Facial Feminization » FFS Surgeons
Dr. Kriya Gishen
Facial Feminization Surgery in Beverly Hills
Dr. Kriya Gishen, MD is a highly skilled plastic and craniofacial surgeon in Beverly Hills who specializes in Facial Feminization Surgery. Dr. Kriya completed fellowship training in craniofacial surgery which empowers her to perform complex reconstructive facial procedures with the highest level of skill. Surgical mastery coupled with her deeply personal manner with patients has made Dr. Kriya a top choice for Facial Feminization Surgery in Los Angeles.
After completing a Bachelor of Science degree at Brown University, Dr. Kriya attended the University of Miami for her plastic surgery residency where she discovered a passion for reconstructive and aesthetic facial surgery and gender-affirming surgery. She subsequently completed craniofacial fellowship training at UCLA, considered one of the most renowned craniofacial programs in the world. The fellowship exposed Dr. Kriya to full Facial Feminization transformations, including both soft tissue and bone procedures, furthering her desire to specialize in the field.
In addition to her medical education, Dr. Kriya has formal visual arts training and a background as a sculptor. This has greatly influenced her approach to surgery, where she can employ both her artistic eye and surgical skills to create elegant, natural-looking results for her patients.
Why Experience Is Paramount With FFS
Facial Feminization refers to a specialized set of surgical procedures designed to soften facial features to align with an individual’s female gender identity. Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS) is commonly associated with male-to-female transgender patients but is also sought out by cisgender women who desire more feminine-looking facial features. The group of procedures treat three different sections of the face: the upper, middle and lower thirds:
- Upper third: Hairline Lowering Surgery, Forehead Reduction and Contouring, Brow Lift
- Middle third: Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery), Cheek Augmentation, Lip Lift
- Lower third: Chin Contouring, Jaw Contouring
Surgeons trained and experienced in Facial Feminization have undergone extensive training to understand not just the technical aspects of performing the individual procedures but also how each procedure can change how other parts of the face are perceived. The whole face needs to be considered and this is where the experience of a FFS surgeon can really come into play. Rather than looking at Facial Feminization as a set of standalone procedures applied “here and there”, surgeons who specialize in FFS take a more holistic approach, designing a treatment plan that anticipates how the procedures will work together to meet the patient’s goals. (Of course, if a patient only feels the need to address a very specific facial feature, great surgeons, regardless of their specialization, will respect the patient’s more defined scope.)
Furthermore, as FFS procedures include both soft tissue and bone manipulation techniques, craniofacial training and deep experience performing FFS are critical for performing procedures such as Forehead, Chin and Jaw Contouring, where every millimetre counts.
Dr. Kriya has highly specialized training in the surgical alteration of both soft tissues and bones of the face and skull. She is very experienced at performing FFS either as a single stage or in multiple stages, depending on the needs of her patients. To further enhance results, Dr. Kriya also performs complimentary aesthetic procedures, such as blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and neck liposuction.
Dr. Kriya sees great value in utilizing Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP) to design accurate treatment plans. VSP uses 3D imaging software to generate a visualization of the planned outcome and defines procedures down to the millimetre to ensure surgical precision.
Dr. Kriya operates at Rodeo Surgery Center in Beverly Hills. She is affiliated with Cedars-Sinai, Adventist Health White Memorial Hospital and Providence Saint John's Health Center.
Consultations With Dr. Kriya
Dr. Kriya is available for in-person, virtual and phone consultations. Up to 75% of Dr. Kriya’s patients have come to her seeking gender-affirming care. As a result, all staff in the office have undergone sensitivity training and intake forms are gender neutral. From your first interaction to your final post-op appointment, you’ll experience a deep sense of caring from Dr. Kriya and her staff. Se habla Español.
FFS Insurance Coverage
Dr. Kriya accepts cash, credit cards, check and medical financing, as well as insurance, Medicaid and Medicare. She strongly believes in the reconstructive nature of Facial Feminization Surgery and the need for insurance coverage. Dr. Kriya has successfully billed Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Aetna and United Health Care, and is working on establishing coverage through L.A. Care Health Plan and Medi-Cal.
Surgery Requirements
- Dr. Kriya is a Member of the World Professional Association of Transgender Health and follows WPATH guidelines for surgery. A letter of recommendation from a qualified mental health provider is required.
- No smoking for four weeks prior to and after surgery.
- BMI of less than 33
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