Facelift Reviews
85%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
316 Reviews
Faceliftbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Facelift Cost: $11,225

Learn about Facelift

1,211 people and 808 doctors are talking about Facelift

Get Free Email Updates

“Over 50, Face Lift Not What I Expected and Pulled Too Tightly”

Not Worth It
Spent: $24,000 in Beverly Hills, CA

Comments (51)

Updated 12 Apr 2010

Posted 10 Apr 2010

i went for a consult because i am over 50, but i looked beautiful though a little laxity around lower jaw. the doctor insisted that because of my age (although i looked 15 years younger due to thermage treatments and good lifestyle) i had to do something so he insisted i had a facelift.

I do not look like myself at all. he pushed all my facial tissue to my cheekbones and because i didn't have enough loose skin, he pulled my face too much. I feel suffocated around my neck and very bulky around my midface and too thin in the lower face although initially i had a square face and strong jaws and now i look like an egg much fatter in the middle. i know some swelling will go down, but my two sides are not equal, the left being an inch more swollen than the right. what should i do?

This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.

Helpful review?

My Doctor:

My rating:

i was not sure about the surgery and when the office manager called to ask if i want to pay for the next day, i told her i wasn't sure. she said"hold on" and put the doctor through. I told him i look beautiful and don't want any major change and i want to look like myself. he said i would look exactly like myself, but well rested and refreshed. i particularly asked that my looks not be changed. he was very forceful in convincing me to have a facelift and necklift instead of a minor procedure. he never explained that i will not look like myself and that i won't be able to return to work in 2 weeks. I am devastated, especially beacause i was so beautiful before and because i cannot go back to work and in society. i look like a freak and consider moving to another place.

Comments (51)

Post a Comment Sort:
truckin916 12 Apr 2010
Greetings, Wait it out. I have had several procedures over the years and know that if a doctor tells you two weeks and you can go back out in public, you can at least double that time. Swelling of your face is a weird thing...first off swelling falls down your face, so your neck will be the last to relax. Swelling also tends to go from one side of your face to the other. Be patient, I'm sure your end result will be fabulous
2678anon 23 Apr 2010
thank you so much for the encouragement. however, i don't look like myself and cannot see anyone, including my boyfriend
deehotflash 24 Apr 2010
yup, one week for me meant more like 2 weeks to reduce bruising. And... one side is a taking a bit longer to resolve but that is the side that I tend to sleep on so that is a factor. Also .. genetics cause my daughter had a chin procedure with lipo and much bruising, and I had bruising too, it shows up well in very pale skins. I think t takes more time to recover than most people think it will. Try to sleep with a couple of pillows to allow good drainage for the puffiness, it helped me.
2trusting 2 Mar 2012
Their fraudulent schemes have lured to many people into a horrible nightmare over the years You can't just say be patient and write it off as the norm.
Ada 13 Apr 2010
I had the lifestyle lift in Sept of 08 and one side of my face is still larger than the other, my ears pulled and sewn to the side of my face with one lower than the other. very difficult to get hair cuts now and get both side even, thank goodness my daughter is a hairdresser because i would not want anyone else to see the large scars and funky ears; still have my jowls and fat cheeks just a much lighter purse. my lift was done in Atlanta by Dr. Elizabeth Whittaker - i do not recommend her or any other lifestyle lift "doctor".
kb250r 21 May 2010
I am sorry, I have heard that the liftstyle lift is just pulling the skin up not the underlying muscles that need it too. My Dr. says he has done lifestyle revisions. A "real" facelift is what I decided to go with. I had a lot of sagging in the neck area. Hope we all heal well in the months ahead!
sera 19 Apr 2010
I can hear how devastated you feel right now, and feel for you. Please put some photos up - front and profile. One of neck extension (looking up to the ceiling) would be helpful too. Just conceal your eyes or show mid-face down if you want to conceal your identity. 'Well rested and refreshed' - that statement, along with 'back to work in 10 days' really eeks me. I hear it all the time and its certainly NOT TRUE in all cases. Does anyone know of ANYONE who found this advice to be true? Hang in there. As difficult as it is, you may still be going through the 'norm'.
2trusting 2 Mar 2012
No, I never found it to be true. I found it all to be a pack of lies!!!
2678anon 23 Apr 2010
first, i want to thank everyone who took the time to respond. i am still swollen and uneven though it's gone down some. but i still cannot eat certain foods and i still have uneven swelling on the cheeks. i have 3 weeks post-op. if this comes out ok, i will name the doctor, but if it doesn't i will also name him, blog him and take him to court. he pushed me so much, and because i am going through menopause i am weak and can't think fast sometimes. when his assistant called to ask if i want to have the procedure, i told her i had doubts. she said "hold on a second" and immediately the doctor picked up and insisted and pushed me into this. i looked so good that now i don't see much change and i paid a lot.
retired507 25 Apr 2010
Hello, I just want to encourage you because I had surgery on March 22 and have had a difficult time. Anyone who says you are back to work in two weeks is either a very, very fast healer or is exaggerating! I am going on my 5th week and my bruises are just now fading. Also, I am having an issue with my neck (I had a submentoplasty also) and have irritation on both sides of my neck. It is very red and angry looking. I think whoever said it would be 6 months before you know the end result gave the best advice. Anyway, I have decided that this was MY choice and I will live with however it ends up. I can say that the swelling is better and I think all will be okay or at least better in the end. Just give it more time than 3 weeks before you give in to despair. It should get better every week.
deehotflash 24 May 2010
I'm just reaching 6 weeks post op today. No more bruises, and only have slight soreness around the ears but can wear light earrings. yea. But I didn't have the neck done so myy situation was easier, just midface and eyes. I am considering having eyebrow lift but just to the last portion of the brow, a pretty conservative thing. Any opinions? thanks
2678anon 6 Jun 2010
i am now over 2 months after surgery. i look and feel better, but the scars are visible and wide (2mm) and i cover my head with a scarf so the sun will not make it worse. i'm still uneven and when i smile, a pouch forms above the cuts, on my temples. i don't know if they will go away. if they don't i don't know what i will do because it shows. but i went through a lot and i would never do this again. i highly recommend THERMAGE laser better than any surgery and much les expensive.
deehotflash 11 Jun 2010
Thanks, I will consider that option. about what age are you , if you don't mind answering? And the scars are not in the hairline? thnaks
2678anon 15 Jun 2010
the scars are on and around my ears and on my temples and they show. this doctor, calabria, was supposed to be one of the best, but if this is the best, then i do not want to imagine the worst.
hellofromteresa 7 Jul 2010
I know exactly how you feel. I had a turkey waddle and marionette lines.......I was happy with the rest of my face. The skin on my face was pulled directly up on the sides and the front is full and saggy....Some of my neck was even pulled up onto my face infront of my ears......When I turn my head...it looks like my ears are attached to my neck......I sure don't know what to tell you...I know I'm furious with my doctor.
deehotflash 9 Jul 2010
Was the neck surgery painful?
5671anon 30 Jul 2010
I had a neck lift and mini face lift and it's been an awful experience. Each day brings something new that has brought on depression, and anxiety. I never thought I would suffer so much and I think it's due to my age. Horrible scarring and keloid behind ears, stiff neck and pulling behind ears now at 8 weeks and nothing seems to work, except a good nights rest and a foam pillow on the recliner. I feel like my life has stopped. I am getting help for the scaring, but the tight feeling in my neck has really done me in. I have been quite depressed over the whole things and wish I had never done it and frankly you never know what the doc is going to do when he gets in there. I also thought that I should move my neck around a lot and i did that for about 45 min. and the next day I could hardly move my neck again.. when should I start that? Any ideas? Pretty miserable here at 8 weeks
2678anon 17 Aug 2010
no, the suffering has nothing to do with your age. my mother who is 75 , had surgery and didn't have a problem. it's the doctor, who does a lot and doesn't prepare you to know that you willbe depressed and scary looking and in pain for ever. i have 5 months post-op and stillhave numbing and pain and hate when friends are trying to be nice (not knowing i had surgery) and pinch my cheeks. i want to kill somebody when touched. this procedure is so tough that it should be banned. i was in depression and anxiety so deep, i really thought i was going to die. but it went away, and i'm still upset with the doctor for not telling me what to expect. this is no joke. but give it some time. also, there is a wonderful gel to put on scars other than mederma. it is called CONTRACTUBEX and it's made in Switzerland. A month after i have used it every day, my scars totally disappeared. it's hard to find (mostly in europe)but it's worth every penny
deehotflash 31 Jul 2010
sorry your having pain. i didn't have the neck done, just a midface and eyes. But,there are scars behind the ears and I think that is usually where facelift stitches go. A friend of mine had a facelift about 8 years ago and she has the scars behind the ears, but they are faded and difficult to see so I guess time helps how they appear. I am a side sleeper so my ears were uncomfortable, but I am careful to keep my ears flat , not folded, that can aggravate it. Are you still wearing headgear? By 2 weeks , I didn't have to wear anything on my head.
kb250r 1 Aug 2010
I am now 3 months post from a deep plane lower face and neck lift. My head and neck are still tight and numb but it is lessening every day. Its a long haul with a facelift I am finding out. Still have a lumpy crease on the left side too. My Dr now says at least 6 months to a year til I see final results. He is an excellent surgeon and just didnt make me aware of the long recovery beforehand. I have seen another of his patients who is now happy after 11 months. Big surgery Big recovery time...
deehotflash 8 Aug 2010
yes I agree that recovery is longer than you may expect in order to see the final results. I'm now 4 months post op and no numbness but one ear has a bit sensitivity. Keep in touch? thanks
deehotflash 9 Mar 2012

Well sometimes s__ happens. i had total thyroidectomy and have some neck swelling, will havw to see how it resolves. good news, not cancer, hashimotos thyroid. But will see how the neck looks after the big long scar heals! LOL hang in there!

Julie1859 12 Feb 2011
i am 9 weeks post surgery and am devastated.
weird looking and mismatched in front of tragus
ears lopsided
eyes not done evenly
pain
kb250r 13 Feb 2011
here I am after 9 months patiently waiting for my swelling etc..to go down like my Dr. said everytime I came in.
Well, I do not think I have the results I expected. I am 54 fair skin and had a very saggy neck.
after all that mental, physical and financial drain I know need a revision. Dr. says I am too sensitive and expecting too much!
I AM NOT. I have sagging in my left cheek, lumpy muscles under my right cheek and a big dent under my chin. Dr says he will do what I want but I am only 1 in 100 of his FL patients that needs a revision.
All of his comments it seems are taking the blame off of him and putting it on me. Everyone who is honest with me agrees with me.
Anyone feel like I do after this long?? BTW my surgeon was highly reccommended...I think I need another opinion before I go under again!!
Julie1859 13 Feb 2011
dear kb250r,
So sorry. I can relate to your feelings. Although it's 9 weeks post surgery for me and 9 months for you I feel drained from all the physical and mental anguish as well. i'm thinking of going for another opinion too.

You are not too sensitive. It's your face not his!!

P.S. What is a FL patient? I had a neck/lower face lift.
I deeply regret having done it.

Wld. like to get a group together for support. Perhaps we cld. meet at at coffee shop sometime.

Anybody have any ideas. I live in the San Jose area.

How many would be interested?

Post a Comment

used for verification

Read more Facelift reviews

“My Face/Neck Lift Looks Natural”
“Only a Week After Surgery, but Already LOVE the Face Lift - Lakeland, FL” 16 comments
“Great Experience with Facelift for Sagging Neck, Jowls and Pouches” 1 comment
“Facelift Disaster Left Me with a Hole in my Neck” 9 comments