Quality of life of individuals with and without facial feminization surgery or gender reassignment surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the self-reported quality of life of male-to-female (MTF) transgendered individuals and how this quality of life is influenced by facial feminization and gender reassignment surgery.


METHODS
Facial Feminization Surgery outcomes evaluation survey and the SF-36v2 quality of life survey were administered to male-to-female transgender individuals via the Internet and on paper. A total of 247 MTF participants were enrolled in the study.


RESULTS
Mental health-related quality of life was statistically diminished (P < 0.05) in transgendered women without surgical intervention compared to the general female population and transwomen who had gender reassignment surgery (GRS), facial feminization surgery (FFS), or both. There was no statistically significant difference in the mental health-related quality of life among transgendered women who had GRS, FFS, or both. Participants who had FFS scored statistically higher (P < 0.01) than those who did not in the FFS outcomes evaluation.


CONCLUSIONS
Transwomen have diminished mental health-related quality of life compared with the general female population. However, surgical treatments (e.g. FFS, GRS, or both) are associated with improved mental health-related quality of life.
Ainsworth
Tiffiny A
TA
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA.
Spiegel
Jeffrey H
JH
D005145:Face / Q000601:surgery*; D005262:Feminization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D057830:Gender-Affirming Surgery; D014189:Transsexualism
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