Does the Marquardt mask serve as a helpful guide for facial feminization surgery?

• Main Author: Mullins, Kyle Dean
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: Plastics; Facial surgery; Feminization; Marquardt; Transgender
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/2144/19492

A thorough literature review resulted in limited research concerning facial feminization surgery for transgender women, specifically concerning postoperative satisfaction. However, sufficient research referencing the historical overview of gender recognition and evolution of facial feminization surgery into a multi-procedural process has been completed. Studies evaluating the Marquardt mask are also scarce and none existed regarding the application of the mask as a means of feminizing transgender women. The proposed study intends to expand upon this current paucity of research by photographing men ranging from the age of twenty-five to thirty-five and digitally superimposing the Marquardt mask. The before and after images will be rated based on masculinity and femininity in an effort to gage if the Marquardt mask is successful in feminizing the male face. If successful, this method could be helpful in preoperative planning in transgender women seeking facial feminization surgery.