Chondrolaryngoplasty
surgical procedure to reduce the size of the thyroid cartilage
Chondrolaryngoplasty (commonly called tracheal shave, but this is a misnomer as the trachea is not involved) is a surgical procedure in which the thyroid cartilage is reduced in size by shaving down the cartilage through an incision in the throat, generally to aid those who are uncomfortable with the girth of their Adam's apple.
An alternative to this procedure is feminization laryngoplasty, albeit this procedure involves additional risks and has an effect on the voice that the patient may not desire.
Surgery
The technique was originally described by Francis G. Wolfort and Richard G. Parry and has been developed since.
After an anesthetic (local or general, depending on whether or not it is the only surgery to be performed) is administered to the patient, a small, horizontal incision is made on the bottom of the Adam's apple. The muscles in the throat are then held apart with forceps, and the protruding cartilage is shaved down with a scalpel, thus making the throat appear smoother and less angular. The incision is then closed with sutures, and a red line will mark the incision for about six weeks. Little scarring occurs in most cases because the surgeon will usually make the incision in one of the minuscule folds of skin that cover the Adam's apple.
Newer versions of this surgery also exist wherein the incision is hidden beneath the chin, or alternatively inside the mouth. In these cases, the tracheal shave is then typically performed endoscopically.
The surgery is usually outpatient unless it is combined with other surgeries that require hospital stays.
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