Blepharoplasty, Facelift, Necklift & Fat Transfer to Malar.

I am really enjoying my rejuvenated morale following facial rejuvenation procedures with Mr. Howard Webster! After my first appointment I started using Retin-A and was amazed one morning by the silky texture of my skin - as though every microscopic undulation had been ironed out! Just prior to surgery I received a voucher for a microdermabrasion and face massage. After surgery I complied with all Howard's advice and despite the expected swelling and feeling tired for a few days I actually found this to be a quite peaceful time with daily improvements and an uneventful recovery. I discontinued pain medication after 5 days, went without sunglasses (and compression bandage!) to a café for lunch with friends after 3 weeks then babysat grandchildren and tied back my hair, albeit with straggly strands behind my ears after just 4 weeks. I have received many heart-warming compliments and I am very grateful that at the time of making my decision I already knew Mr. Webster, his fellow bedside-brilliant anaesthetist and his warm-natured professional support team because when the time arrived, it hit me like a ton of bricks!

In appreciation of all I have learnt from Real Self contributors I can share that when I walked away from a mirror and out of the room, the sequence of my emotional responses made me realise I needed to consider my motivation for seeking this surgery. I understood feeling sad was normal and I knew why I felt indignant but I didn't understand why I felt defeated and even worse, why I then felt momentarily lost - I definitely needed to 'phone a friend'! My expense wasn't negotiable and my decision was irrevocable, and within 5 minutes I had requested an appointment with Howard. I then left home to have the coffee with friends!
I knew my indignation was fuelled by the asymmetric consequences of Poland anomaly; and to bare all, I briefly resented being brought to live 'under the harsh Australian sun' when I am genetically coded to live in England, because this also meant I was denied my extended family. But, given that millions live with far worse, this didn't account for my sense of defeat. Discussions with Howard revealed that overall, people seeking this surgery tend to be more extrovert; and when I expressed concern about how this surgery may impact upon my social group norms he rekindled my awareness of being true to oneself. Ah ha, many years ago I completed the Myer Briggs inventory twice as academic exercises and for what it may or may not be worth, I classify as extrovert. I then recalled times when I had not been true to myself; by forfeiting opportunities that involved wearing revealing costumes and by steering away from more expressive necklines and sleeveless clothing which I had wanted to wear to express my femininity and relative extroversion. So I think my sense of defeat was more about prolonged frustration of extroversion rather than about disappointment over not wearing desired clothing per se, and maybe feeling lost was my unfamiliarity with feeling defeat. I enquired about breast reconstruction after having my children but I felt no rapport with the surgeon and life was busy and otherwise great so I didn't persevere. However, a few years ago I needed breast reconstruction and Howard's interpersonal and surgical skills made it very easy for this conflict to be resolved. On this occasion, his responses to my enquiries helped me to understand that my overly emotional 'I am not tolerating this' response was an intuitive and well-justified decision to exercise control over how I express my physical self. Hence, I went peacefully to theatre, recovered beautifully and now I even like mirrors! Thanks heaps Howard!

PS: Initially my husband was incredulous that I would subject myself to this surgery. However, he understood my rationale, said the cost wasn't an issue and that he didn't need to know - our first significant cost secret! So I feel it wouldn't be right to publish it in this forum, other than to report it was definitely worth it but that I would have preferred to stay overnight with the calmer ambience at Linley Clinic.