How to Look More Masculine: Facial Masculinization Surgery for Trans Men
For more than 15 years, we have dedicated our work to Facial Feminization Surgery, supporting trans women and gender diverse people from all over the world as they align their facial features with who they truly are. Along the way, we learned something very important: gender-affirming care is not one-size-fits-all, and it should never stop with just one community.
That is why today, we no longer speak exclusively of Facial Feminization Surgery. We now speak of Gender Affirming Care – our services have expanded into a more complete and inclusive vision that includes Psychological Support, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), and a growing range of Facial Gender Affirming Surgeries.
This evolution includes Facial Masculinization Surgery for trans men, gender-diverse people, and anyone seeking more stereotypically masculine facial features.
This step is not about “just offering something new”. It is about completing a circle of care – one that honors every identity with the same experience, respect, and precision.
What is Facial Masculinization Surgery?
Facial Masculinization Surgery (or as we like to call it, Facial Gender Affirming Masculinizing Surgery) focuses on enhancing facial features that are commonly perceived as masculine: stronger angles, firmer contours, and a more defined bone structure.
But masculinity does not have a single shape.
For some, it means a stronger jaw. For others, a more pronounced forehead or a sharper chin. For many, it is simply the relief of seeing a face that no longer feels at odds with who they are. Our role is not to define masculinity for you, but to help you express yours.
Fully Customized Implants: Designed from your own anatomy
At the heart of our approach is customization.
Using a CT scan, we are able to see your skull structure in detail. This allows us to design fully customized implants that fit your anatomy precisely. These are not standard implants or pre-made shapes. Each implant is created specifically for you, with your facial balance, proportions, and goals in mind.
This level of personalization allows us to add volume and structure exactly where it is needed – no more, no less.
How to Achieve a More Masculine Look?
Stereotypically masculine faces tend to be perceived as more angular, heavier in the upper and lower thirds of the face, and less rounded overall. Facial Masculinization Surgery works by adjusting these structural cues so your face aligns more closely with these gender markers. But how can that be achieved?
Forehead Masculinization
The forehead plays a particularly important role in facial gender perception. A more stereotypically masculine forehead often appears stronger and more projected, especially in the brow area. This creates a sense of depth around the eyes, with less upper eyelid exposure and a lower, straighter eyebrow position.
In faces that are read as feminine, the forehead is often smoother, the eyebrows sit higher, and the eyes appear more open due to greater eyelid visibility.
Through fully customized implants designed from a CT scan, volume can be added to the frontal bone and brow area to create a firmer, more grounded upper face. This approach can subtly change how the eyes are framed, giving them a deeper and more traditionally masculine appearance.
Hairline shape should also be considered during this process, as straighter or more squared hairlines are often associated with masculine facial proportions. Any adjustment is approached carefully, respecting natural growth patterns and long-term facial harmony.
It can be modified through carefully planned hair transplantation to create stronger, more defined contours, or through laser hair removal to soften or reshape areas that do not align with the desired facial balance.
Cheek Masculinization
Cheek structure is another key area where facial gender cues differ. In facial masculinization, the goal is not to add softness or roundness, but to introduce structure.
Anatomically, men’s cheekbones tend to be broader and more structurally present, creating a flatter, stronger midface; while women’s cheek area may appear prominent not because the bone is larger, but because softer tissue and fat sit over it, creating roundness and curved contours. This translates into more stereotypically masculine cheeks that tend to appear flatter and less prominent in the central midface, contributing to straighter facial lines. In contrast, feminine cheeks often have fuller, more rounded contours.
Facial masculinization focuses on strengthening the underlying structure rather than adding softness. In most cases, this is achieved by using customized implants to enhance the cheekbone’s width and definition, supporting straighter facial lines.
In more uncommon situations, and only when anatomy calls for it, surgical techniques that adjust the cheekbone itself may be considered. These decisions are always individualized and carefully planned.
What truly shapes perception is proportion. Masculine faces often show a more linear relationship between the width of the cheekbones and the jaw, creating a straighter, more parallel outline. Feminine faces tend to taper more toward the chin, forming a softer V-shaped contour.
Facial masculinization gently rebalances these proportions so the cheeks and jaw work together to create a face that feels stronger, more aligned, and naturally masculine – without looking artificial or overdone.
Jaw and Chin Masculinization
The jaw and chin form the foundation of the lower face, and I’d dare to say it’s one of the main markers that influence how masculine a face is perceived.
Masculine lower faces are often wider, more angular, and more defined, with a squarer or slightly elongated chin. Feminine lower faces typically appear narrower and more tapered.
Customized jaw and chin implants can add width, projection, and sharper contours, helping create a stronger silhouette and a more balanced relationship between the face and the neck.
Nose Masculinization
Noses that are commonly perceived as masculine often appear stronger in structure, with more projection and a straighter profile, while feminine noses are often narrower or more concave. Nose masculinization focuses on aligning nasal structure with the rest of the face, ensuring it feels cohesive and natural rather than isolated or overcorrected.
Adam’s Apple Implant
For some people, the absence of an Adam’s apple can be a quiet but persistent source of discomfort. A customized Adam’s apple implant can create a visible, natural-looking prominence in the neck, contributing to a more traditionally masculine neck contour.
This is always done with careful respect for anatomy, movement, and vocal safety. While we believe it is important to acknowledge and explain all available gender-affirming options, this specific procedure is not currently offered at Facialteam.
The Effects of Testosterone (HRT) on Facial Structures
Testosterone can bring profound and affirming changes for trans men and people taking it as part of their transition. These effects are often more noticeable than the changes estrogen produces in trans women, particularly in the face.
Over time, testosterone can lead to fat redistribution, increased muscle mass, thicker skin, and the development of secondary sexual characteristics, such as facial hair and a deeper voice. These changes can create a strong foundation for facial masculinization surgery if that is a path you choose, helping your facial features better align with the rest of the changes occurring in your body.
However, it is important to understand that hormone therapy alone cannot change bone structure. Features like the jaw, chin, brow, and Adam’s apple are largely determined by your skeletal anatomy, and this is where surgery can complement hormones.
Some people choose to get surgery after spending time on testosterone to allow these secondary changes to develop. There is no universal path, only what feels right for you. What matters most is that every decision is informed, unhurried, and rooted in care, so your face reflects both your identity and your personal journey.
A Caring Approach to Facial Gender Affirming Surgery
If there is one thing we have learned over the years, it is this: wanting your face to feel more aligned with your identity is not vanity. It is not excess. It is Gender Affirming Care.
Facial Masculinization Surgery is not about becoming someone else or fitting into society’s norms. It is about removing dysphoria, so daily life can feel lighter.
When you are ready to explore facial masculinization, we are here to listen first, guide carefully, and care deeply.
