Sexual dimorphism and transgender medicine: Appealing to a viewer's sense of beauty

Abstract

Sexual dimorphism — the phenotypic structural differences between male and female faces — has been shown to be an important universal component of beauty. This concept plays a key role in facial feminization surgery (FFS), which consists of contouring and reshaping features of the skull itself to alter the foundation of the face. FFS has been shown to improve quality of life among transgender women and therefore an understanding of the procedure and the concept of sexual dimorphism is key for plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and other healthcare providers.