Voice Services for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Individuals

Surgery to feminize your voice involves shortening your vocal cords with a laser to create a higher pitched sound. Most people who have this procedure, called Wendler glottoplasty, go home the same day.

After surgery, you’ll need to rest your voice for about three weeks. This means no talking, laughing, coughing or throat clearing. 

Our laryngeal surgeon offers a procedure called a “tracheal shave,” also known as a chondrolaryngoplasty, that reduces the appearance of the Adam’s apple. During this procedure, the laryngeal surgeon removes some of your thyroid cartilage to achieve a more feminine appearance.

You may be asked to rest your voice after surgery for about a week. Afterward, you will have a small scar in the crease between your neck and chin.

This will be different for each individual. Your care plan will be developed with your voice therapist, and the number of sessions will be determined based on your goals. Voice therapy involves more than just raising the pitch of your voice. During treatment, you will also learn verbal and nonverbal techniques to feminize your voice and communication style. 

Our licensed speech-language pathologists provide services in gender-affirming voice care. The timeline of these sessions can vary from person to person, but our clinicians will work with you to develop a plan that is best suited to you, your voice and your schedule.

Although surgical options are available, our team typically recommends a nonsurgical option — testosterone therapy — to lower the pitch of your voice first. Most transgender men are able to achieve their voice goals with hormone therapy alone.

At UChicago Medicine, our Voice Center team works closely with endocrinologists who can provide gender-affirming hormone therapy if you are interested.

You’ll meet with our laryngeal surgeon and one of our certified speech-language pathologists, who will take the time to understand your voice concerns.

During your comprehensive exam, we’ll use a test called a videostrobolaryngoscopy to inspect your vocal cords to see if there are any existing issues that could affect the outcome of your treatment.

We’ll also offer recommendations, which may include surgical and nonsurgical options, to help you achieve your goals.