Welcome to the
FFS Institute
A Safe, State-of-the-Art, & Welcoming Space for Your Facial Feminization Transformation
Welcome to the Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS) Institute, founded by Dr. Henry Chen, double-board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon and trusted leader in gender-affirming surgery.
Here, you’ll find a safe, compassionate, and state-of-the-art space where your transformation is guided with skill, empathy, and respect.
Expert Facial Feminization
Surgery Specialists
Transformative, Gender-Affirming Care
The FFS Institute is dedicated to helping each patient feel fully seen and affirmed.
Dr. Henry Chen founded the institute as a safe, welcoming space for people seeking high-quality gender-affirming care.
He doesn’t just perform FFS occasionally. He is among the few surgeons worldwide with specialized training and extensive experience in comprehensive FFS.
Here’s why thousands of patients trust Dr. Chen with their FFS:
- Over 1,000 successful FFS procedures
- Nearly 20 years of experience in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery with a specialized focus on FFS
- Double board-certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery (ABOHNS) and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS)
- Award-winning, including Los Angeles Magazine Top Doctor (2019-2024) and Southern California Super Doctor (2020-2024)
- Former Cedars-Sinai faculty and national lecturer on FFS best practices
- Advanced expertise in rhinoplasty and facial rejuvenation, enhancing the natural, harmonious results of FFS
- Persana-verified specialist, recognized for excellence and peer-selected credibility
If you’re seeking transformative, gender-affirming results that align with your true identity, you’ll be glad you found us.
We’re your partner in becoming the version of yourself you’ve always seen inside.
Meet Your Allies
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Henry Chen, MD, FACS, MBA
Award-Winning, Double-Certified Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
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Meghan
Front Door Office Coordinator
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Emmy
Patient Care Coordinator
The Dr. Chen Difference
Henry Chen, MD, MBA, FACS, is an award-winning FFS surgeon known for his thoughtful approach, exceptional skill, and dedication to creating elegant, natural-looking results that celebrate each patient’s individuality.
His commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care has earned him widespread recognition, including:
- Los Angeles Magazine Top Doctor (2019–2024)
- Southern California Super Doctor (2020–2024)
- Gordon Award for Exceptional Customer Service and Patient Satisfaction
- Vitals Preferred Provider
- Ben Shuster Memorial Award for Most Outstanding Research Paper
After nearly 12 years at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, Dr. Chen opened his private Beverly Hills practice in January 2024.
He remains affiliated with Cedars-Sinai as an Assistant Professor in the Otolaryngology Residency Program.
He is a frequently invited lecturer on FFS at national medical conferences, where he shares his expertise and helps advance best practices in gender-affirming care.
He is also Persana-verified, a distinction reserved for board-certified, peer-selected specialists recognized for their exceptional expertise and commitment to excellence in their fields.
“Plastic surgery may change things on the outside, but when it is done tastefully, and the results are natural, the transformation inside the patient is truly magical. I have performed thousands of surgeries, and seeing this transformation occur over and over again never gets old. It is endlessly gratifying and fulfilling to be able to help patients regain or improve their confidence.”
Henry Chen, MD
Facial Feminization Surgery Institute
Empower People and Eliminate Stigma
Through Advanced FFS Care
At the FFS Institute, we have a mission that anchors everything we do: To empower individuals through expert FFS care and break down the stigma that too often silences, endangers, and marginalizes gender-diverse communities.
Facial feminization surgery is far more than a cosmetic procedure. For many transgender and nonbinary persons, it’s a lifeline.
It’s a crucial step toward living authentically—without apology, without compromise, and without fear of being misunderstood.
Sadly, access to compassionate, qualified care has long been limited. Many have had to travel abroad or turn to unsafe, unlicensed providers, risking their health and well-being in the search for dignity and self-acceptance.
Our lead surgeon, Dr. Chen, founded the FFS Institute to help change that. His vision was to create a space where people are not just accepted but deeply understood, supported, and transformed.
Through advanced surgical techniques, compassionate support, and an unwavering commitment to inclusivity, the FFS Institute helps individuals align their outer appearance with their true selves—empowering them to live confidently, authentically, and without fear.
A Walk-Through of Our Process
Undergoing FFS can be overwhelming, especially if you’re considering it for the first time. At the FFS Institute, we guide you step by step so you always know what’s next. Here’s what to expect from our FFS care:
STEP 01
Warm Welcome:
After your inquiry, Meghan, our front office coordinator, will call to arrange your consultation, and you’ll receive a welcome email introducing our practice and team.
STEP 02
Pre-consult support:
Before your visit, Emmy, our patient care coordinator, will connect for a pre-consultation call. She’ll be your point person from planning to recovery.
STEP 03
In-Depth Consultation:
You’ll discuss your goals, concerns, and priorities with your surgeon. We’ll take standardized photos and may use morphing software to discuss potential outcomes. Together, we’ll also review before-and-after cases.
STEP 04
Plan, scheduling, and finances:
Your surgeon will recommend a tailored strategy. Emmy will review scheduling and finances, then we’ll book your surgery.
STEP 05
Preoperative visit:
We’ll make sure you’re prepared for surgery and recovery and answer any remaining questions.
STEP 06
Anesthesia approach:
For many cosmetic procedures, our specialists often prefer sedation over general anesthesia to help you wake up faster and feel more comfortable in early recovery.
You’re supported throughout the process—never rushed, always informed.
Post-Surgery Care
Healing continues beneath the surface for several months, and our role is to guide and support you every step of the way.
We’re here to answer your questions, provide reassurance, and ensure you feel supported and confident throughout your recovery. If any concerns arise, we can see, evaluate, and address them immediately.
Post-Surgery Care
Next-day Check-in
Your surgeon will see you the day after surgery, either in the office or at your aftercare facility, to ensure you’re healing well and feeling comfortable.
Close Monitoring
Emmy will check on you regularly during your first week. Around seven days after surgery, you’ll return for suture removal and a wound check.
Ongoing Follow-ups
We typically schedule follow-up visits at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months to ensure your healing is on track. If anything comes up between appointments, you can always reach us directly by call or text for prompt support.
Healing continues beneath the surface for several months, and our role is to guide and support you every step of the way.
We’re here to answer your questions, provide reassurance, and ensure you feel supported and confident throughout your recovery. If any concerns arise, we can see, evaluate, and address them immediately.
Benefits
Our FFS aims to deliver a natural, soft, feminine appearance that’s truly yours. When your features align with your identity, you can experience:
- Renewed confidence that feels steady, grounded, and self-assured.
- Relief from gender dysphoria, freeing you from the discomfort that can come from a mismatch between how you look and how you feel inside.
- Greater social comfort, allowing you to move through the world with ease, authenticity, and peace of mind.
Risks
That said, all surgery carries some degree of risk, including pain, bleeding, infection, scarring, delayed healing, asymmetry that may require revision, nerve injury, and anesthesia-related complications.
Choosing an experienced FFS specialist and following all pre- and post-operative instructions can reduce these risks.
During your consultation, we’ll discuss specifics for your plan so you can make fully informed, confident decisions about your care.
Results That Make a Difference
See how the FFS Institute has helped individuals reconnect with their reflection—and step into the world with confidence, comfort, and pride, one face at a time.
She describes her facial feminization surgery as life-changing. For the first time, her features reflect the identity she’s always known to be true—softened, aligned, and unmistakably her.
Her transformation included forehead contouring, jaw and chin reshaping, and a tracheal shave—all designed to bring harmony to her profile.
She also underwent a brow lift, upper lip lift, and a revision rhinoplasty. Each step was thoughtfully tailored to support her vision of self.
Today, she moves through the world with more ease and confidence, finally feeling at home in her own skin.
Her facial feminization journey brought about a beautiful transformation. She underwent a combination of procedures, including a brow lift, scalp advancement (to lower the hairline), rhinoplasty, and tracheal shave.
To enhance overall facial harmony, she also had forehead, jaw, and chin contouring.
Tailored Procedures for a Natural, Exquisite, Feminine Result
Every face is unique, so every transition journey should be too. Dr. Chen and our team carefully customize your surgical plan around your anatomy, goals, and safety, always prioritizing natural balance and harmony across your features. Here are commonly combined FFS procedures. Your personalized plan may include several of these, thoughtfully staged to ensure safety and deliver the best possible results.
Tailored Procedures
Forehead Contouring
The upper third of the face carries strong gender cues. Forehead contouring gently softens bony prominence, refines high orbital rims, and smooths shadows, creating a more masculine appearance.
When needed, your surgeon performs a frontal sinus setback (type 3 cranioplasty) to reshape and reposition the anterior table, creating a smooth, naturally feminine contour.
Scalp Advancement (Hairline Lowering)
Masculine hairlines often form an “M” shape. Scalp advancement lowers and rounds the hairline into an upside-down “U” pattern, reducing temple recession and balancing the upper third of the face.
Brow Lift and Eyelid Lift
Masculine brows typically sit lower and closer to the eyes. Elevating and reshaping the brows, often combined with an upper eyelid lift, brightens the gaze and helps the eyes become a more expressive, feminine focal point.
Feminizing Rhinoplasty
The nose anchors overall facial harmony. Your surgeon refines nasal size and tip rotation to achieve softer proportions while maintaining or even improving nasal breathing.
With his extensive experience in rhinoplasty, he ensures stable, natural results that blend seamlessly with surrounding feminization procedures.
Jaw and Chin Contouring
Bone shaving and contouring soften boxy mandibular angles and reduce a prominent chin, creating a more delicate, heart-shaped lower face.
When appropriate, we perform genioplasty to refine chin height and projection for proportion, enhancing overall facial balance.
Tracheal Shave
A tracheal chondroplasty (tracheal shave) reduces the prominence of the Adam’s apple to achieve a smoother, more refined neck profile.
Dr. Chen performs this procedure with precision to minimize visibility while preserving vocal and airway function.
Fat Transfer
Strategic fat grafting restores or adds volume to areas such as the temples, under-eyes, cheeks, and lips, enhancing softness and youthful femininity. We use your own fat, harvested from your body, for natural integration.
Cheek Augmentation
Using fat or implants, cheek augmentation enhances midface fullness and lift. These elements complement forehead and jawline refinement, creating a cohesive and harmonious profile.
Facelift & Neck Lift
Where aging or heavier tissues obscure feminine definition, a facelift or neck lift restores youthful contours and refines the jawline and neck, enhancing a tapered, heart-shaped contour.
These procedures are especially effective when combined with bone contouring.
Are You a Candidate?
During your consultation, we’ll take the time to understand your goals, review your health and expectations, and discuss your support system.
Together, we’ll determine the best timing and treatment plan to help you achieve results that feel authentic, empowering, and true to who you are.
Facial feminization surgery (FFS) may be the right choice for you if you’re:
A transgender woman seeking to align your facial features with your gender identity.
A nonbinary person aiming for a softer, more feminine presentation.
A cisgender woman looking to refine or soften masculine-coded facial features.
Someone with gender dysphoria, a deep sense of unease that may happen when a person’s sex assigned at birth does not match their gender identity.
Caring for Out-of-Town
Patients
We offer the same level of care to both local and out-of-town patients. Emmy, our patient care coordinator, helps coordinate surgical timing, aftercare, and logistics.
Many out-of-town patients spend a few days at an aftercare facility before moving to a hotel. We recommend planning to stay in the area for about a week after surgery.
Before you head home, we’ll schedule your follow-up appointment to ensure you’re healing well and feeling confident about your recovery.
“Dr. Chen is incredibly professional. His team was extremely helpful and responsive in preparation up to my surgery date. My nasal surgery with Dr. Chen was life changing to say the least.”
Ori Menashe
A Message from Dr. Henry Chen
“Plastic surgery may change things on the outside, but when it is done tastefully, and the results are natural, the transformation inside the patient is truly magical.
I have performed thousands of surgeries, and seeing this transformation occur over and over never gets old. It is endlessly gratifying and fulfilling to help patients regain or improve their confidence.”
Henry Chen, MD
Facial Feminization Surgery Institute
A Place Where Empathy and Innovation
Come Together
Our surgeons perform all FFS procedures in fully accredited, state-of-the-art surgical centers that are fully staffed and equipped to the highest standards.
- Roxbury Surgical Center
435 N Roxbury Dr, Suite 200, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.
See the Power of Transformation
Explore real results from patients who’ve undergone facial feminization surgery with Dr. Henry Chen. Each transformation reflects the harmony of artistry, precision, and personalized care.
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Get In Touch With Us
Dr. Chen is double board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
Call (310) 997-0280 or fill out the form below for a consultation.
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