Male to female vocal surgery - Feminization laryngoplasty & ThyroHyoid elevation: Case 67

This 57 yo has been living as a female off and on for 5 years.

These recordings are set to a fairly low resolution for the internet but do demonstrate the general sound and function of the vocal cords before and after this case of laryngeal reduction surgery. Much more detail is actually visible in the office. The videos when shown are oriented with the front down and the left vocal fold is on the right of the video. Orientation is discussed here. Please note: These examples of possible results should not be construed to represent what will be acheived in any other patient. Thus there are several examples of patients on the site

Pre Surgery

1 year

Reading passage

Pitch is described relative to C4 or middle C on the piano.

Pitch: about D3 - mid-male range

(typical male speaking range about B2 - E3)

Pitch: about G3#

(normal female speaking range about E3 - A3)

Pitch: about

(normal female speaking range about E3 - A3)

Lowest pitch

Pitch: about E2 (normal male low range varies C1 - C3)

Pitch: about C3 (normal female low range varies between B2 - F3) this is a glide from high to lowest pitch.

Pitch: about

Highest pitch

Pitch: about C5

Pitch: about E4

Pitch: about

Vegetative sounds

coughing & throat clearing

Yell

loud phonation

Laryngoscopy

Views

Stroboscopy

saying the sound /i/

I removed about 50% of her anterior vocal cords. I think I am learning that when a patient has a gap at the back of their vocal cords before surgery (as in the pre-op strobe photo above). That gap will be even more audible after the vocal cords are reduced in size. So while her pitch is more feminine, the airiness in her voice makes it much softer.