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What does a tracheal shave do?

Author

Sarah Oconnor

Updated on March 03, 2026

What does a tracheal shave do?

When a tracheal shave is used as part of facial feminization, the goal is to give the neck and throat a more feminine appearance by reducing the prominence of the Adam's apple. In technical terms, tracheal shaving is the removal of thyroid cartilage from in front of the larynx.

Considering this, does a tracheal shave change your voice?

Note: A tracheal shave is not meant to permanently change the pitch of your voice. If you want to alter the pitch of your voice, a speech therapist can help you with voice feminization speech therapy. In some cases, voice cord surgery will be necessary, also known as voice feminization surgery.

Also Know, what happens when you remove your Adam's apple? Adam's apple surgery and removal

The size of the Adam's apple does not impact physical health in any way. It is also possible to remove excess cartilage from the area around the thyroid, reducing the size of the Adam's apple.

Likewise, is tracheal shave covered by insurance?

Insurance for Facial Feminization and Other Secondary Procedures. While top surgery may be covered, facial feminization, rhinoplasty, tracheal shave, and other secondary procedures may be considered purely cosmetic and therefore excluded.

Can Adam's apple grow back?

Because the area is constantly moving when you talk and swallow, swelling can persist for up to a month. The scar tissue may also feel knotty or ropey for several weeks. Adam's apple reduction surgery results are permanent. Unlike other tissues in the body, cartilage doesn't heal itself and can't grow back.

Does tracheal shave hurt?

You can expect to feel some discomfort after a tracheal shave for several days following surgery. Your surgeon will recommend that you rest your voice as much as possible during this time.

Do ladies have Adam's apples?

Everyone's larynx grows during puberty, but a girl's larynx doesn't grow as much as a boy's does. That's why boys have Adam's apples. Most girls don't have Adam's apples, but some do. Actually, girls' voices get a little bit deeper as their larynxes get larger, too.

What is purpose of Adam's apple?

What Is the Purpose of an Adam's Apple? The Adam's apple bump itself has no purpose. But the larynx, which causes the Adam's apple, is an important organ that helps people breathe, swallow, and speak. The larynx is so critical for speech that it is informally known as the voice box.

How can I lose my Adam's apple without surgery?

Remember, both men and women have Adam's apples, so removing it completely is neither necessary nor desirable. Unfortunately, there is no way to complete a significant Adam's apple reduction without surgery. Question: Does an Adam's apple shave leave a scar?

Why don't you have an Adam's apple?

During puberty, boys develop a larger larynx. This makes their voices deeper over time, and it can create the bump at the front of the throat that's known as an Adam's apple. The degree of laryngeal growth in females isn't as significant as in males, so most women don't have Adam's apples.

Does testosterone give you an Adam's apple?

In teenage boys, increased testosterone production causes the vocal folds (vocal chords) to thicken, lengthen and mature. The cartilage of the larynx grows, further influencing the tone of voice. It also tilts slightly, resulting in a bump on the throat—the Adam's apple.

How can I reduce my Adam's apple?

Tracheoplasty or “thyroid cartilage shave” is a highly effective procedure to reduce the prominent Adam's apple. While this procedure has been discussed frequently in male-to-female transgender surgery, the majority of patients seeking reduction of the Adam's apple are women seeking a more feminine neck. Dr.

Does insurance cover gender reassignment?

Federal and state law prohibits most public and private health plans from discriminating against you because you are transgender. This means, with few exceptions, that it is illegal discrimination for your health insurance plan to refuse to cover medically necessary transition-related care.

Is gender reassignment surgery medically necessary?

Gender reassignment surgery is considered medically necessary if the medical appropriateness criteria are met. (See Medical Appropriateness below.) Other procedures, including but not limited to the following, are considered cosmetic when performed in conjunction with gender reassignment surgery: abdominoplasty.

Is gender affirmation surgery covered by insurance?

Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) created specific protections barring insurance discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. 8 Prior to enactment, medically necessary gender-affirming hormones and surgeries were often excluded from insurance coverage.

How many hours does gender reassignment surgery take?

This procedure provides for aesthetic and functional female genitalia in one 4-5 hour operation. The details of the procedure, the course of recovery, the expected outcomes, and the possible complications will be covered in detail during your surgical consultation.

Does Aetna cover testosterone FTM?

Testosterone replacement is NOT covered for members with the following criteria: • Use not approved by the FDA; AND • The use is unapproved and not supported by the literature or evidence as an accepted off-label use. Used for treatment of sexual dysfunction. B. Monitoring of bone age during therapy.

Does Aetna cover labiaplasty?

Aetna plans exclude coverage of cosmetic surgery that is not medically necessary, but generally provide coverage when the surgery is needed to improve the functioning of a body part or otherwise medically necessary even if the surgery also improves or changes the appearance of a portion of the body.

What does gender reassignment surgery do?

Sex reassignment surgery (SRS), also known as gender reassignment surgery (GRS) and several other names, is a surgical procedure (or procedures) by which a transgender person's physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered to resemble those socially associated with their

Does UPMC cover gender reassignment surgery?

Gender Reassignment Services Gender reassignment is a Covered Service under your benefit plan and shall be removed from the section entitled “Exclusions” and shall be included in the section entitled “Covered Services.” Please see your Schedule of Benefits to determine any cost-sharing or Benefit Limits applicable to

Why does my Adams apple hurt?

A goiter is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland — which is in the neck, just below the Adam's apple. Throat tension and tightness is one of the symptoms of a goiter. Other symptoms can include difficulty breathing or swallowing as well as swelling in the front of the throat and neck.

Why do some females have Adam's apples?

"Women do have Adam's apples. They're less prominent than men's." Adam's apples are basically thyroid cartilage, which everyone has. Testosterone causes it to enlarge.

How do you get your Adam's apple to pop out?

What happens during larynx-lifting exercises?
  1. Mendelsohn maneuver. Start to swallow. Use your throat muscles to stop your Adam's apple at its highest point for a couple of seconds.
  2. Falsetto exercise. Use your voice to slide up the pitch scale as high as you can, to a high, squeaky voice.

What is the medical term for Adam's apple?

Introduction. "Adam's Apple" is the colloquial term used to describe what is officially named the laryngeal prominence of the thyroid cartilage.

Does voice feminization surgery work?

This surgery fixes the cricoid cartilage to the thyroid cartilage, elongating the vocal cords. This results in a higher speaking pitch and a reduction in the ability to lower pitch. However, studies have found that this technique doesn't have a lasting effect.

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