Neck · For transgender patients
Thyroid Cartilage Reduction
Often called a tracheal shave or chondrolaryngoplasty, this procedure reduces the prominence of the thyroid cartilage — the Adam’s apple — to create a smoother, straighter neckline in profile.
Dr. Henry Sandel — board-certified in otolaryngology, head and neck surgery
At a glance
Surgeon
Dr. Henry Sandel
Area
Neck
Approach
Chondrolaryngoplasty — tracheal shave
Setting
One accredited facility
Often paired with
Jawline Augmentation, Rhinoplasty
What the procedure changes
It is a focused, single-purpose procedure. Through a small incision placed in a natural neck crease, the projecting portion of the cartilage is reduced so the front of the neck reads as a continuous line rather than a step. Patients frequently describe it as the change they notice most in photographs taken from the side, out of proportion to how small the operation is.
The larynx sits directly beneath the cartilage being reduced, and the vocal cords attach to its inner surface. That anatomy is the reason this belongs with a surgeon trained in head and neck surgery: the reduction has to be enough to matter visually while leaving the attachment of the vocal cords undisturbed. Dr. Sandel is board-certified in otolaryngology — head and neck surgery in addition to facial plastic surgery.
If you are also undergoing or considering voice work — voice therapy or a separate voice-modifying procedure — tell us at the consultation. This procedure is not a voice procedure, and coordinating the timing with your voice provider matters.
Toward a more feminine read
Reduce Adam’s apple prominence
Create a smoother neck profile
Small incision in a natural crease
These are directions, not a formula. What suits your face is decided with you, in consultation.
Worth knowing
Before you decide.
Most patients do not have every procedure at once. We will tell you which changes combine safely in one operation and which heal better apart.
Coordinate timing with any voice therapy or voice surgery you are planning — tell us who is providing it.
Reduction is limited by where the vocal cords attach; the goal is a smooth line, not removal of the structure.
This is often combined with other facial procedures in a single operation. Ask about staging.
Smoking and wound healing history matter for a neck incision — raise them early.
Often considered alongside
Start with a conversation.
Every patient receives an extensive consultation with a comprehensive review of options. No one feels rushed, and we answer every question before anything is scheduled.
Candidacy, staging, and expected outcomes are determined in consultation. Results vary from patient to patient.