Is there a surgery that would let you change your voice?

Question

Is there a surgery that would let you change your voice?

Answer 1

We are pleased to send you a detailed information package on VOICE SURGERY.

After reading the content you may wonder why the price quoted for the procedure (s) is lower than in the U.S.A.  Here is why:  we own the hospital where the procedures are done.  The cost for one hospitalization day at our hospital is around $ 400.00 canadian compared to U.S. $ 1200.00 to 1500.00 in the U.S.A..  For 4 to 5 days of hospitalization in the U.S.A., you spend U.S. $ 5000.00 to 6000.00 extra on hospital overhead which you do not have to pay for with " GRS in Montreal."  Our modern and safe hospital care is personnalized and our staff has a high experience with transgender patients.  Low overhead combined to favorable exchange rate are responsible for the low cost of procedures with GRS in Montreal.

In choosing Montreal you do not settle for less.  On the contrary you pay for state of the art procedures and unsurpassed results based on a vast experience with transgender surgery.  Also with the residence, you benifit from a unique care concept which is not available anywhere else in the world.

We and our staff would like to thank you for your interest in our surgical services and please do not hesitate to contact us if you need anymore information

This surgery is done under general anesthesia in our private clinic, Centre Metropolitain de Chirurgie plastique.  It could be done also under local anesthesia at the Clinique de Chirurgie esthétique St-Joseph.

TECHNIQUE

The fundamental frequency or pitch is the quality of voice that can be modified with surgery.  Vocal register, intensity and vocal tract resonance (e.g. vowel production) also can be changed but only with speech therapy.

The mechanical properties of the vocal cords have to be altered to modify pitch.  This can be done directly by scarring procedures on the cords (laser and cautherization) but they are unpredictable, irreversible and often need revisions.  On the other hand, it can be done safely by indirect cricothyroid approximation.

Cricothyroid approximation increases the tension in the vocal cords and consequently raises frequency from a male pattern (100-150Hz) to a female one (200-300Hz).  The procedure is done under general or local anaesthesia through a short neck incision and can be combined with Adam's apple shaving if desired.  It requires a short operation time (1 1\2 hour) during which you will notice an immediate change.  Voice rest is recommended after surgery for a short period and the final result comes gradually within the first 6 to 12 months. The  voice surgery also can be done with G.R.S. and or breast augmentation.              

After voice surgery, you should expect that the raise of pitch of your voice will translate mainly in loosing the low masculine pitch and a more feminized voice over the phone.



PRE OPERATIVE ANALYSIS

If the surgery is done under general anaesthesia, the patient must pass the following exams about two months before the date of the surgery and the results of these exams must be sent to my office about three weeks prior to the date set for the surgery.  Without these test results, there will be no surgery.  PLEASE WAIT TO HAVE A DATE OF SURGERY BEFORE HAVING YOUR PRE-OPERATIVE TESTS DONE.

Following is a list of the obligatory tests:

- CBC (complete blood count)

- BUN (blood urea nitrogen)

- Glucose (blood sugar)

- Urine analysis

- Chest X ray (the report only)

- E.K.G. (over 40 years of age)

- H.I.V.