Atlanta, GA
You deserve a reflection that feels like a homecoming. Sometimes, the face we see in the mirror carries structural markers from birth that don't match the person looking back. It isn’t about fixing a flaw or chasing a trend. It is about alignment. At Kerolus Facial Plastic Surgery, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Julia Kerolus brings specialized reconstructive expertise to this vital transition. As a fellowship-trained plastic surgeon in Atlanta, she bridges the gap between high-level aesthetic refinement and functional restoration. You don’t need a full-blown transformation; you need a Gender Affirmation Surgeon who understands how to harmonize your features so you can finally feel comfortable in your own skin. We handle the technical heavy lifting in our Buckhead office so you can move through the world with a sense of self-love and clarity.
Gender affirming facial surgery is a specialized suite of reconstructive procedures that reshape the underlying bone and soft tissue to align facial features with a patient’s gender identity. By modifying the brow, nose, jaw, and chin, Dr. Kerolus creates a balanced, congruent profile that reflects your true self.
Facial affirmation is a broad category often misunderstood as just a nose job. It is a comprehensive structural recalibration of the head and neck.
The primary benefit is the significant reduction of gender dysphoria. These procedures provide permanent structural changes that hormone replacement therapy cannot achieve. We focus on bone-level modifications that ensure your results remain stable as you age.
We prioritize safety and long-term psychological success. I will turn away patients who have uncontrolled high blood pressure or clotting disorders because these conditions make general anesthesia and the healing process unnecessarily dangerous.
Who is NOT a good fit:
We perform these surgeries under general anesthesia in a controlled, sterile environment. Expect to feel a sensation of heavy pressure and tightness when you wake up. It is a deep ache rather than a sharp pain. We use long-acting local anesthetics during the procedure to numb the nerves, which keeps you comfortable for several hours after you leave the clinic. Our safety protocols include sequential compression devices to prevent blood clots during the time you are immobile.
The restaurant-ready timeline for facial work is usually two to three weeks. You can go to dinner without people noticing your surgery once the major bruising around the eyes and jaw fades. Physical downtime is shorter; most Atlanta Gender Affirmation Surgery patients are up and walking around their homes within twenty-four hours.
Pro-Tip: Start a high-quality bromelain supplement three days before your appointment. It significantly cuts down on the yellow bruising that lingers into week two.
Following Gender Affirmation Surgery Atlanta patients will look significantly swollen for the first 72 hours. The initial results emerge around week four, but your final results take a full year to settle. Bone takes time to heal. Tissues need months to shrink-wrap over the new architecture.
The price of your Gender Affirmation Surgery in Atlanta, GA, depends on the physical work required to reach your goals. We look at skin thickness and the density of the bone. Some patients need a total forehead reconstruction, while others only need a minor chin shave. Quoting a fee without seeing the tissue is a guessing game. We do not give prices over the phone.
The initial Gender Affirmation Surgery consultation is where we measure the distance between your features and provide a firm, hard number. There are no hidden fees. We give you the total cost for the surgeon, the facility, and the anesthesia in one document. We offer financing through CareCredit to keep these treatments accessible for most patients. High-quality care is an investment in your life.
Dr. Kerolus is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon. This is a critical distinction. Most plastic surgeons are generalists; they work on the whole body. Dr. Kerolus spent her entire fellowship training exclusively on the head and neck. She stopped performing body surgery to focus on the intricate nerves and muscles of the face. If you are undergoing gender affirmation, you want someone who understands facial nerve mapping at a reconstructive level. We specialize in the most complex cases because the face is all we do.
Schedule your consultation at (404) 233-3937 or via our website.
Most incisions are hidden inside the mouth or within the hairline. For a tracheal shave, the incision is placed in a natural skin crease. Scars are nearly invisible once fully healed.
Most Atlanta Gender Affirmation Surgery patients return to office jobs after two weeks. If your job is physically demanding, you may need three weeks. Swelling is the main factor.
It helps but is not always required. Being on HRT for a year allows the soft tissue to settle. This helps us determine the exact amount of bone to remove.
Many plans now cover gender affirming procedures. We provide the clinical documentation and codes your insurance company needs. Coverage depends on your specific plan.
The primary risks are infection, bleeding, and nerve weakness. Because Dr. Kerolus is an American Board-certified specialist, she uses advanced techniques to protect your facial nerves.
Wait four weeks for heavy cardio. Light walking is fine after two days. Raising your heart rate too soon will increase your swelling.
Schedule a Consultation
Taking care of yourself is about more than just annual check-ups and eating right. You also want to preserve your ability to look and feel your best. If you feel like you have an area that you want to improve through plastic surgery, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kerolus. She will make sure you find the right treatment for your best results.
1218 West Paces Ferry Road Northwest, Suite 108, Atlanta, GA 30327
Mon-Thurs: 9am - 5pm
Fri: 9am - 1pm
