Risks

Feminizing the voice involves using the voice production mechanism in a new, nonhabitual way. Your speech-language pathologist will work with you to help prevent vocal misuse and vocal damage.

Surgeries for voice feminization focus on raising habitual speaking pitch by reducing the ability to produce a low-pitched voice. This means that surgery will reduce the overall pitch range of your voice. There is also a risk that surgery could cause your voice to become too high or so rough, hoarse, strained or breathy (dysphonic) as to make communication difficult. Because voice feminization surgery will only change your pitch, you may still need to work on other vocal behaviors.