Transgender individuals who undergo hormone therapy see changes in their facial features within the first year of treatment, according to new research in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Facial changes may continue for at least a year, the authors noted, which may have implications for the timing of facial surgery.
Having a face that resembles their desired gender is often important for transgender patients. But until this study, experts were not sure to what extent hormone therapy contributed to this goal.
Researchers in the Netherlands worked with groups of transmen and transwomen who took hormones
After three months, results were available for 19 transwomen and 14 transmen. At the twelve-month follow-up point, data were available for 15 transwomen and 9 transmen.