I am 50 years old and feel that I am in great physical shape for my age. However I grew up in the sun and due to the amount of exercise I do I feel that my skin has suffered and I am starting to look 'older' and tired in the face which I don't like! Over the years I have done botox and some filler but feel that this is no longer working as I am starting to have prominent jowls and my eyelids are tenting. Also fillers don't last and end up costing money constantly. I've been wondering (hence 'wonderwoman' name) about having some work done for a couple of years but have been too scared. This website really helped me to make the decision as it allowed me to see what is involved and what the outcome can be. I did a lot of research over the course of about a year and consulted 5 different surgeons. The last surgeon was Dr C. Although there were 2 other surgeons I would also have chosen in my area Dr Coundouriotis was the most thorough in his approach. He immediately began to touch my face to feel the elasticity and asked me what I wanted to achieve. He prefers to be conservative in what he does and said that I can always do more later. He gave me his opinion and let me choose what I wanted to have done. We agreed that a lower facelift and upper bleph as this would correct what I am unhappy with and not make me look much different. I was sent home with loads of information on what work he does and his whole ethos on plastic surgery and how to stay young looking. Once I had made the decision I was quite excited as the whole process of trying to find a Dr was overwhelming and mind boggling! It was nice to know I had founds someone who I could trust. Dr C's office staff and nurses are fabulous and very friendly. They provided me with loads of instructions and arranged for 4 massage sessions before and after the surgery for lymphatic drainage. I was offered to stay at the surgery for the night of the op with a nurse for and extra $500 but I opted to stay at home and have my nurse come to visit me at home after the op to see if I was ok at no extra cost. Not many other surgeons offered this service and I thought it very helpful incase I was worried about anything. Below are my notes from before the procedure that I want to share and bring me up to date. DAY BEFORE THE PROCEDURE Not really feeling nervous, just a little excited at times. Just want to get it over with. I'm not worrying about the procedure - only that I don't talk too much during it or move around to make it difficult for Dr. C! The only thing I am dreading is the healing process as everyone is different and whilst I see some women have no pain at all I won't really know until I am going through it! D-DAY DAY OF PROCEDURE I arrived early and was greeted by the nurse at 7:45. I was asked to change and given somewhere to put my things. The anaesthetist immediately introduced himself and put me at ease which was helpful as I was starting to feel a little nervous at this point. When the anaesthetist put the catheter in my hand I did feel a bit faint but the nurse quickly helped me to overcome this. I think its the rubber band that they use to get a vein as this has happened once before. Once in the OR I was given a couple 'martinis' as the anaesthetist put it and I must have gone to sleep pretty quickly as I don't really remember much at all. I know I was vaguely awake at times but I didn't feel anything. At first it was a little difficult to see but the nurse warned me of this beforehand so I wasn't worried. They took wonderful care of me over the next 30 min or so whilst they were clearing up and then I had some applesauce and water - nice and easy to eat! They then told me my husband had arrived and was speaking with the surgeon. Even tho I wasn't in any pain I took a pain killer when I went home after having some soup for lunch. After a nice nap I spent the rest of the afternoon propped up watching television and icing my eyes every hour. I know this is a long story but I found some of the blogs really helpful in knowing what to expect and what to do after a surgery like mine. All in all the surgery was exactly what I expected. Hopefully the rest of my recovery will be similar. DAY 1 AFTER THE PROCEDURE I slept ok but had to take some painkillers in the middle of the night as my neck and ear area was uncomfortable. The pain felt like when you sleep on a bent earlobe. I can't see a lot of change in my face or eyes - no more or less swollen. I did have a mole under my nose zapped and that is proving to be itchy! I have an appointment today to get the bandages off and I can't wait!! Will post after that.
Dr. C was very patient with every concern I had, he spent ample time with me and answered every question with very fine detail. Both my patient coordinator and his staff of nurses were very friendly, even checking up over the weekend. I am thrilled with my results. I would recommend Dr. C to everyone, don't trust your face to anyone else.
Dr Coundouriotis is excellent. The procedure was fast with minimum pain . Post procedure I experienced only minimal pain that lasted 3 days with no bruising or redness. Very happy with the 1st procedure results. Youthful facial volume and fullness were immediately restored. I choose sculptra because is the only procedure available to stimulate collagen production.
Two days after the procedure, I was presentable in public and only two weeks after, looked like I hadn't had surgery (except 10 years younger).
I have had excellent results with this product and I have to chuckle when I read bad revues from patients that have received thie treatments from dentists, dermatologist and spas. If you want good results go to a facial plastice surgeon with lots of experience. Don't blame the product if you picked the wrong provider.
i have been to r C about 4 times. His approach is kind and friendly, he tries not to sell you a lot of stuff but would strongly recommend a mini lift if you kind of express an interest in one, then make you feel that after all, maybe you shouldn't get one. The office is pretty and spacious, leaving enough room for privacy, and most of the staff are courteous. i only went for dermal fillers and botox. i wasn't crazy about the filler on my upper lip the first time, especially that it left the biggest scar i have had in years after such a procedure: a 1 inch blue-black spot *under* my *lower* lip. For some reason (i am no expert), i didn't get the results i got in chicago at the Geldner center where my upper lip appeared fuller and more cushiony from the bottom at the closure, as opposed to having my entire upper area over the lip appear plump - which i think is more meant for women who have lines above their upper lip (i do not have any). Second time i shared my concerns, he did it differently & I got a better result then. i did not find it reassuring to show him the picture of a celebrity and ask him how to get a similar effect, only to see that he wouldn't comment at all on that. i did ask: how does someone with practically no lips like Kylie J end up with such big lips, and he would not comment. A patient asks those questions to have an idea how to be able to have her lips look like a celeb's and get suggestions. It is meant to tell the doctor how you would like your lips to look. But alas, it led nowhere. i had one unfortunate thing happen with them where he started advising me about dark spots and then suddenly stopped altogether and no one would respond to my email inquiry asking about the product he mentioned. it appeared he changed his mind about getting involved in dermatological matters. i found it rude because he was the one who started giving advice about it. But i kept receiving offers from them including on my birthday so i thought i'd go back there. They couldn't give me an appointment until 4 weeks later. The appointment was at 3:30 pm in the very middle of a busy work day during the holiday period which is the busiest for me. i had planned the entire day (and rest of the week) accordingly and asked my assistant to come at a different hour. The day before, i got a call from Amber confirming the appointment. The day of the appointment, i got a call before noon from "Lisa" stating the following, verbatim: "the doctor is having a procedure and he will not be able to see you, the procedure will take longer, we didn't schedule enough time for it. We need to give you a different date". i understood that things happen, humans make mistakes, and expected that a professional office would do its utmost to make it up to you and accommodate you the soonest possible by staying later to see you or changing other appointments or starting earlier etc. i asked when he would be able to see me next, response was, word to word, "not until January". i asked for something earlier and she said they are fully booked. My reply was: "so you are telling me that my appointment booked over a month ago, is gone, withOUT a single apology or respect for my time, and that you care this little about my business that you plan to make me wait another month ?". Response: "it wasn't expected". Did you think she even apologized ? Not only that, the woman is often confused and nervous and never provides a single date without first reading it wrong. This happened at least 3 times with her. She truly does not communicate in a friendly, understanding and compassionate way with patients and tells you about your last minute cancellation as if she was saying "we need your credit card number". At this point, i am sorry but this office has serious management & communication issues, and i will never be back nor would i recommend it to anyone.
Although patients heal differently, downtime is seldom factor with Sculptra. Most of my patients return to work the next day. Patients may have a small amount of bruising and some puffiness after Sculptra injections. Frequently the puffiness actually looks good because it replaces some of the lost volume that we are trying to build up. With the first treatment, I suggest that patients have a weekend or at least have one day where they can be off work if needed. This gives them a chance to see what their appearance will be after the injections. Minor bruising can easily be covered with makeup the next day. Ice packs on the first day help minimize inflammatory swelling. Also taking supplements such as Bromelain after the injections can minimize bruising. It is important to massage the areas of the face where Sculptra has been injected. This should be done several time a day for 3 to 5 minutes for five consecutive days.
Before answering this question I would like to define the term "length" as it relates to the nasal dimensions. When I refer to the length of the nose, I refer to the distance between the tip of the nose and the origin of the nose close to the eyebrows. An upturned nose will appear shorter than a downturned, hooked nose. The distance that the tip of the nose extends out from the face, away from the lower lip, as viewed on profile is called “projection”. Many times we need to increase projection and decrease the length of the nose. This would be with a hooked nose where the tip extends down towards the upper lip. Most of the work involved in changing the length of the nose has to do with cartilaginous changes, both of the septum which give support to the cartilaginous lower part of the nasal bridge as well as the lower lateral cartilages that form the shape and substance of the tip of the nose. If the bony part of the dorsum, higher up, has appropriate dimensions there may be no need for bony work. This minimizing postoperative bruising.
Yes, a broken nose can be reset years after being broken. Typically this requires precisely cutting the nasal bones and also sometimes refining fractured areas that have been repaired by the body. Typically this “repair” is a thickened callus formation and bony overgrowth of the fractured areas. Sometimes this procedure can be challenging. When the nose has been fractured in early adulthood, or in the teenage years, and the patient is looking to repair it in midlife or later, one must consider the other changes that have occurred to the nose since the fracture. These changes come from the aging process, and fit the overall aging of the face. Repositioning the fractures will help the appearance of the nose, but will not restore the appearance of the nose completely to its original state. Other maneuvers, designed to reverse the signs of aging may also be necessary. In this case, it’s important to maintain harmony with the rest of the face.
There are several special considerations for a male facelift. One is the potential for repositioning the patient's beard. As deep tissues are lifted and suspended, and excess skin is removed, it is important to be mindful that the beard is also repositioned. In the neck area, this movement can be behind the ear closer to the postauricular hairline. In the face, it can move the sideburn closer to the ear. The objective is to minimize this movement. For the sideburn area, I like to place the incision in front of the ear splitting the difference between the back border of the sideburn and the tragal cartilage of the ear. At the end of the facelift surgery, this incision becomes the new back border of the sideburn, and once healed is typically inconspicuous. If I'm concerned that there is a lot of skin excess and the sideburn will be thinned too much, I may move this incision further towards the ear. In some situations, it is appropriate to shift the skin in a vertical manner, in which case the beard will not move closer to the ear but instead will move up. For incisions behind the ear, I like to keep a small distance from the postauricular fold to minimize beard hair growth directly in the fold which could make shaving more difficult. Another consideration with male facelifts is that men’s skin is much thicker and robust than women's skin. On one hand this helps men heal faster than women, but on the other hand, male facelift results may not be as dramatic as a female's. Instead male facelifts show as a noticeable "freshening up" in the overall appearance and a more youthful looking face. Because men heal faster, they tend to become active earlier in the recovery phase. That sometimes is a problem if the patient is too physically active during the first week after surgery. To reduce swelling and speed the return to a normal postoperative appearance, it's important to avoid excess activities for 1 to 2 weeks.
