Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Voice Therapy and Surgery => Topic started by: Jennifer RachaelAnn on May 30, 2017, 07:32:08 PM

Title: Vocal Cord Shaving
Post by: Jennifer RachaelAnn on May 30, 2017, 07:32:08 PM
Does anyone know of a vocal surgeon in or near MO? I'm wanting to get something set up so I can start saving the money to get my cords shaved down to feminize my voice. My speech pathologist is great but unfortunately she can't alter the pitch of my voice. She has given me some exercises that are helping. A little. But I want the full monty. Any help? I have searched google, and can't find a damn thing.
Title: Re: Vocal Cord Shaving
Post by: Dena on May 30, 2017, 07:43:17 PM
Vocal cords are not shaved. They have a rather complex internal structure and that type of change would scar them and destroy your voice. The nearest surgeon I know of would be Dr Haben in New York. I am in Arizona so I left Monday, was examined Tuesday, Surgery on Wednesday, returned home and Thursday and overslept in my own bed on Friday. Air fair should be around $300 and other than food, everything is covered in the surgery price. Look at oscillation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocal_folds) in the link and you will understand how complex this is. I have one cord that's longer than the other so their is interference in this movement that somewhat affects my voice and it can't be corrected.
Title: Re: Vocal Cord Shaving
Post by: Jennifer RachaelAnn on May 31, 2017, 08:08:05 PM
So kill me, shaved was the only word I could think of when making the post.
Title: Re: Vocal Cord Shaving
Post by: Dena on May 31, 2017, 09:12:08 PM
Quote from: Jennifer RachaelAnn on May 31, 2017, 08:08:05 PM
So kill me, shaved was the only word I could think of when making the post.
We don't want to do that after all the trouble you have gone through to find yourself. Dr Haben's site (http://www.professionalvoice.org/feminization.aspx) is the most descriptive about the two common procedures. Yeson only does the Glottoplasty and the procedure is different but the results are comparable. There are a few other procedures that have been abandon or I don't know enough about so I am not mentioning them at this time.
Title: Re: Vocal Cord Shaving
Post by: Jennifer RachaelAnn on June 01, 2017, 08:37:07 PM
Ok I have only one question left to ask at the moment. Can anyone tell me the average cost of vocal surgery? I just need to know how long I will have to be saving up without taking out a loan from the bank.
Title: Re: Vocal Cord Shaving
Post by: Dena on June 01, 2017, 09:04:01 PM
From Dr Haben's web site.
QuoteThe package for the "triple" or "double" is currently $7,000. The package for the minimally-invasive glottoplasty alone ("single") is currently $5,250. The hospital requires payment of a 50% deposit to secure a confirmed surgery date.

This is without transportation, to New York, food before surgery and taxi to and from the doctors office. Yeson requires you stay a full week after surgery and it will set you back a bit more.
Title: Re: Vocal Cord Shaving
Post by: Ellement_of_Freedom on June 07, 2017, 09:36:06 PM
Quote from: Dena on May 31, 2017, 09:12:08 PM
We don't want to do that after all the trouble you have gone through to find yourself.
Dena, I have to say you just made me laugh out loud. Sorry for the off-topic reply.