Question 
I am a 38 year-old male with a high-pitched voice, especially over the phone. I found out about you while searching for answers to fixing high pitched voice for men. I saw on your website your replied to a 19 year-old man with a high-pitched voice suggesting Pitch Lowering Surgery.
I live in California and went to a speech therapist, and they told me my voice can be fixed with the surgery. When I went to an ENT doctor he mentioned that my vocal cords seem normal. He said I just have to live with the high-pitched voice and surgery can damage my voice.
But I was somewhat relieved when I found you can fix this.
I wanted to ask you if I can be a candidate for Laryngeal Frame Work Surgery and if there are any risks associated with it ?
Also, I was not able to find out any doctor in California that performs this kind of surgery. Would you know any doctor here in California who is good at performing this surgery ? If not, then I don’t mind coming to NY for this surgery. Thank you.
Answer
It sounds like you would be a candidate for the pitch lowering surgery. We do recommend evaluation first by a speech therapist with testing of your vocal frequency (natural pitch).
Laryngeal framework surgery is done with local anesthesia as an outpatient.
It involves removing one or two strips of cartilage from the larynx or voice box and allows the vocal folds to relax thereby lowering the pitch.
Certainly, any surgery has risks, and these include that of having a breathy or weaker voice among other unlikely problems. But these should be discussed further with your surgeon time when it’s time to have the procedure done.
I am unsure who does surgery on the west coast. However, I would speak to someone who specializes in laryngology or voice problems rather than a general ear nose and throat physician.
Click here to learn more about voice altering surgery
I hope this helps clear things up.
Robert Pincus MD
Frequently Asked Questions
Laryngeal framework surgery is a procedure done under local anesthesia as an outpatient treatment. It involves removing one or two strips of cartilage from the larynx or voice box, which allows the vocal folds to relax and subsequently lowers the pitch of the voice.
Candidates for pitch lowering surgery usually undergo an evaluation by a speech therapist who tests vocal frequency to determine their natural pitch. Based on your description, you may be a candidate, but thorough assessment is recommended before deciding on the procedure.
Risks of pitch lowering surgery include the possibility of developing a breathy or weaker voice, among other rare complications. These risks should be carefully discussed with your surgeon during the consultation before the surgery.
Currently, it is unclear if there are surgeons in California who specialize in pitch lowering surgery. It is recommended to seek out a doctor specializing in laryngology or voice issues rather than a general ENT to find expertise in this procedure.
Yes, laryngeal framework surgery is typically performed safely as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia, allowing patients to avoid general anesthesia and its associated risks.
To find a qualified surgeon, look for specialists in laryngology or voice disorders. If there are no experts in your area, you may consider traveling to centers that specialize in voice altering surgeries, such as the facility mentioned that offers this procedure in New York.
