Voice Surgery for Aging Voice

               The intensity (loudness) of the voice is mainly dependent on the volume of air and the pressure just under the vocal folds, the higher the volume and pressure of air, the louder the voice. The quality of the voice is in turn determined by the mucosal wave of the vocal folds. The mucosal wave is like a loose shirt that we wear, the vibration (the way a shirt rubs on our skin) helps produce a good voice quality.

               As we age however, the mucosal wave becomes stiff and the vocal cords themselves become relaxed and thin. These factors make the voice hoarse and harsh with lower pitch and intensity, while the pitch becomes higher in some men. If you can still recall your grandparents, you may remember that their voice had changed while you were growing up and they are getting old. The reality is, your larynx and vocal cords (folds) also age along with all other parts of your body like your face. The simple solution for face however is facelift surgery which is one of the most common cosmetic surgery procedures that is performed worldwide. Unsurprisingly, very few may know the procedure called voice lift, a relatively simple procedure to rejuvenate or “lift” the voice to bring back its more youthful clarity.

               This procedure (voice lift), is best done under general anesthesia. There are basically 3 techniques that can be used depending on the the case of the patient, we have fillers, fat, and stem cells. The latter being the most promising in terms of long term result. The duration of the treatment will vary depending on the technique that will be used but it will generally take between 30minutes to 3 hours.