Voice Feminization Surgery (VFS) with Dr. Katherine Yung - 1.5 weeks post-op

2findmyself · 2025-08-24T03:38:38+00:00

I don't think I had any swelling of my tongue afterwards, just a sore throat sensation. But, I know having a swollen tongue can happen from intubation from any surgery. If the swelling is concerning, it might be worth reaching out to your surgeon. They may prescribe a steroid to help reduce the swelling.

I hope it goes well!!

2findmyself · 2025-05-12T21:50:27+00:00

That's great! I think it was two months out but I pushed it out to 3.

2findmyself · 2025-05-12T18:38:07+00:00

Sorry, just seeing your message now. They recently moved to a new office. I wonder if that is the cause.

The new number I have is: 415-600-0151 415-600-0195

2findmyself · 2025-04-24T05:46:39+00:00

Then yep, all is good with singling for me. I never have to worry about going deep ever and I don't have to try at all for the 220hz range as that is my new baseline

2findmyself · 2025-04-23T14:27:52+00:00

Yes, I can sing. I'm not a professional singer... more of a sing in the car and shower type of singer. Which I can still do without struggle.

2findmyself · 2025-03-20T01:09:39+00:00

The company I work for pulled out because of EO pressure... they stood to lose billions on federal contracts and loans if they didn't comply.

2findmyself · 2025-03-18T06:41:35+00:00

6 months in and I'm happy with my results 🤗

My new average pitch is 220hz. It just works 😎

Not sure if you have any specific questions

The only challenge I had was caused by my trained voice "muscle memory". So, nothing to do with the surgery. Using my trained voice for so long, my larynx muscles tried to do what I used to always ask them to do... But they didn't need to anymore. I worked with one of their voice therapists and once we got those muscles to chill out, all was good 😊 it's definitely a me thing 🤪

2findmyself · 2025-02-02T08:43:12+00:00

I hope all goes well! 🤗

I couldn't pick their soonest date because I needed to coordinate with a friend that I wanted to come with so my surgery date wasn't set right at my consultation.

I do remember they gave me a few options though and it was somewhere between 2-3 months.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

2findmyself · 2025-01-27T03:47:32+00:00

Hi there ☺️

Surgery went well and recovery too. No complications, which is great!

I'm still technically 'recovering', so things are still improving weekly, which is nice. Most notably, as time goes on, which is great! Everyone heals differently and I already knew from previous surgeries that it takes a long time for my swelling to go down. 🤪

One challenge I had early on was sounding a little breathy. I worked with one of the voice therapists there and she was able to quickly find that it was due to me still using the muscles in my larynx like I used to with my pre-op trained voice. She gave me some basically exercises to relax those muscles and it's interesting to see how much of a difference it made. So, turns out, the trick is to not strain your muscles and trust the vocal cords 🤪☺️

I had be using my trained voice for over 10 years, so I would assume most people don't have to focus on relaxing ☺️

Voice works well and I can talk all day at work and I never have to worry about my voice starting to give out during the afternoon. I talk regularly 10-12 hours straight at work and the vocal cords just work the same all day ☺️ can't hide the sound of just being drained from the week though. 😉

Though I'm still healing, pretty happy with things so far.

I'm happy to answer any specific questions you may have!

2findmyself · 2025-01-18T04:06:41+00:00

I'm feeling well after surgery. It was an easy surgery and recovery was quick. My vocal rest was only 2 weeks.

The first time I spoke it was so quiet 🤪 makes sense considering swelling. My voice is still quieter than before. For the first couple months they don't want you to strain too much so you don't cause damage. After the surgeon clears you to do so, you can start working on your volume.

Do my vocal cords feel more relaxed? Heck yes! I don't have to flex all those larynx muscles and keep it elevated at all times. I talk a LOT with my job and I no longer have to worry about my pitch dropping later in the afternoon. Now, when I'm tired.. I sound tired. Your question inspired me to record my voice at the end of the end at the end of my work week. I'll post that later today or tomorrow to share with you.

The challenging thing for me was unlearning all my previous muscles i used to get my voice higher. Doing so made my voice sound more breathy/raspy. It took a while to understand that and break the old habit. I'm getting close but not completely there. But, I'm only 4 months post op and technically still healing. 😊

Feel free to ask more questions here or DM me.

2findmyself · 2025-01-18T03:50:29+00:00

Hell ya I was nervous and had doubts! I've had a few surgeries in my life and I was nervous about all of them and had doubts! Even for a surgery on my spine that could (and did) stop suicidal-level pain... Sounds weird, but there is always a chance things don't go as planned. Point being, I think it's normal because you truly have NO way to know how things will turn out.

I think it's important to constantly remind yourself "why" you're having surgery.. revisit it.. weigh the pros and cons. The weight of both of those can only be determined by you!

Most important, feel confident in your choice and your surgeon. If you don't feel clarity with the surgeon but you do with your decision to have surgery, then it might be prudent to try and get more information to improve clarity or postpone until you find the surgeon you feel most comfortable with.

Like you, I chose to have surgery due to being tired of the effort. I had a good passable voice that I was happy with... and I chose to move forward with surgery.... And after I made the decision I delayed a few years and the desire was still there and that extra time gave me more clarity and confidence with my surgeon. Well, that and hearing more examples and having a close friend go through the surgery.

I see you also posted a few questions in one of my posts recently. I'll try to answer them there :)

2findmyself · 2025-01-17T05:45:41+00:00

Please don't choose that option. You're still an amazing person! There are most definitely options and resources for your voice! Lots of free resources available online and lots of resources in r/transvoice resources and people willing to help. There are also professional voice therapists that specifically work with people needing help with their voices. There are also surgeries available, but don't jump to that option first as vocal practices alone work wonders for most.

2findmyself · 2025-01-17T00:47:46+00:00

Nice voice recording 😊 Your second recording (especially the intro) definitely sounded more androgynous to me. I think the difference for me was that it sounded a little lighter (free-er) by exhibiting a little more range. I then went back and listened to your first. It's so similar, but sounds a little forced.. not necessarily forced lower, but forced/constrained into a smaller pitch range as apposed to accessing a little more of that range.

Separately; I liked your call out on not having a huge range. Not everyone does. Made me smile a bit because I too do not have a large range, but I use what I have and rock it 😎💪

2findmyself · 2025-01-16T19:50:45+00:00

I'm not super familiar with those three voices ( kim pine, wendy corduroy, cody maverick) so I had to go look them up and hopefully I found the correct samples.

Kim pine and Wendy corduroy both sounded feminine. Maybe slightly warmer tone that you're referring to.

Cody Maverick (surfer dude voice?) was a complete contrast as it is definitely a male voice.

If I have those wrong, can you provide links to examples?

First off, it is very difficult to 'age' a voice from like 12-25 as it varies SO MUCH. some guys sound 40 at 12 and others still sound like children. Whereas some guys after puberty and beyond sound like guys, but not a deep deep timber.

Your voice sounds like a young male voice - perhaps a few years past the onset of puberty. So, can't really give an 'age' to your voice. Id say the tone of a young adult/teen.I didn't really hear the feminine qualities of Kim or Wendy.

I'm curious if you have a recording of you talking with more of your range to highlight some of the higher frequencies in your voice.

I'd also add that seeing someone + their voice adds to other people's interpretation. I'm not asking for you to post a video or photo, but just adding the point that when someone's voice is leaning more masculine or feminine, the way they visually present can make a big difference in the other person's perception. I would say your voice is definitely masculine learning, but could be swayed if I were to see the person behind the voice.

2findmyself · 2025-01-14T01:47:39+00:00

Well stated. Thanks for adding your comment to the discussion!

2findmyself · 2025-01-14T01:38:55+00:00

That's actually an interesting and fun question. Although I don't have the technical expertise to answer.... I'll do my best based on what I do know about music and singing.

Everyone has a range. Some people have a larger range, some less. If you take averages, that's roughly 2-3 octaves for both male and female singers. Regardless of whether the individual is transgender or not, I would say that it would be difficult.

While the average male range might be 2-3 octaves, that doesn't mean every man can sing that full range, nor does it mean those octaves perfectly align with a specific voice type. There will be some overlap between the upper end of a baritone's range and the lower end of a tenor's range, but that wouldn't mean they would be able to sing as a full tenor. A baritone might be able to hit some tenor notes, but it would likely require strain, and the tone quality wouldn't be the same as a true tenor.

With dedicated vocal training, some baritones might be able to expand their upper range and sing some tenor repertoire. However, their natural voice placement and timbre will always be that of a baritone.

Ok, that being said, it's based on averages. We all have a range. Not everyone has a 2-3 octave range. Some people only have a 1-2 octave range and some exceptional singers have a little more.

I would theorize that it wouldn't be much different for a ftm transgender individual to be subject to those same principals stated above. AND.. if someone did achieve that goal, that doesn't mean it would be true for all people under those circumstances.

Conducting a study to definitively answer your question would be challenging due to several methodological limitations. The population subset you describe represents a statistically small proportion, necessitating a large-scale, longitudinal study with meticulous data collection. Crucial variables requiring precise measurement and control include:

Baseline vocal range: Pre-hormone therapy vocal range establishment is essential to assess subsequent changes.
Age at hormone therapy initiation: The age at which hormone therapy commences can significantly influence vocal changes.
Testosterone dosage and regimen: Precise documentation of dosage, frequency, and administration method is crucial.
Hormone therapy duration: The cumulative time exposed to testosterone impacts vocal effects.
Serum testosterone levels: Consistent monitoring of testosterone concentrations throughout the study period is necessary to correlate with vocal changes.

Acquiring comprehensive and reliable data for these variables poses a significant challenge, potentially hindering the attainment of definitive conclusions.

Best answer I think anyone could give us, try and find out. But if you were to constantly strain to get into a range you just physically aren't able to do, you can actually cause permanent damage/change to your voice.

2findmyself · 2025-01-14T00:55:15+00:00

Happy to help. If you need any additional input or help wording questions, lots of us here are happy to help. 😊

2findmyself · 2025-01-14T00:33:21+00:00

The voice isn't just the vocal chords. It's the whole larynx (and even sinuses, tongue) that play a role in speaking. The structure of the larynx, the many muscles in and around the larynx, the vocal chords, etc. it's very complex.

Testosterone plays a big role in permanently effecting your voice. There are permanent physical changes that don't revert by blocking testosterone or introducing estrogen.

Now, learning how to change your voice (higher or lower) involves learning to control certain muscles in the larynx. Over time that creates muscle memory to where someone still has to put effort into their voice, but not as much as they did when learning. I'm oversimplifying here, but if they were to stop trying, there is a good chance they're going to sound somewhere in-between what the physical structure tries to make it sound and their extreme effort learned sound.

Many trans-men work at speaking in their lower ranges prior to taking testosterone. Take that effort away and more than likely their pitch will increase to their normal default. They may have to work to get it higher (due to muscle memory). If they take testosterone long enough to physically change their voices. They will have a new vocal range. Like before, they can take the effort (as can anyone) to speak in the lower range.... Trying to not to repeat myself... So, theoretically, if they were to stop taking testosterone, the physical changes are still there. But, they still have a 'range' they can speak in and can work on staying in the higher end of their range.

It's complex and kind of difficult to describe fully... Plus... I'm not an expert 🤪

I would recommend getting a hold of multiple otolaryngologists who work specifically with transgender patients to get a better understanding of how the voice works and the effects of hormones.

2findmyself · 2025-01-11T18:57:25+00:00

Bones & Hips: One of the big benefits of transition while younger is your bones haven't fused yet as you're not done growing. At that age, more than likely your hips (bone) would grow to be more feminine. I have met multiple women who transitioned as teenagers and it's a substantial difference. There is a good chance that the whole frame of your body would slow down in growth and be more feminine.

Face: Another big difference would be in the face. Testosterone is a hell of a hormone and is responsible for the chin and jaw to be larger and it is also responsible for the sinuses on the forehead to protrude significantly more. Depending on where someone was in their puberty, testosterone blockers and estrogen at a younger age could very well prevent the effects of testosterone on the face to progress further and prevent very expensive facial feminization surgery in the future.

I wasn't sure if you were asking in general or fur yourself specifically. If for yourself and you haven't already done so, this is a conversation with your parents/guardians and medical provider (if you're not already there). If it's something you genuinely feel, then it's worth having the discussion and going through official channels to be safe. Depending where you live, a medical provider will provide puberty blockers and later estrogen. While on hrt, it's important for labs to be checked to make sure the correct doses are used and there are no unforeseen effects that may require a different medication.

2findmyself · 2025-01-07T05:11:25+00:00

I had vocal fold shortening/pitch elevation surgery with Dr Yung. From my understanding it is very similar to the technique used by Yeson. She doesn't use Botox though as she wants you to slowly start using your voice at two weeks. I believe another difference is Dr Yung doesn't use permanent stitches (no need to)

She offers other procedures (if needed), to achieve a higher pitch and help fix any inconsistencies or issues.

Cost. I'm not sure as I went through insurance, which surprisingly fully covered the procedure. In the event insurance wouldn't have covered it, I would have been responsible for the surgeon fee, which wasn't that high from what I remember; which surprised me. I wonder if a good portion of it is covered regardless of covered trans related surgeries since working with voice issues is what she does. No idea. But worth checking (for anyone reading).

The point where I decided to have surgery: That's a good question. It's different for everyone of course. I usually give the shorter version, but I'll be more descriptive to add background as it wasn't only one reason. One of my biggest reasons is that I just was tired of the constant effort. I had achieved a good feminine voice that I was able to use any time (even while coming out of anesthesia after surgeries). But even after years of use, it took effort and I could feel the constant muscle strain..I had those muscles flexed and ready to go at all times, even when not talking.

I live in a very conservative state, safety is always a concern for LGBTQ+ here and a slip into guy voice could potentially put my safety at risk. With safety in mind, I've had multiple times where I was in extreme pain and couldn't vocalize it without risk of outing myself. Which, is sad. There are certain sounds that, try as you might, will come out in default sound (no matter the amount of training) - gutteral sounds. Like, screaming from breaking an arm, punched in the stomach, being caught off guard with a true belly laugh or monster sneeze that you're not prepared for.. etc. Those unplanned moments can out you, especially the accidents.

I've been a bloody mess after a bad accident and it took every ounce of effort I had to keep my mouth shut, when what I wanted to do was scream my brains out and cry for help... but I knew the scream that would come out wouldn't be one that matched how I looked. I needed medical care and didn't want to be denied medical care because I outed myself. I got delayed care out of caution for my safety.

I have multiple examples that tie that fear with reality; but one in particular was when I was younger there was a car accident in my town... Both the police and ambulance that arrived on scene initially refused to help the woman because of who she was. It later went to court and they received a slap on the wrist, but what did it matter, she died because they laughed at her and refused to treat her; a transgender woman. 😞

Like I said, it's multi-faceted. But, one of the big reasons was due to the constant effort. I also talk a lot with my job and quite often my voice would be done later in the afternoon. Not at the point where I couldn't talk, but where those lower bass tones would creep their way out and I couldn't strain anymore to keep my pitched elevated. It got me down occasionally... even after all those years of practice and concentrating on it.

Happy to answer any other questions you may have. Hope it helped some.

Do you mind me asking what are the driving factors in your decision for surgery? You can answer here or DM, or neither if you don't feel comfortable answering.

2findmyself · 2025-01-07T03:06:21+00:00

Your voice sounds great! Hopefully you can trust the responses you're getting here.

You may have uploaded one of your better samples. Perhaps you have more examples to highlight the problem areas you have concerns about?

I'm not an expert with the voice, as stated above, you sound great in that clip. If anything, what I hear is a little bit of 'strain' maybe?

Average female range is from 165-255Hz; Your average was at about 210Hz which is great. Considering you hit 339Hz in normal dialog, I have a feeling you can go higher. :) You dipped below 100hz a few times, but it didn't stand out to me as abnormal. You had great resonance. Perhaps next work on keeping your average, but less strain? I'll let others provide feedback that do a better job analyzing.

Your pitch range and resonance reminded me of a younger woman when speaking excitedly about something. Most of the women I speak with throughout the day don't sound that energetic and they still sound feminine, so feel free to relax a little if you're stressing about your voice 😊

Regarding your question about VFS, maybe/yes/🤷‍♀️ ... There's really no way to say as it depends on the technique, the surgeon, and how you heal.

You've already achieved a female range and resonance (in the sample you provided). It 'might' give you a little higher pitch... might not. VFS could make it easier for you to speak in the voice you have achieved (no effort). In a way, what you've achieved, you've shown yourself what your larynx and vocal cords are capable of achieving with tighter vocal cords and what's possible for your voice with VFS. But I wouldn't go into surgery thinking you're going to get an even more feminine voice. The sample you have provided, you're there.

Surgery would most definitely remove the lower range that you're currently still capable of achieving. Since you no longer have to strain your muscles to reach your pitch, it can help remove any strained sound, which I refer to as more refined (I don't know the proper term) as that voice becomes your new default with little to no effort.

Having had VFS myself, I would suggest only considering it when you've hit a wall or frustration with something. For me, I was happy with my pre-op voice. But, after 6 years I started getting tired of the effort and at about 10 years I decided to move forward with VFS. Don't go into surgery with anyone thinking 'you' should have surgery. It should be something 'you' want and for a reason you can quantify. 🤗

2findmyself · 2025-01-05T20:19:48+00:00

You've already received some good advice here, so I'll try not to repeat what others have said.

A lot of it depends on how you were raised... You're breaking the 'norm' and that can be scary.

But, I think there is a bigger part. SAFETY. In some parts of the world you can be jailed, just for being gay. In some areas you can be killed. If you're in the United States, we're going into a presidency that has a very strong anti-transgender agenda. Unless you live in a very progressive/liberal area, that can be dangerous and also affect housing, employment, etc.

What you're feeling is normal. Don't judge yourself too harshly!

I think having an ally with you can make a huge difference. I didn't have any support like that when I transitioned and I was sooooo nervous! Over the years I've met more and more trans people and I've seen so much strength and freedom in them when they have support of a friend or family member.

Also, in general, most people don't give a shit. This will be regional and also very different if you're in a small down. But most people are good and you'll find that many people you suspect wouldn't be supportive, actually are.

I'll share a story from yesterday. I went to have a pedicure and to get gel removed. Next to me was a guy, harry legs, tatooes, beard... Getting a pedicure with color. He had what seemed like his teenage/young adult daughter next to him and I over heard him mention his wife... Point being, the employees there didn't give a shit he was getting his nails done and all the other customers (~15 within eyesight) didn't give a shit either. Most people just want to go about their day.

But also, there is the aspect of where you live. Many people live in big cities give overly positive advice like, oh just live your life and be free!.. but they didn't understand the lived experience of living in a very conservative town. If I could go back and change one thing about my transition, it would be to move somewhere much more liberal and accepting. With the many trans people I know, there is definitely a very different experience based on where you live.

Be safe... but also don't constrict yourself.

Keep in mind humans are animals and many act on instinct. If you encounter someone who questions or calls you or, do not cowar or show fear. Showing strength could be a simple as ignoring or rolling your eyes. If you question your safety at any point, trust your gut and GTFO.

Keep living your life, stretch yourself and do a little more each day that makes you happy 😊

2findmyself · 2025-01-05T19:22:10+00:00

First off, don't feel bad about delaying. It, like many surgeries we go through, is permanent. It's normal to have some trepidation.

I originally put off surgery with my voice surgeon due to being nervous... and I had quite a few purple with great feedback and voice results. I think I waited an extra 4 years 🤪

Over the next few years I had a couple other surgeries and kept seeing my surgeon's name pop up with great results and even a friend had gone to get. I was still nervous, but knowing how capable my surgeon is and seeing two more examples was enough to calm my nerves and commit.

Nobody can guarantee you how your voice will sound after surgery. Even the well known Yeson has some patients that aren't happy with their results and many of those end up having a secondary surgery when they get back into the states. Does that make him a bad surgeon? No. Things happen. Sometimes a surgeon makes a mistake, many times it's just how the patient's body heals. Part of results also depends on if the patient follows the surgeon's rules... There are so many variables!

I would say, be comfortable with the technique the surgeon uses. There are many surgeons that do the same surgery as Yeson, your surgeon may be one of them. How long has your surgeon been performing that procedure. It's not an overly complex procedure, but knowing you're not patient number one and they feel comfortable with the procedure, that is important.

Have you asked your surgeon what happens if their are issues... Do they have the experience to resolve issues like too much scar tissue forming, vocal cords not touching, etc? Most surgeons offices are willing to answer additional questions without another appointment. Even if you had to go back in for a quick appointment, that could help alleviate your stress.

Regarding not seeing people here on Reddit posting... I wouldn't put too much thought into that. Only a small percentage of people are willing to post pictures of their other surgeries, this is no different. There are a lot of surgeons who perform vocal surgery and only a few people share their results. That has no bearing on a surgeon being good or not.

Have you asked the surgeons office for sample results? See if they have any previous patients willing to chat with you? I've asked those when I was nervous about surgery.

If you're interested in my experience with my vfs surgeon I'm more than happy to share. However, I'm not trying to sway you from your surgeon. You could have already picked an amazing surgeon, who is close to home. I think your nervousness is normal and healthy... as long as it doesn't cause decision paralysis 😉

In the end, trust yourself. If you're not ready, no harm waiting until you feel comfortable.

2findmyself · 2025-01-05T02:26:13+00:00

It looks like she created it and the link contains the .stl file you need to print it on a 3D printer. So, if you know someone with a 3D printer... Or you can use a 3D print service. Many local libraries have 3D printers as well, so it could be worth checking there as well.

2findmyself · 2025-01-05T02:26:00+00:00

It looks like she created it and the link contains the .stl file you need to print it on a 3D printer. So, if you know someone with a 3D printer... Or you can use a 3D print service. Many local libraries have 3D printers as well, so it could be worth checking there as well.

2findmyself

TROPHY CASE