Adams Apple Shaving:
The Hidden Dangers

By Emily Collins


I just had corrective surgery for my "adams apple" shave performed along with my reassignment m-f in January of 96. I offer this as a warning to others that will have the same corrective surgery. This is I understand what occurs. The shaving of the apple not only trims that part off but also trims away the support mechanism for the vocal cords. I think that not all people will suffer as I did but neither was my apple so huge as to seriously cause someone to doubt my sexuality. I passed quite easily before and now. But, according to my physician who is now preparing his own warning to go out he has had several people come to him for help because of the slackness caused by the operation.

After my initial surgery my voice was of course hoarse from the swelling. I figured it would go away soon and did not worry too much about it for a couple of months.

After three months and absolutely no decrease in my hoarseness and my volume was low. I had no range and my falseta was gone too. My highest note was perhaps D above middle C. Whereas before I could easily tune my violin singing the 440 vibrations or A. NO LONGER.

The corrective surgery was extensive and still not through to gain me some clearer voice and some higher tones. After a couple months of voice training I could still only reach ,barely, E. Supposedly Demi Moore's speaking tone. That was great to have that thought. But,it was a strained E and certainly no sustainable without stress and still no volume.

The surgery I had entailed 3 hours. As I understand it,the doctors placed three plates on the front of my larynx to bring back the support the cords had lost. These plates are actually screwed into my larynx,into the cartalage. The doctor is still somewhat wary of the screws ability to hold.

The cartalage is not hard at this point in my life (44 years)and hopefully they will hold. In addition to this he wants to and I have not decided to or not use the laser to trim my vocal cords a little which will then give me even higher tones than before. The plates and the new support for the vocal cords will/should give me back the tones I had before my initial surgery.

I know that many people will want to still have their larynx shaved and I would have still wanted it done even now. But, there is more danger to the initial voice then I was ever informed of or thought possible. It may not happen to everyone the way it happened to me but the possible repercussion of having the shave done is to have more unplanned for surgery. It would behoove anyone doing this to make sure they speak to a very knowledgeable Laryngopharyngologist before having the shave.


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