Robin full facial feminization surgery before and after

Just a few words to say how happy I am with the facial feminisation surgery carried out by Dr Bart van de Ven and his team in Ghent on 4 July 2011.

From the first consultation I had in London with Dr Bart I was impressed by his thoughtfulness and approach, which has given me exactly what I wanted, a feminised version of myself, rather than an entirely new creation.

I am a self-employed professional in my own field (a barrister or trial lawyer) and it is difficult for me to take time out from my practice.  Dr Bart was prepared to take a more radical approach than a number of other surgeons I consulted by carrying out a number of procedures on the same occasion.  This was helpful in both reducing the time out from my working life and also in making a significant change to my appearance at one sitting so that I could return to work looking markedly more feminine than before.  The procedures carried out were:  hairline advancement; brow bossing removal; brow lift; upper eye lift; lower eyelift; nose reduction and reshaping; upper lip lift; chin reshaping; jaw reshaping; tracheal shave; wart removal; and lower facelift.

Each procedure moved me from the masculine to the feminine range in each area without going to extremes.  The result is that I have achieved a very natural feminine look which does not give the impression of having had surgery.  The skill of Dr Bart in making the incisions in hidden places, such as inside the mouth and at the point where the face and ears meet gives me confidence that  when healing is complete there will be little or no evidence of the surgery.

The arrangements for my reception and the pre-operative assessment and scan in Ghent were well thought out, clearly explained and efficient.  The apartment (Inn’s Inn) I stayed at before and after the operation was pleasant, well-equipped and well-situated in the heart of Ghent’s historic centre.  I much preferred this to somewhere more rural  as I was able to get out-and-about soon after the operation and it was good to be within easy range of the shops and historic attractions of Ghent.  The couple running the apartment were extremely helpful , caring and used to assisting Dr Bart’s patients.

Fortunately I don’t remember very much of my 10-hour operation after the anaesthetic was administered!

The clinic was modern, spotlessly clean and well equipped.  The care given by the two nurses who looked after me during my 16 hours or so of recovery was exemplary and made a difficult time bearable.  (Their language skills put mine to shame.)  They had plainly dealt with many procedures like mine before and gave great confidence during the early stages of my recovery.

Over the 10 days I spent in Ghent after the op the recovery proceeded just as predicted and whilst I had some discomfort (as was expected) I did not have any real pain and did not need to take the painkillers and sleeping tablets supplied in case of need.  By the weekend after the operation I was able to travel across Belgium by train to visit a museum in the Ardennes.

Most of the bruising and swelling had subsided by three weeks after the operation.

6 weeks after the operation I still have some stiffness around the jaw and a little redness around the eyes (as is to be expected) but it improves every day.  I am now back at work.

I am told that I should not judge the results of the operation for up to six months.  However, after 6 weeks I am very happy with the result.  I am markedly more feminine in appearance with a lovely eye-shape, nicely shaped nose,  a beautiful full and more open upper lip, slimmed down and softened jaw line, no visible Adam’s Apple, and I have lost the ‘jowly’ skin I had around my lower face before the operation.

Overall the result is wonderful!  Before I could pass as female after some careful make up and if viewed from the front.  Now pass easily as female with little or no make-up and also in profile.  I also look 10 years younger!  This is a wonderful confidence boost at the start of my new life.  Last weekend I helped run a charity event, for  a charity with which I have been associated for more than 30 years.  A number of people who have known me for all that time did not recognise me until I introduced myself and the public attending the event accepted me as female without question.  My charity works with families and children a lot and it is important that parents do not see me as ‘unusual’.

Last week the ‘Times’ newspaper in London ran an article on my transformation and the accompanying, flattering photograph looks as good as it does because of your work.  I have also been able to have some professional photographs taken for my work website which undoubtedly show me as female.

I cannot over state how much this transformation has meant to me.  To be able to return to work knowing that my image is now properly female is what I hoped for but dared not be certain of.  Thank you so much for making such a difference to the rest of my life.

Robin Moira White

Barrister-at- Law