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POSTED UNDER Facelift REVIEWS

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

ORIGINAL POST

I went for a consult because i am over 50, but i...

2678anonApril 10, 2010
$24,000
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?

2678anon's provider

Renato Calabria, MD

Renato Calabria, MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

2678anon rating for Dr. Calabria:

Overall rating

Replies (57)

truckin916
April 12, 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
April 24, 2010
thank you so much for the encouragement. however, i don't look like myself and cannot see anyone, including my boyfriend
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deehotflash
April 24, 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
March 2, 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
April 13, 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
May 22, 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!
ps9600
April 20, 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
March 2, 2012
No, I never found it to be true. I found it all to be a pack of lies!!!
2678anon
April 24, 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
April 25, 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.
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deehotflash
May 24, 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
UPDATED FROM 2678anon

THINGS RESOLVED IN TIME

2678anonFebruary 3, 2024
BUT IT TOOK A WHILE. SURGERY CAME OUT GOOD, EXCEPT FOR SOME ASYMMETRY THAT RESOLVED A LITTLE IN TIME AND THE PIXIE EARS THAT DID NOT.
I BELIEVE DR CALABRIA IS VERY GOOD AND TALENTED BUT HE DOESN'T TAKE THE TIME FOR ALL PATIENTS. I ALSO THINK HE SHOULD WORK WITH ANOTHER DR OR RESIDENT TO DO HIS SUTURES AND HELP WITH ALL THE WORK WHERE HE DOESN'T HAVE PATIENCE. WOULD I DO IT AGAIN? PROBABLY YES, BUT I WOULD NEED TO TALK CLEARLY BEFOREHAND. I COULDN'T TALK OR EAT IN THE BEGINNING, BUT THIS WAS BECAUSE HE TIGHTENED MY JAW WELL AND IT LOOKED FABULOUS AND IT STAYED PUT FOR 13 YEARS. SO EXPECT TO BE TIGHT FOR A WHILE. COMPARED TO OTHER DOCTORS, HE IS STILL ONE OF THE BEST.

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UPDATED FROM 2678anon

FINAL RESULTS VERY GOOD

2678anonDecember 14, 2024
A LITTLE ASYMMETRY BUT IT RESOLVED IN THE END, RESULTS LASTED A LONG TIME, I WISH HE HAD MORE PATIENCE WITH EAR LOBES AND SCARS, AND SUTURES, BUT ALL IN ALL I RECOMMEND THIS DOCTOR. I SUGGEST HE HAS SOME SECOND DOC TO HELP WITH SUTURES AND MAKE THEM LESS VISIBLE.

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