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Updated: 11:05 a.m. PDT (18:05 GMT), May 2, 2007 Current time:

Surgery on the larynx or voice box

Information for patients considering a surgery on their vocal cords or voice box

These are general guidelines that I use in teaching my patients about surgery on the voice box. Different surgeons, different hospitals, different regions and different countries all vary from these guidelines. I have seen voice surgery throughout the US as well as in Canada, France and China so I am quite aware of the differences. These outlines should help you understand the process a bit.

  • Injection Laryngoplasty
    • an office procedure to move or increase the bulk in a vocal cord.
  • Medialization Laryngoplasty
    • an external procedure to bulk up or move over one or both vocal cords.
    • Also known as a thyroplasty or Isshiki Type I procedure: the original description of the procedure was by Dr. Isshiki and he named the procedure after the cartilage (thyroid) that he was operating on.
  • Microlaryngoscopy
    • This means looking at the vocal cords with a microscope or endoscope.
    • Typically this is a procedure to look at or remove something from the vocal folds.
  • Cricothyroid approximation (CTA)
    • an operating room procedure to raise the lowest pitch you can produce. Primarily designed for transgender male to female patients.
  • Reduction laryngoplasty
    • an operating room procedure to reduce the height of your Adam’s apple.
    • It is also known as a tracheal shave, though it is a procedure on the larynx (voice box) which connects to the top of the trachea (windpipe).
    • Primarily designed for transgender male to female patients.
  • Feminization laryngoplasty
    • an newer operating room procedure (which is an alternative to CTA) to raise the lowest pitch you can produce by removing the front of the voice box and shortening the vocal cords. Primarily designed for transgender male to female patients.
  • Thyrohyoid approximation
    • A procedure to raise the resonance of the voice. Primarily designed for transgender male to female patients.
  • Consent forms
    • The legal part that you sign when you are ready and understand the risks.
Contact the author: James P. Thomas, MD