FFS Care Instructions

Now that you are back home, you can resume your daily activities. Remember that sufficient rest and avoiding unhealthy habits are crucial for your recovery.

Once your sutures are removed, you can return to your usual sleeping position. However, for the first 6-8 weeks, avoid lifting heavy objects or making sudden, forceful movements that could strain your neck and face.

You can start taking short walks right away. Wait at least six weeks to start any gentle running and increase activity gradually. We recommend waiting four months before participating in contact sports.

Avoid direct exposure to the sun, saunas, jacuzzis, or similar activities for 6-8 weeks after surgery.

Use sunscreen for at least one year, even on cloudy days. You can use regular face wash, creams, lotions, and makeup. Avoid the scar itself until you feel it has completely closed.

Bruising:

This may persist up to six months after surgery. In case of dark marks on the skin, you can use a depigmenting cream as well as sunscreen.

Laser or other hair removal:

You can safely resume laser, IPL, or electrolysis treatments after 6 weeks. However, if you had a lip lift, it’s best to wait 3 months.

Botox:

In our experience, Botox does not affect nerve recovery nor increase the potential nerve damage during feminization surgery.

You could start Botox treatment after returning home, but the swelling will mask the bulk of its effects. We recommend waiting until most of the swelling has disappeared.

Follow-ups:

We recommend follow-up consultations at 1 month, 3 months, and 1 year after surgery, either in-person or virtually. These appointments are typically scheduled for you when your surgery is booked.

Remember that while most swelling subsides within a few months, it can take a full year to see your final results. Even minor facial swelling can noticeably change your appearance.

Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS) recovery typically occurs in three phases:

• Early Inflammation Stage (0-4 weeks)
  • This phase involves the most swelling, bruising, and discomfort. Numbness and pain are also most prominent during this time.
    
• Late Inflammation Stage (2-6 months)
  • Residual swelling, scar tissue formation, and asymmetry may fluctuate daily or even throughout the day. Stiffness is a common experience.
    
• Tissue Re-adaptation Stage (12-15 months)
  • The remaining soft tissue swelling gradually subsides as your tissues adapt to the new bone structure, revealing your final results.

Similar to the recovery phases, stiffness is often thought of in three phases:

• Phase 1: Inflammatory
  • In response to the surgery, the blood vessels constrict and small blood clots form to control bleeding. Over time, these vessels re-open to bring wound-healing cells to the area. There is increased redness, swelling, and pain.
    
• Phase 2: Proliferative
  • Internally, the wounds heal with granulation tissue (mainly collagen). New blood vessels form to bring oxygen and nutrients to the area. Scars tend to be more red in the phase. Tissues can get lumpy as well.
    
• Phase 3: Maturing
  • This lasts from several weeks after surgery to up to two years later. The new blood vessels recede as the wounds stabilize, becoming less red. The initial granulation tissue is replaced with stronger collagen which causes contraction in the area, which can feel more stiff than before surgery.

Signs of infection include: 

• Increased redness
• Increased pain 
• Increased swelling despite no movement
• Fever
• Milky white fluid drainage
• Pain is around your incision and usually one-sided

Signs of a hematoma include: 

• Increased swelling on one side of the chest that grows every hour
• The swelling feels tense/hard and is sometimes very painful
• Increased bruising (Bruising should not get a lot worse after day one or two.)

If you have any problems after surgery, please call the office during the day. Contact information is included in your post-op instruction documents.

If you have any problems after surgery, please call the office during the day. Someone is in the office to speak to you between 8:30 am and 3:00 pm weekdays. Contact information is included in your post-op instruction documents.