Spiegel Center, How Do I Love Thee?

I have been treated by Dr Spiegel and his associates several times over the past year, and I could not be happier with the care and results I have received from Dr Spiegel, Dr Shektman, Dr Onir, patient coordinator Uzma, and the entire staff at the Spiegel Center. And I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention the professionals at Newton Surgery, where Dr Spiegel & Dr Shektman operate.

I am a trans woman, and I initially consulted with Dr Spiegel to obtain voice feminization surgery, as I have been frustrated for 3 decades with being frequently misgendered on the phone and other situations in which people can hear but not see me. My original voice was fairly low, and vocal training had only been mildly successful; cricothyroid approximation surgery in 2001 only helped for a short amount of time. So I was eager to have VFS. At my consultation for VFS, I also asked Dr Spiegel if he could recommend any surgical procedure to feminize my face (I had been an early recipient of facial feminization surgery in 2000, and i felt that the further work could be done. Out of this meeting I had additional mandible reduction, upper lip reduction, brow lift, lower blepharoplasty, and deep plane facelift, spread out over two surgeries. Healing and recovery was frankly quite easy, easier than my original FFS surgery.

I eventually returned for some FUE hair grafting, and as my final surgery, vocal surgery along with breast augmentation, performed by Dr Shektman (I had had saline breast implants in the 90s but one had formed a hard capsule and I had them removed in 2006. I liked the way I looked and felt when I had the implants, and wanted to give them another go with silicone implants). Again, super easy recovery, the hair grafts are thriving, and I love my breast again! VFS was a quick recovery, but anyone considering having this surgery that achieving the final results takes a long time, and one has to endure months of uneven vocal pitch and hoarseness before one’s voice finally stabilizes at a higher pitch. But I can happily report that I have never been misgendered on the phone since having it, and on days when my voice is particularly clear, I look forward to opportunities to speak to strangers because I no longer have vocal dysphoria nagging me when doing so, like i did before this surgery. It has subtly increased my confidence and made my personality more outgoing.

I also had a micro-needling & IPL treatment by Dr Onir, Dr Spiegel’s spouse and partner in facial beautification, which was, well, fun, and made my aging skin look years younger! If i had the money, I would have it done every year! And Dr Onir is delightful and skilled.

Finally, my patient coordinator, Uzma was a great ally to work with and feels like a friend at this point. She is so open and warm, I looked forward to seeing her every time I came back to the Spiegel Center.

Another bright light at the Center is Juliana Wall, their Transition Specialist, who gives special care and advice to their trans patients. I have had several wonderful conversations with her, and consider her a great addition to the staff.

If you are a trans person looking for gender affirming plastic surgery, you should definitely consider The Spiegel Center. I was very happy with all aspects of my care, and only wish they had been around when I transitioned way back in the day!