fair and everything is clearcut.  I am pleased with the work he did on me.  Nose, chin, jaw, and some other soft tissue stuff, but not forehead.   He thought my forehead is borderline.  Since i tend to wear bangs it isn't a priority for me.  Anyhow, his team is eay to work with, especially Cole❤️