Jaqueline Royce, MD

I have tried every avenue with Dr. Royce to be acknowledged for my procedure and I was road blocked every time. In (about)September ( or august) of 2016 I had a Tummy Tuck with muscle repair. Soon after, goin into post-op appointments I knew that my entire stomach was pulling to one side. I addressed it and she kept saying that I was still swollen and and that’s what it was. Later on at a later date, on another post-op, I brought it up again and she said it was scoliosis!!!!!!! I honestly think she had me on the operating table crooked! In fact, the day of surgery, she showed up late and scribbled on my tummy. Did not make markings, did not makes lines, just rushed me into surgery. She is notorious for being late. Especially to her office visits. Hours late.
So later on, after swelling went down after 6 months, I had a major dog ear and my belly bottom was not in the middle of my body (she said due to scoliosis). She agreed to do “revision” in house, which she charged me $100 to do. She clipped a little skin off and I have no idea what she did to my belly button but it certainly didn’t fix it. For some reason I still trusted her and she brought up that I could benefit from Lipo under my chin! Charged me 800$ to do it during my revision.
Well, that turned out bad too! I have loose skin under my neck like a turkey. She even did Botox at a party in my forehead wrong! I had to go
Somewhere and have someone fix it.
So about 3 years ago I got up enough courage (because I usually just write things off if it doesn’t work out) to write DR. Royce and let her know all of the other consultations I had who said I would have to have another TT to fix, I asked for her fees back (not the surgery center) which was $4300. She ignored me and sent the letter to her lawyer and then her insurance company who also did nothing.
I didn’t know it then, but now that I have done research and looked into other PS’s. I can honestly say this woman does not care. She did not guide me through the process. It felt like her mind was elsewhere all the time. She is pleasant but that’s about it. I do not trust her.
Next month, I am getting my neck fixed and 3 months later I am trying to have my stomach fixed. All with money that I have been saving because she did not help me fix this at all.

25th January 2022.
I have started the journey to have cosmetic surgery done. I have been looking at doing it for a few years now and even contemplated having it done in Costa Rica. I had seen a surgeon there who was US certified and they do have competitive prices but I ended up deciding to have it done locally where I could be at home and felt more secure about everything.
I started out looking at various surgeons here and when making enquiries found some places were all about the money and yet others having a nice demeanor.
I ended up making a decision with Royce Plastic Surgery - Dr Royce. She is a lovely lady that will spend as much time as you need answering any questions and explain everything. I felt very comfortable with her.
In deciding what I wanted done came down to what concerned me most and also how much I could afford. I only wanted to have this done once so I wanted to make sure I was making the right decisions. I decided to have a full face lift which Dr Royce said would address the sides of my eyebrows and lift them by incisions in my scalp in the hair, then she explained that she does incisions at the ear area to pull the face up and also incisions in the back of the scalp to lift the neck area. She is also doing a SMAS transfer to the sides of my mouth to lessen what is called the marionette lines, and following that I am having an upper blepharoplasty. With all of this I am hoping I will look 10 years younger!!!
The date of my surgery is this coming Monday 7th February. I need to be at the Manatee Surgical Center at 6.30am and have organized for a friend to take me. I have already been to have the pre op visit where everything was explained to me about the process, foods, vitamins, pills etc to avoid, how to dress and the follow up. A few days before surgery I am to pick up meds they will have ready for me. I also need to get thigh high anti embolism stockings and Arnica Montana for the healing process. As an additional service Dr Royce is providing me with a nurse for the first 24 hours who will bring me home and watch over me in that time. It really makes a big difference and a relief to me knowing I will have that support.
Being honest I am anxious about it all but I have committed to it all now and need to move forward with it.
I am posting photos of myself before surgery. I will do my best to continue to do follow up photos etc with the progress after. I have been told that it will be 2 to 3 weeks until I will start to look okay, 2 months before it looks better and 6 months for it to be fully recovered from swelling etc.

Updated on 9 Feb 2022:
Day one and two - I checked in at 6.30am at the Manatee Surgical Center. I was taken into the pre op room where I was prepared for my procedure. Dr Royce came to see me before I went into surgery and marked on my face the various areas she was going to address. I had a drip attached and next I remamber waking up with a bad headache. The procedures took 6 hours. I was kept for observation for about 1 1/2 hours. My nurse Alisia was there to pick me up and drive me home. I went straight to bed when I got home and all I wanted to do was sleep. My nurse keptt up giving me ice packs which on the thiick padding didn't seem to do very much but the wet pads and ice for my eyes were soothing. Although my eyes looked badly bruised, they look worse than they felt. I do bruise easy. I did take pain meds every 4 to 6 hours and I drank a lot of fluids. My nurse left in the morning. Overall the first night went well and the worse discomfort was the drainage tubes at the back of my head thatI had to sleep on.
Day two - I had an appointment at the doctor office at 3pm. They proceeded to take out the drainage tubes whicch did hurt, sting. They took off my dressing and cleaned the area as shown and put on a less bulky dressing. All in all it all looks good other than the swelling around my eyes. I wear this dressing until Friday when I can have my first shower and wash my hair. Following that I wear a support dressing. Following the change of dressing I was feeling more discomfort than before overnight.
Overall so far I feel things have gone better than I expected. I have slept a lot which is good. I have to keep talking and any chewing to a minimum as it does end up hurting you. The less you move is also good but not forgetting to keep your circulation going. Also plenty of fluids.

Updated on 11 Feb 2022:
Day 4 to 5.
I have been improving every day. My bruising around my eyes is lessening. I have stopped taking pain meds other than Tylenol the last 2 mornings from back ache sleeping in the same position during the night on my back. My ears have been a little swollen and a little sore from any pressure due to the stitches being behind and inside my ears. Still eating soft foods until Sunday. Had my first shower today and able to wash my hair. Great feeling. Replaced the bandages with a removable face support. I am happy with my progress. My neighbors have been wonderful being there for me and giving me a bunch of support. Next Doctors appointment is next Wednesday when I will get some sutures out.

Updated on 16 Feb 2022:
Day Nine.
Today I had an appointment to get my stitches and some staples out. To date I have been getting better every day. The bruising is a lot less and so is the swelling. No pain meds for a week now. The only negatives are that my ears have still been sensitive to pressure and I am constantly lifting the support to ease it and my back is sore when I wake up each day also from sleeping in the same position. The sides of my face are still numb but expected for a while yet. All is all good progress.
I was apprehensive getting the sutures out and the staples but it was not as bad as I had thought. They took the sutures out from my eyes, the front and the inside of my ears. The staples they took about every 3rd one out and will take out more next week with my follow up appointment. (I would have had about 50 sutures and around 175 staples in total according to my doctor.) It does ease some of the pressure. I was told still to take the Arnica Montana tablets - 5 of them 3 times a day, still do cold compresses to my eyes, use the antibiotic ointment on my lesions once a day and continue to wear the face support at least until the 25th and then every night and when driving for a following week or so.

Updated on 19 Feb 2022:
Day 13
Progressing a long well. The bruising is going down a lot but there is still swelling to be expected. My ears are still sensitive every day. They are swollen but again to be expected since they had sutures in the front, back and inside of the ear. I still use ice packs and cold compresses at night to help.
My ears are partially numb and the sides of my face are also numb. I am told the feeling will come back over time.
My only concerns to date are that the SMAS was to be put on both sides of my mouth for the marionette lines. It is clear one side is done as there is bruising and no line but the right side of my mouth looks the same as before. I did discuss this with Dr Royce but she assured me she had done it and to wait util the swelling goes. I also told her I was concerned about the scarring at the top sides of my head showing as my hair is fine and thin in that area. She assured me that this would not show either. Time will tell.

Updated on 22 Feb 2022:
Day 16
It has been relentless the pressure on my ears and discomfort. The face support is not comfortable at all. I have noticed the last few days that my face seems a little more swollen and last night I saw a small area of infection on the side of my head near the staples. I feel disheartened as I expected a faster recovery than I am at.
Today I had a follow up appointment with Dr Royce. She said infections can happen at times and prescribed me some antibiotics. She removed all of my sutures inside my ears and behind and took out all but a couple of the staples that are near the infected area. This time I must admit it hurt at times and I did get upset and light headed. Some areas were more sensitive than others. I am so glad they are out! She said I was progressing well.
My face is still numb on the sides of my face and parts of my ears. I was told that it can take up to 2 months to get feeling back.
I now only have to wear my face support when going to bed each night.. yippee.. I can now walk my dog and go for walks, use makeup to cover the little bruising I have and can start taking my multi vitamins and fish oil that was not allowed before. Freedom!!!
My next appointment is for next Tuesday..

Updated on 2 Mar 2022:
Day 23
Another follow up at the Doctors. Today I had the remaining staples removed. I still have the infected area so I was prescribed another week of antibiotics and a prescription cream to apply.
I can now wear makeup but not eyeshadow. I do not have to wear the face support any longer. I can blow dry my hair on a low heat, however I am hesitant about doing that because of all of the scabs remaining.
I did go out this week to go shopping - groceries and was so excited to finally get out. I did cover up my head with a cap and wore a large face mask so was barely recognizable.. Freedom feels great!
The progress is slower than I had expected and I do get frustrated at times. I have to be patient! Noticeable swelling takes a couple of months to go down and 6 months to see the final outcome. The numbness also can take several months before you get the feeling back.
I have another follow up appointment next week again.

Updated on 29 Mar 2022:
29th March - Just over 7 weeks.
I have not posted for a number of weeks for several reasons. I have not been recovering as well as expected. My progress has been very slow and it has been frustrating and upsetting. Everyone is different.
Some lesions on my right side of my head got infected and I was losing my hair. I have lost about a third of the thickness and where the infected lesions are there is no hair leaving bald areas. Dr Royce has explained that this does not happen very often at all on both counts. The hair loss can be when the body goes into shock from the procedure and I have also been told that anesthetic can do this. The hair generally does grow back but it takes up to 12 months. Where the bald spots are, that is uncertain. I have to wait the 12 months and if it does not grow back Dr Royce has said she will cut out the scar and bring the hair together eliminating the scar.
I still have scabs on the sides of my head, the infection is healing well now. l still have swelliing on my eyes, face and ears and that will still take time. I still have numbness from my cheek bones to my ears. My right ear has swelling as it sticks out a little as there is a raised area behind it. My marionette line on my right side of my mouth has not improved to date either. I am using Silica to treat the scars on my eyes and in front and behind my ears.
On a much more positive note my jowls and neck look great.
Dr Royce has been very supportive to date and has been seeing me on a weekly basis to monitor my progress. I will post again in about another month.

Updated on 13 May 2022:
13 Weeks Post Op
It was only just over a week ago that my scabs on the side of my head finally healed. It has been a long road. My scars are still seen visibly so I wear a head band when I go out as I am very self conscious of them.
Dr Royce has been very supportive and has started a laser heat treatment for a few weeks to stimulate my hair growth. I have been seeing her on a weekly basis mostly, other than when I was out of town for a few weeks. I have still been losing my hair but not as much as before. My hair now is very thin. Where my scarring is the hair has just started to grow so here is hoping that I get my full head of hair back. It can take up to 12 months.
This week I had Juvederm filler on the marionette lines which I still had after the surgery and above my lips which I will show later after the swelling and bruising pass.
I am using Siligen daily to fade my scars on my eyes and the front and back of my ears which appears to help.
I am very happy with my neck and jowls but am still waiting to see the final results of my eyes as they still feel tight and I need to be able to see my eye lids which was the purpose of the full face lift and upper bleph.
I still have numbness around my face from the cheek bones back to my ears. I have more feeling on my left side than my right but they are at the prickly stages where the feeling is coming back slowly. I still have a recurring scab at the back of my head from where the tube was and hope that heals soon. It will be a joy when I can feel it normal again.
I am keeping positive and looking forward when I can feel normal and be seen without a head band etc and can color my hair. Till next time..

Updated on 21 Jun 2022:
Its been a long road to get here but finally this month I have been able to not have to wear a head band to hide my scars. The scars are still there and my hair is slowly growing and the scars are not as visible.
The head band was actually breaking my hair in places so my hair is still pretty fragile. Dr Royce did several laser heat treatments to promote circulation at my scar areas and I am taking extra strength Hair, skin and nails vitamins and also Viviscal. I am not sure how the Viviscal is yet as it takes about 3 months before you see results. It is suppose to promote existing hair growth. Here is hoping!!
I had filler put around my lips and to the right side of my mouth where my marionette lines were. I am happy with the result but sorry that it won't be permanent. Overall I am very happy with my face and neck but still a little disappointed with my eyes. They do look better than they did though.
Dr Royce has been wonderful during this whole process and has constantly monitored my progress. I am very happy with the service received.

Updated on 8 Feb 2023:
Its been a full year now since I had my facelift so I thought it was time to do a follow up.
Dr Royce has monitored me the entire time with my progress and recovery. She is a very caring Doctor making sure her patients are happy. The staff are also very nice and very professional.
She did a Juvederm filler about 6 months ago at the sides of my mouth where I had marionette lines and I have been very happy with the results.
I still do not have complete feeling back at the sides of my face from my ears to my chin, my ears and on parts of my head. Dr Royce has assured me that it will return.
On one area where I had the infection at the side of my head, I do have a small bald area where my hair did not grow back. I did lose about a third of the thickness of my hair and also breakage so I have been taking Biotin, Hair, skin and nails vitamins, and shampoo and conditioners to strengthen my hair which I find does help. I find that my hair is growing and I am not losing as much hair as I was before.
My photos show the results now with and without makeup. Although the road to recovery has been challenging, I am mostly happy with the results. I did expect a better result with my eyes, but in hindsight I realize that in order to have got the results I had wanted I would have needed a brow lift.
I have received many compliments saying I do not look my age at 67 so I have achieved what I set out to do.

SMAS procedure performed. Office is crummy and staff is unprofessional.
Located in Sarasota Florida. Doctor is friendly, but I don’t feel she is as capable and competent doing procedures of the face. I think it was a quick buck!