POSTED UNDER Facial Feminization Surgery Reviews
The Gold Standard for Facial Feminization Surgery
ORIGINAL POST
The Gold Standard for Facial Feminization Surgery
WORTH IT
I was originally planning on waiting six months after my surgery date to post a review. However, I can confidently say that I was absolutely amazed and astounded by my results only weeks after surgery. My surgery date was August 21, 2025, and I am writing this review in early January 2026.
My experience with the Spiegel Center began in the fall of 2024 when I started researching facial feminization surgery, or FFS. If you are reading this, I already know you are likely going through the same daunting process of trying to find a surgeon who can not only feminize traditionally masculine facial features, thanks a lot testosterone, but do so in a way that looks natural, beautiful, and authentically you. You are looking for someone you can fully trust, someone who makes you feel safe, confident, and respected. You also want an office environment that is welcoming, supportive, and compassionate.
If you live on the East Coast, Dr. Spiegel and the Spiegel Center should be your top consideration. Honestly, no matter where you live, Dr. Spiegel should be on a very short list.
My first contact with the Spiegel Center was in December 2024, when I reached out to schedule a consultation. When I arrived, I met Uzma Husain, who has been my patient coordinator throughout this entire journey. Uzma truly deserves her own glowing review, but I will praise her here as much as possible. From day one, she has been kind, attentive, and deeply supportive.
During my consultation, Dr. Spiegel met with me along with his surgical fellow at the time. Dr. Spiegel, the fellow, and Uzma were all incredibly kind, patient, thorough, and informative. They consistently used my correct name and pronouns, even though my name had not yet been legally changed, and they never once made me feel rushed. In fact, they stayed in the room for several extra minutes after I ran out of questions, just to be sure I felt comfortable and informed.
I came in with a few ideas of my own but kept an open mind and wanted to hear Dr. Spiegel’s recommendations based on his extensive experience with FFS. He recommended a tracheal shave, brow bone reduction, jawline contouring, cheek implants, and rhinoplasty. He also suggested considering a lip lift. I ultimately declined the lip lift at the time due to concerns about results and the fact that it was not covered by insurance. In hindsight, I regret that decision and will absolutely be scheduling a lip lift when I return to the Spiegel Center for breast augmentation in 2026.
One thing I want to note about the Spiegel Center is that it can feel intimidating if you are not accustomed to outpatient cosmetic surgery environments. Like many surgeons who perform FFS, the Spiegel Center also treats non transgender patients seeking cosmetic procedures. Many of these procedures, I would argue, are still forms of gender affirming care. That said, do not mistake the prestige of the location, Newton and Chestnut Hill, or the beauty of the space and staff for anything other than warmth and humility. The Spiegel Center is prestigious, yes, but it is also genuinely welcoming, compassionate, and affirming.
After my initial consultation, Uzma worked closely with the Spiegel Center’s insurance team to submit my prior authorization request. Once that was approved, I returned in late spring 2025 for a transgender patient open house. That event sealed the deal for me. Seeing other trans patients, meeting staff, and hearing firsthand experiences made me one thousand percent certain I had chosen the right place.
The pre surgical process was not easy, but I worked closely with my primary care provider to complete all required labs and evaluations. As the surgery date approached, my anxiety, like many trans women facing surgery, definitely increased. But on the morning of surgery, that anxiety disappeared the moment Uzma came to visit me in pre op. Seeing a familiar, comforting face who had been with me since the beginning meant everything. She offered reassurance and encouragement, followed by the nursing staff, anesthesiology, and then Dr. Spiegel himself. His calm, pleasant demeanor was incredibly grounding and reassuring.
The surgery went well. The first seventy two hours of recovery were tough. I experienced significant dizziness, vertigo, and nausea from the prescribed pain medication. By day three, the pain was manageable enough to switch to Tylenol. Swelling is real and lasts for weeks, but you will immediately notice the reduction in brow bone. As the swelling continues to subside, more and more of your features emerge, and with them, Dr. Spiegel’s true artistry.
At about four and a half months post op, I can confidently say that I could not be happier. Well, maybe I could have been if I had done the lip lift, but I will be back.
If you are considering FFS and want results that are natural, beautiful, and life changing, I cannot recommend Dr. Spiegel and the Spiegel Center highly enough.
My experience with the Spiegel Center began in the fall of 2024 when I started researching facial feminization surgery, or FFS. If you are reading this, I already know you are likely going through the same daunting process of trying to find a surgeon who can not only feminize traditionally masculine facial features, thanks a lot testosterone, but do so in a way that looks natural, beautiful, and authentically you. You are looking for someone you can fully trust, someone who makes you feel safe, confident, and respected. You also want an office environment that is welcoming, supportive, and compassionate.
If you live on the East Coast, Dr. Spiegel and the Spiegel Center should be your top consideration. Honestly, no matter where you live, Dr. Spiegel should be on a very short list.
My first contact with the Spiegel Center was in December 2024, when I reached out to schedule a consultation. When I arrived, I met Uzma Husain, who has been my patient coordinator throughout this entire journey. Uzma truly deserves her own glowing review, but I will praise her here as much as possible. From day one, she has been kind, attentive, and deeply supportive.
During my consultation, Dr. Spiegel met with me along with his surgical fellow at the time. Dr. Spiegel, the fellow, and Uzma were all incredibly kind, patient, thorough, and informative. They consistently used my correct name and pronouns, even though my name had not yet been legally changed, and they never once made me feel rushed. In fact, they stayed in the room for several extra minutes after I ran out of questions, just to be sure I felt comfortable and informed.
I came in with a few ideas of my own but kept an open mind and wanted to hear Dr. Spiegel’s recommendations based on his extensive experience with FFS. He recommended a tracheal shave, brow bone reduction, jawline contouring, cheek implants, and rhinoplasty. He also suggested considering a lip lift. I ultimately declined the lip lift at the time due to concerns about results and the fact that it was not covered by insurance. In hindsight, I regret that decision and will absolutely be scheduling a lip lift when I return to the Spiegel Center for breast augmentation in 2026.
One thing I want to note about the Spiegel Center is that it can feel intimidating if you are not accustomed to outpatient cosmetic surgery environments. Like many surgeons who perform FFS, the Spiegel Center also treats non transgender patients seeking cosmetic procedures. Many of these procedures, I would argue, are still forms of gender affirming care. That said, do not mistake the prestige of the location, Newton and Chestnut Hill, or the beauty of the space and staff for anything other than warmth and humility. The Spiegel Center is prestigious, yes, but it is also genuinely welcoming, compassionate, and affirming.
After my initial consultation, Uzma worked closely with the Spiegel Center’s insurance team to submit my prior authorization request. Once that was approved, I returned in late spring 2025 for a transgender patient open house. That event sealed the deal for me. Seeing other trans patients, meeting staff, and hearing firsthand experiences made me one thousand percent certain I had chosen the right place.
The pre surgical process was not easy, but I worked closely with my primary care provider to complete all required labs and evaluations. As the surgery date approached, my anxiety, like many trans women facing surgery, definitely increased. But on the morning of surgery, that anxiety disappeared the moment Uzma came to visit me in pre op. Seeing a familiar, comforting face who had been with me since the beginning meant everything. She offered reassurance and encouragement, followed by the nursing staff, anesthesiology, and then Dr. Spiegel himself. His calm, pleasant demeanor was incredibly grounding and reassuring.
The surgery went well. The first seventy two hours of recovery were tough. I experienced significant dizziness, vertigo, and nausea from the prescribed pain medication. By day three, the pain was manageable enough to switch to Tylenol. Swelling is real and lasts for weeks, but you will immediately notice the reduction in brow bone. As the swelling continues to subside, more and more of your features emerge, and with them, Dr. Spiegel’s true artistry.
At about four and a half months post op, I can confidently say that I could not be happier. Well, maybe I could have been if I had done the lip lift, but I will be back.
If you are considering FFS and want results that are natural, beautiful, and life changing, I cannot recommend Dr. Spiegel and the Spiegel Center highly enough.
JulietteT's provider
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