John Tate, MD

Pre surgery visit was to the point, with all questions answered. Dr John Tate reported he averages one lift a week. This week he has three. He did is fellowship in plastics. His primary practice is ENT in Lebanon Tennessee (approx 30 mins from downtown Nashville).Pre surgery visit was to the point, with all questions answered. Dr John Tate reported he averages one lift a week. This week he has three. He did is fellowship in plastics. His primary practice ENT in Lebanon Tennessee (approx 30 mins from downtown Nashville)

He gives his patients oral meds for local, then numbing shots in face/neck. I'm nervous about this portion of the procedure. Staff today reminded me that I should be either asleep or very drowsy when it's time for shots. I vote asleep, but we will see how my body responds to meds. Post op, I'm just worried about pain. I hear some have a lot and some have none. I've been taking arnica pills pre op and will don't post op. I was told it's about a two hour procedure.

I'm in mid cycle, which means my face is at its prettiest, with no puffiness from PMS. During PMS my jowels are more pronounced and the whole jaw line is worse. I would love to walk past a mirror and see the person I remember myself looking like vs the stranger I see now. It will boost my confidence and self esteem level to have these issues addressed. Staff report photos on his web page and wall in clinic are from his own patients and his work. They are all very pronounced in visual change and I hope to get the same awesome results.

Dr Tate gives his patients oral meds for local, then numbing shots in face/neck. I'm nervous about this portion of the procedure. Staff today reminded me that I should be either asleep or very drowsy when it's time for shots. I vote asleep, but we will see how my body responds to oral meds. Post op, I'm just worried about pain. I hear some have a lot and some have none. I've been taking arnica pills pre op and will don't post op. I was told it's about a two hour procedure.

I'm in mid cycle, which means my face is at its prettiest, with no puffiness from PMS. During PMS my jowels are more pronounced and the whole jaw line is worse. I would love to walk past a mirror and see the person I remember myself looking like vs the stranger I see now. It will boost my confidence and self esteem level to have these issues addressed.

I will report follow up tomorrow evening post surgery with photos.

Updated on 26 Feb 2015:
9 hours post op with pain level 8/10. Can barely think straight or talk because if pain. My ears hurt the worse. They feel like they are shoved into head from tight bandage. Bandage on my chin hurt after surgery for same reasons.

I'm double dose of pain meds because too weak otherwise. OCH

Updated on 27 Feb 2015:
Pain level down from yesterday and last night. One ear still feels like it's been bent over and bandage put on it. The other ear is just uncomfortable.

I have TMJ that rarely ever acts up. The wrap has my jaw slightly shoved back out of normal position and it was uncomfortable yesterday but about a 5/10 pain right now. I can only open my teeth about 1/2 inch. Not a problem being I have been drinking two vegetable smoothies a day for a few weeks. But if you have TMJ, mention it to your dr. I did not think to. I also think having jaw in this position so long made it tighter and clamp into position. I have an appointment to get wrapped changed by DR in 3 hours. I'm sure it will go away in a few hours after that with massage.

The bandage he stated he would replace it with is tight but not as tight as bandage first 24 hours.

On a funny note, I don't recall my post I typed 9 hours post surgery above. I do recall clearly the pain. Dr was going to prescribe me Percocet. It's a common one post surgery. I had it before and it made me sick. So I asked for a different one. He gave me 15 pills of hydrocodone that has Tylenol in it. I was only suppose to take one every four hours with extra Tylenol if needed. I called office to tell them about pain and I was going to take two instead of one. They were ok with that. They were not ok that I took top layer of ACE bandage off. If an individual is in max amount of pain, they do stupid things. So if you have this surgery, talk to your dr about two pills instead of one in advanced. I put it back on in less than 30 mins. Which was about the time it took the second pain pill to start kicking in. It's been 5 hours since a pill so I'm going to take one now to see if it's enough, wait 45 mins and take another if needed. I'm hoping not, because want to be fully alert to office visit at 2.

Photo taken 24 hours post surgery. Not much swelling that I can tell. I have an electric bed and slept sitting up but reclined.

Updated on 27 Feb 2015:
I should have posted these photos two post ago but forgot. These were taken at Dr office. You can see his handy art work on my face. You can see my face before and after numbing shots. I'm chicken of needles so that part was way up there on the UN-FUN scale. I was wide awake and feeling it. Not sure if anyway around that. It was obviously doable and was over within about 5 mins. Come on fellow needle chickens, we can handle 5 mins of unpleasantness. That was worst part of the procedure and five mins out of a few hours is ok in my book.

I feel like I should defend my looks because almost all these photos of me are not pretty and not what I tend to look like. Lighting and makeup makes big changes in me. So for vanity reasons only, I'm adding four photos taken within two months prior to surgery. Notice none are side views and smiles in everyone. I look older without smiling. I heavy smile likes because I smile a lot.

Updated on 27 Feb 2015:
On way to car I picked up the baby to carry down steps. My mother fussed at me and said I was not suppose to do that. I asked staff and they confirmed mom was right. No picking up babies or anything for at least a week. While I got this get out of jail free card for not lifting babies, I'm going to enjoy the rest, get up and play with kids and get a nap again. Yeah me, right?

Great news for me. A lot of my pain was TMJ related. I felt better in my jaw once bandage was removed. It still hurts but not as bad. I can open my mouth now to stick out my tounge. Would not be able to take a bite of a banana or an apple without cutting it up. I have every confidence it will keep getting better.

The new face band does not offer nearly the support, and feels better on than off minus the pressure on TMJ joint. It is more comfortable for my ears and only puts mild pressure on the TMJ joint. TMJ pain was just an unforeseen issue but it's minor issue to contend with considering long term benefits of getting my jaw back. I go back Thursday to have stitches removed. Dr Tate gave me another prescription for pain meds but asked me to hold off in filling in case I don't need them. Again, more of a TMJ issue and how it will respond to band pressing on it. With new head band, the jaw is still slightly pushed out of position. Hoping ibuprofen will help with that and get off the strong stuff with next two days. Dr said it may work better than stuff he order. I don't care what I take to help it. If smearing peanut butter on it would help, I would try it.

Dr Tate and nurses were satisfied with results. I was trying to keep a straight face as they were tag teaming praise and cheer how wonderful I look. I could not see myself, but my insides was bursting in laughter at how hideous I must have looked. Look at the pics with this post and giggle yourself. Might as well have a little fun with it. Bruising is just around neck area. Nurse at Dr office took photos on my cell phone that are posted 27 hours after surgery. I'm not taking the head wrap off until tonight to put Vaseline on sutures. Sunday I can gently wash my hair.

On a complete different note, the lady at the front desk has the prettiest skin. She does imaging consulting and makeup training. I've heard about those types of people on tv and in the news but never meet one. So there you go. In our own Lebanon TN we have an imagine consultant. Swanky.

Updated on 28 Feb 2015:
Yesterday my TMJ was hurting very bad. I was told ibuprofen would work best for that type of pain. Being the genius I am, decided to skip prescription pain meds and only take ibuprofen. That worked just splendid until an hour past the time my normal schedule was due. I was in a world of hurt (self induced). So I paid my stupid tax for about an hour or longer until prescription meds in my system. So now on taking both and had no problems. Still can't open my mouth much but I can at least open enough to eat oatmeal with a spoon. TMJ joint is not as sore. I awaken last night in discomfort and noticed I was clamping down on teeth. I worked my teeth guard in my mouth but could not open molar area enough to wear it. I've been taking my fingers and gently opening and closing my teeth to stretch out the TMJ. Gives me something to pass time. It is not a big issue in my world. Just something note worthy to fellow TMJ people that you will have minor inconvenience, unless your a drama queen then don't get the awesome surgery if you can't deal with temporary lock jaw. I can totally see some people blaming it on the doctor who is not responsible for pre existing conditions that might get exacerbated.

Overall pain level with meds is about 4/10 but 3/10 if I have my head supported and not moving around. I'm taking pills every 6 to 7 hours apart with max strength ibuprofen on the 5 the or six hour.

Swelling has improved. I was not going to take off my head wrap till Sunday (tomorrow) when it's time to wash my hair. But I was feeling icky like I should change my dressing and mild itching at suture site. So good time to put a layer of Vaseline to help. My spouse helped me and took a few photos before putting my beautiful head wrap on. Look, I have a jaw so happy about that. What I'm not so happy about is it looks like sutures on my forehead are outside of my hair line. I talked to Dr Tate on day of consult and day of surgery that I scar easy and he assured me the suture would be up in hairline out of view. If he did otherwise than what he told me, everyone will see the scar and know I had work done. Regardless of it being a tattle tail scar, no one wants a scar on their face that could have be avoided. That's my only concern and I could not tell very well because my husband was ready to get the dressing, gauze, and wrapback on quick. I'm super happy there is jaw line and no swag. Yeah!!! Dr Tate did excellent work there as can be seen in pics.

Updated on 1 Mar 2015:
See previous comment about two different conversations with doctor about NOT putting incision in front of my hair line or in the hair fuzz of my hairline. His assistant said he would not and he said he would not. These photos suggest otherwise. I'm praying, crossing my fingers and doing hoping the scar will not show like every other incision scar from surgery. If so, it's going to be very obvious and I will no longer be able to have short haircut or grow hair out and pull it back without the "Hey I had face work scar ". If that's the case, might as well state my real name and post it on my social media account. Mom who is taking care of kids when my husband is not home and when he is home too is supportive and says just wait and see. Maybe skin on different part of your body will respond differently to incision site.

On plus side, everything else looks perfect and can't imagine better results from any other doctor (minus incision where he said it would not be). I told Dr Tate and nurses I was writing a review with photos, so I'm actually extremely surprised this happen. I go back Thursday and will update their response. The staff has called past three days to check on me and address any concerns. I was asked to call with any concerns at any time, but I'm simply not in the mindset to ask why the incision was made where I was told it would not be, and why it was not mentioned post surgery that change from original plan took place. Today after shower is first time I seen the incision. Just almost speechless.

Updated on 4 Mar 2015:
TMJ much better. I can open my mouth slightly more than half way. Pain behind ears kept me up most of last night. I took two pain pills and it did nothing to help the pain. So No point in taking them. Stitches removed today and face feels much better. There is still a few open areas that have not closed. Not open enough to put in stitch or leave a stich. Best I can describe my left ear is road rash. Looks nasty where not healed/closed. I'm not sure what to call it. But it's uncomfortable. I certainly not ready to sleep on my sides yet and it's uncomfortable sleeping on my back for so long. I still have head of my bed reclined (electric bed).

If you look at my photos I do have a little bit of a pixie ear on one side (ear lobe sewn to face at bottom edge). I'm not sure if it bothers me enough to have surgery to fix it. Right now I just want to heal around my ears. They are uncomfortable and don't respond to pain meds, so pointless to take them. I also have no idea how much it would cost to get it fixed. I did not notice it until today that both lobes are different.

I talked with Dr Tate about incision not being in hairline. He said he would not tell any patient that he would cut in the hairline because then you alter the forehead causing the hairline to move back. Hair folicals don't respond well once skin has been lifted. This is why most Drs are cutting at hair line.

If you think about it (if I do), when you pull the skin and cut excess skin away, you have to have a spot to suture it back on. Makes sense. I suggest you being a pen with you and face cleaner supplies and have your doctor draw on your face each place a cut is made. Then make a photo of it. That way everyone is on the same page.

Updated on 5 Mar 2015:
Photos today look better than they did just 14 hours ago, so wanted to repost to reflect that.

With hair pulled back, you can see incision. My fear is that they don't heal like Dr Tate anticipates and they are always visible with my hair pulled back. I'm assuming this is a common emotion those with lifts feel.

Hoping that is swelling and not sagging neck and Jowls I'm seeing in today's pics. My neck line line looked better in previous photos IMHO. Dr Tate did worn to not put too much thought into final outcome this soon post op and I realize that.

Bruise around neck and eyes is a lovely shade of yellow. That's wonderful, means it's going to be gone soon.

Updated on 12 Mar 2015:
Yeah, I'm at my two week mark. No pain, just tenderness when sleeping on my sides (normal). Face is still numb (normal) but I feel a tad of improvement each day. Bruising is almost all gone but in a few places. Easily can be covered with shirt and makeup (normal). I'm very hopeful that Dr Tate is right about incisions on front of face not going to show with time without "looking for them". Still up in air about behind my ears and hairline. I'm not stressed about it like I was. I am resolved that if it shows, it shows. I still believe that each individual heals differently and I knew before hand I scar easy. That has zero to do with any doctor. I don't have full range of motion of my neck. I'm not sure if that is due to sweeping or just all that area has been pulled. I'm afraid of popping a stitch. I will talk to doctor about if I'm being over protective or if I need to do gentle stretches. My skin has slight rippling around front of left ear, but that could be swelling.

My jaw line is not as pronounced as the ones on Dr Tates web page. That may be due to swelling also. I'm crossing my fingers on it. If not, I may save up for lipo. It will have to take a back seat to the LASIK eye surgery my husband and I are starting to save for.

I had someone take my outside photos but most are a little blurred. So I took inside photos which are more clear. You can clearly see great progress in the healing.

We were with a group of 9 family members this weekend and no one noticed. If they did, they did not say anything. Overall, I'm doing a happy dance that I appear younger. The staff at Dr Tate's Medispa sent me some thank you gift cards. It's a marking thing to get hooked on their services, which would be say to do. I'm going to hold off on using them to see which service I want to invest in, be it makeup class, a snazzy skin product, or style consult. So many options.

Updated on 25 May 2016:
Just letting everyone know my photos were stolen from this post and used in a world wide advertisement campaign for facecream stating you can get these results with this facecream. You can imagine my horror when I found out. This was not a one time thing. The ad has been posted all over FB and in Shape Magazine online. The ad starts out with a photo of Dr. Oz, but as you scroll down you see me and the photos from this post of my before and after mini facelift. Creams can't do that, only sagging skin being cut away.