Pitch altering surgeries

This information is for patients considering a surgery on their vocal cords or voice box to alter their pitch. The first three surgeries are primarily designed for transgender male to female patients to raise the pitch. Genetic males have vocal pitch and vocal resonance that are often too low to be perceived as a female.

• Feminization laryngoplasty
  • an operating room procedure to shorten the length of the vocal cords and the size of the thyroid cartilage in a transgender patient to obtain a more feminine voice. It was inspired by a paper by Dr. Kunachak.
  • This procedure raises the pitch.
  • It has the potential to raise the pitch further than the cricothyroid approximation, but has a greater risk of needing a revision.
  • It is a newer procedure. I have been performing it since 2003
  • It does alter resonance to a small degree.
  • Thyrohyoid approximation can be performed at the same time.
    
    
• Thyrohyoid approximation
  • This procedure, inspired by a conversation with Bob Bastian, removes the upper portion of the thyroid cartilage and raises the larynx in the neck.
    
    
• Cricothyroid approximation (CTA)
  • An operating room procedure to pull two cartilages closer together to mimic the cricothyroid muscle action of raising the pitch.
  • When done on one side it is usually to replace the action of a paralyzed muscle.
  • When done on both sides it may be used for feminization of the male voice to raise the lowest pitch you can produce.
    
    
• Reduction laryngoplasty
  • an operating room procedure to reduce the profile of your Adam’s apple.
  • This procedure does not alter the pitch but often accompanies the Cricothyroid approximation procedure.
  • It is also known as a "Tracheal Shave" or "Trach Shave", though it is a procedure on the larynx (voice box) which connects to the top of the trachea (windpipe).
    
    
• Microlaryngoscopy
  • Smokers polyps can be removed.
  • This is usually a disorder of females who smoke cigarettes and are talkative.
    
    
• Pitch lowering surgery
  • A segment of cartilage can be removed from the voicebox to loosen the vocal folds and lower the pitch
    
    
• Consent forms
  • The legal part that you sign when you are ready and understand the risks.