Being me
We support your passing
Many trans people feel insecure and are excluded because their face does not match their feelings and self-perception.
Feminizing or masculinizing their face can help them live more confidently as a woman or a man – as the gender they have always been.
We support you on your way to your true self.
FAITH trial
Improving Passing and Quality of Life through Gender-Affirming Facial Reconstruction (Injections) in Transgender People
My face
Feminization
Masculinization
What happens during facial feminization or facial masculinization?
As a rule, feminization or masculinization of the face is achieved through gender-affirming facial surgery. A distinction is made between facial feminization and facial masculinization, or in English “Facial Feminization Surgery, FFS” and “Facial Masculinization Surgery, FMS”.
These surgeries shape the bones and facial soft tissues in such a way that the person's "passing" is improved. Good passing means that the person is recognized by those around them as the gender with which they identify.
Such operations have been proven to improve passing and quality of life, but can be risky, complex and expensive. They are often irreversible.
FAITH trial
Facial adjustment without surgery
That's why we are conducting the FAITH trial. In the study, we are investigating whether we can improve the passing and quality of life of trans people by injecting hyaluronic acid and botulinum toxin into the face – without surgery.
These injections can be used to accentuate or refine certain facial areas such as the brow ridge, jaw, cheeks, nose and lips, making the face appear more feminine or masculine.
The effect of hyaluronic acid and botulinum toxin treatment only lasts for a limited time and is reversible.
Participation
Who can participate in the FAITH trial?
You are a trans woman or a trans man and meet the following criteria:
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Over 18 years, under 65 years
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Confirmed diagnosis of gender dysphoria/gender incongruence (ICD-10 code: F64.0/ICD-11 code HA60)
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No gender-affirming facial surgeries to date
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Consent of the treating psychiatrists/psychologists to participate in the trial
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No intolerance to ingredients of the products used
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No pregnancy, breastfeeding, untreated epilepsy, porphyria, autoimmune disease
If you would like to participate in the FAITH trial, please contact us via faith.trial@usb.ch. We will take the time to answer your questions and clarify whether you are eligible for the trial.
Time commitment
How do we proceed?
The FAITH trial is carried out with trans women and trans men. A medical consultation and information session takes place before treatment.
Duration : 3 medical visits over 9 months
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Day 1: Questionnaires on face-related quality of life, injection treatment with hyaluronic acid filler and botulinum toxin, photos and 3D images of the face before and after treatment.
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After 3 and 9 months: Medical follow-up with repetition of the questionnaires on face-related quality of life, photographs and 3D images of the face.
Risks
Are there risks in participating in the trial?
The treatments and products are not experimental, but have been used for beauty treatments for decades. Nevertheless, unwanted side effects can occur when injecting with hyaluronic acid and botulinum toxin.
Generally, such side effects occur within the first few days after the injection and disappear after a while. Most of the undesirable side effects known to date are mild to moderate. The most common side effects (≥1/100, <1/10) are the following:
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Swelling and bruising at the injection site
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Headache
Benefits
What benefit do I get from participating in the trial?
The FAITH study can provide important information about the non-surgical treatment of facial gender incongruence – as an alternative and complement to surgical therapy. Gender incongruence means that a person’s gender identity does not match the sex assigned to them at birth.
Non-surgical treatment may be particularly suitable for transgender people who
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are not suitable for surgery,
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refuse an operation,
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cannot afford an operation,
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want to try a reversible, temporary facial adjustment.
Treatment may improve your quality of life and passing, but it may also be the case that you do not benefit from it. If you take part in the FAITH trial, you will still have the opportunity to have surgical treatment later.
If the treatment proves to be beneficial, we will strive to ensure that the injection treatment with hyaluronic acid and botulinum toxin will be included in the health insurance providers' catalogue of services.
Are there any costs associated with participating in the trial?
For study participants, the treatment – the injection of hyaluronic acid and botulinum toxin as well as the pre- and post-operative examinations – is free of charge.
Project lead
Dr. med. Alexander J. Lunger
Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery FMH, EBOPRAS
Clinic for Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery
University Hospital Basel
Spitalstrasse 21, 4031 Basel
Tel: 061 328 41 63