Loved what a difference lifting the brow made to my face. It made my eyes look bigger and no cranky! I combined it with other procedures of a blepharoplasty, septoplasty and CO2. I looked a more beautiful version of myself.
Wow, what a difference the facelift made. I didn't actually look like a different person just like I used to look and how I felt I looked on the inside! Everyone thought I looked good as I had a new boyfriend! No-one suspected a facelift. I love how I look now!
It was my choice to have an Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty in his new rooms. The procedure was relatively quick and done under local. Dr Gerarchi's manner is friendly yet professional. He is certainly a skilled surgeon taking great care to do an excellent job. His stitching is so fine and precise. If you want a great result, you can trust Dr Gerarchi. He is an 'artiste'.
I cannot recommend Dr Gerarchi enough! I was one of those patients that had a thousand questions/concerns written down each consult before and after surgery & Dr Gerarchi answered each and every one of them which made me feel calm and that I had made the right decision in surgeons. I am 10 months post op now and could'nt be happier and more confident with my nose/appearance! To finally have people say to me, 'You have a cute nose' is something that I've never heard in 25 years and Dr Gerarchi made that happen!!
Hi lovely realself members. I'm writing this here because I have decided not to tell anyone at all about my surgery. I am scheduled for surgery (full facelift, with fat grafting) in 3 weeks now and I am both very excited and very nervous. I am 56 years old, and like many up until 2 years ago had aged very well. It just seemed after that time my face became hollow and droopy...suddenly. I still have my occasional "good days" but they are few and far between...that is what aging is like, mostly, I think, the "good days" become fewer and further between. Anyway, 2 years ago I really started to notice jowling and the changing shape of my face from heart shaped to square, from looking mostly pleasant, to looking mostly tired. This in turn affected my confidence and I have noticed that I no longer enjoy socialising the way I used to. Aging is ok, looking tired and grumpy is not! 2 years ago I had 2 each side (4) sillhouette soft threads put in my face, I knew at the time it was a short term thing but I was really so depressed about how I looked, and this did give me a noticable improvement which lasted about a year. For the money, though, if you are considering threads I would say if you can save the money and get a full lift. I also had some voluma to my cheeks and that has held up well, worth the investment. I would have had the facelift then if I could have, but I did not have the available time or $ to go ahead. I am so very very grateful that now I do. I have kept it all a secret and will continue to do so as I have found people love to gossip and also can be very judgmental. About ten years ago I said to my sister (who spends on expensive skin care, teeth straightening, and is a retired ICU nurse) that when the time came I would get a lift. Her response was - that she would laugh at me. Even the GP doctor I got my referral from was judgemental about my decision and the money I was spending on it. I'm sure if it had been a car nothing would have been said! I guess I am writing this because although I feel very sure about my decision it is a bit of a lonely decision - when you think that people who know you would think it was crazy if they knew....but I know people who spend and spend renovating their houses and buying fancy cars and yet do nothing about their face....this I cannot understand! Each to their own I guess. I will update as I go. Will also post some pics if I get brave enough. Thanks for reading. :) ps: Dr Gerarchi is very easy to talk to and extremely thorough. There was no hard sell and he listened to exactly what my concerns were. Updated on 1 Aug 2018: So excited but so nervous too... I had ulthera six months ago and am posting some pics. It was not right for me. While I can see it lifted under my chin a bit, it also made the skin a lot more " stringy" . I keep thinking about all the reasons that bring us to this point, of going under the knife. The loss of identity that aging brings. And the social isolation. And how wonderful it is to be able to do something about it. Updated on 1 Aug 2018: Updated on 4 Aug 2018: Only 2 weeks to go now...does not seem that long ago I was booking the surgery, June 18th. I'm finding my attention span is all over the place,..going to work, etc but every spare minute I'm reading reviews and looking at photos of facelifts. It's become an obsession! On the one hand I can't wait and on the other hand I'm so nervous. I have even lost interest in food...! It just feels like everything in my life, is on hold until I'm through and out the other side. I have a work do and conference next week and while I wish that I had my new face to show off in a way it is good to be busy. So sure about my decision and yet I find I'm waking up in the mornings with the question in my head "am I really doing this?" Its a sort of "is it that time already?" kind of a feeling. Doesn't seem that long ago that I was thinking of a facelift some time in the distant future. Well, now the time has come. Like a lot of us in mid life too Ive had close friends and family diagnosed or dealing with forms of serious illness and cancer...this does make what I am doing feel rather superficial but also reinforces how important it is to enjoy and appreciate life - and feeling good about yourself is a part of all of that, a big part. I had my hair cut yesterday and highlights added. I won't go again until after surgery. I told my hairdresser ( a lovely 30 yr old frenchman) about my surgery and he was SO lovely and excited for me. He told me all about his mother in France who had bariatric surgery and lost such a lot of weight and how she was now getting a body lift and then would be looking into a facelift. He said "more people have it than you think....we hairdressers can often see"...which made me smile. Like others on here I have been so shocked with the rapid onset of aging post menopause. I was one of those young looking for my age people too....and I somehow thought that sunblock and eating well would mean I could keep it that way. I am on a very low dose HRT, and maybe because of that did not notice much until about 2 years after menopause. Then it was as if one week I woke up and couldnt get myself to look right. It felt like you feel when you just look off after an illness or stressful time, but no, my face had visibly sagged it seems overnight. I did as I mentioned get 2 each side sillhouette soft threads. That held things off for around a year. It wasnt a dramatic fix but it did stop me feeling completely miserable. Having said that, the threading is not really "lunchtime" at all...I had to sleep on my back for weeks as you can't put stress on the threads, and the whole face has actually been slightly repositioned and so there is a lot of healing underneath that has to happen. I am signing my consent forms today and next week go for my pre op tests. Wedge Pillow ordered, and Wendy the practice manager has a wonderful pack I will pick up with all the necessary medications as well as Arnica and Bromelien. Just hoping this next two weeks go quickly.. Its winter here now and I'm thinking in my optimistic moments how lovely it will be going into Spring and Summer with a fresh face and no crumply neck. :) :) Updated on 6 Aug 2018: in case there was any doubt surgery was a good idea....getting pre op test this week. can't wait for the date, seems like my neck is getting worse daily! Have ordered wedge pillow which should arrive this week. Updated on 7 Aug 2018: Wedge pillow has arrived, and I will go for the blood tests tomorrow morning. Had a work function last night which seems to have freshened the cold I thought I'd finished with. I had a horrible cold and the flu about a month ago, took a while to shake it. I don't mind what happens I just have to be well enough for surgery! I wore some of that "secret lift" tape on my neck last night at the dinner. It made a minimal difference really. Hard to believe I have less than 2 weeks living with this neck . Here's a pic of me 15 years ago. Updated on 11 Aug 2018: Having an ugly day today....just so down about how I look. I spent the afternoon looking at photos from six months ago and realising the damage the ultherapy has caused - hollowing of my lower face and hanging skin. I am wondering if I should do anything about this. I know the facelift is going to correct this but I do at least want to go back to the ultherapy clinic and say something - and perhaps get a refund at least. I know I am aging but it is undeniable that it has given my face a "melted" look. On the upside I've picked up a wonderful pack from the girls at dr gerarchis office, with all of the supplements, dressings, and antibiotics etc I will need! So that's done. I've also had my blood tests and an ecg so hopefully that's all good. Sorry if this is a bit of a whinge, I'm wondering if this obsessiveness about my appearance is somehow related to the anxiety of the op being so close. Only just over a week away and it can't come soon enough. I wonder if I am really looking bad or just now willing to look at the things I don't like because I know they're going to be fixed? Becoming rather self obsessed..... is probably normal I guess. Updated on 11 Aug 2018: It's been six months since my ultherapy treatment and in looking at the photos of before and after I now see why I've been wanting the facelift in earnest the past couple of months. Yes I am aging, but surely not this fast. Photos are six months apart Updated on 14 Aug 2018: Not much to report other than that the days are going very quickly and it's hard to believe this time next week the long wait will be over and I will be "done"! Then it will be a different kind of waiting, but the pre surgery shuffle will be over! Work has been very busy which keeps my mind off it during the day - really this last part of really becoming so self obsessed with my "flaws" , I would prefer to not see anyone but, I think it is good to be busy. I think maybe it's that self consciousness and self obsession with how I look is the one thing I am hoping to leave behind with this surgery. I've just got this week to get thru and then I'll spend the weekend stocking the home with nutritious snacks. I might even get my legs waxed so they don't frighten my surgeon when he goes to harvest some fat :). (It's the middle of winter here). Wonderful to think the wait will soon be over. How long have I been waiting....I think maybe the idea of a facelift occurred to me seriously 16 years ago... when I was forty, a friend of a friend, also forty, a very glamorous hairdresser had a facelift. She didn't really need it, but it did erase that very slight sagging and folds of the early forties.....she looked amazing and I remember then thinking I'd like to have one. Anyway enough rambling! Updated on 19 Aug 2018: Well, only one day left to go....work tomorrow and then surgery Tuesday morning. I've shopped, cleaned the house, done my laundry, got all my pillows and meds, and today I just retouched the roots of my hair a little. I don't feel consciously too anxious but I know I must be because my mind keeps becoming anxious over anything I choose to think about - going over the fact I'm not telling anyone or whether I'll cope on my own here or am I paying too much for the surgery or other unrelated things! All things I've already decided on and resolved. Normally I'm very happy with time to myself cooking or doing something creative but I found I'm unable to concentrate on anything for any length of time, even Netflix! To those of you who travel away from home for surgery I take my hat off to you! I've made my decisions the best way I could and right now there's actually nothing I'd change. The only thing to do now is get through tomorrow, after that it is all in the hands of my doctor. I do hope I'm not going to drive myself insane at home for two weeks, but I think a lot of my restlessness is just going into the unknown. Relaxing here for two weeks while I get better looking sounds pretty good. It's still hard to believe it's really happening. Tomorrow morning I will take the last of my before pics. More soon :). Updated on 21 Aug 2018: Surgery was this morning at 8 and it's 6pm now. Pain and nausea but plenty drugs. Worst thing is this tight dressing I can eat, talk or hear anything. Will come off tomorrow. Staff and doc awesome. More soon. Updated on 21 Aug 2018: I'm home in bed about to take a nap will updat more details later. I've got some epic bruises coming on but I'm in great shape, minimal numbness, no pain and just took a look at the stitches - oh my they are a work of art. I felt terrible yesterday but all the nausea and pain were due to the general anaesthetic. So lovely to be able to take it easy for a few days. I look a sight! But I'm absolutely elated. Updated on 23 Aug 2018: Thought I would add these two just to show these beautifully done incisions in line with my hairline. I'm resting, turning all the colours of the rainbow and swelling - but I don't care! I'm just so happy to have this done, and done so well. I have had one hiccup and that is that my ears have been blocked most of the time since the op. This is very frustrating so I am going in to dr gerarchis office this morning (day 4) and hopefully he can fix them. Feels like fluid, like with a bad cold. Other than that I am enjoying resting, pottering around the house.... I was a little afraid I might get the blues, on my own here, but I haven't felt that way at all. I do tire easily but as far as my mood goes I'm really happy and excited. Oh, and super exciting because this morning I can wash my hair! Updated on 23 Aug 2018: For some reason I could not upload both pics at the same time, this is my right side. There is a bit of fluid underneath just near my ear but dr will see it this morning. No pain to speak of. The red dots near my temples are where the microfat was put. Updated on 24 Aug 2018: These photos are two weeks ago and this morning. The first one is probably the worst photo of myself I had ever seen, I'd had a cold then a flu, was run down with work and felt that I just looked old and worn out. No wonder I didn't t want to leave the house! The second one is this morning, day 5. Amazing that despite the op I've really got my colour back. All the wrinkling of my skin in the lower part of my face really came in the last 3 months, accelerated by the ultherapy which destroyed the fat under my skin. It's amazing how beautiful a little fat can be! Ps, my lips are crooked, always have been. Updated on 26 Aug 2018: I'm now on day six, but I wanted to include a blog about my surgery day, as I know reading other's experiences was so very helpful to me when I was planning my surgery. First of all, I had a facelift, necklift and facial fat graft from my tummy fat under general anaesthetic. After reading a lot of reviews here on Real Self I had gone to my consultation with my dr wanting as most of us do, to save time and money. I was thinking maybe I could have a short scar lift under twilight sedation or something...I was wary of taking the time off work although I did have the leave. Dr Gerarchi made perfect sense....he said plainly that to do the most thorough job a general anaesthetic was best, and that really if I was going to have that I might as well have a complete facelift (not mini or short scar)....because that was what was going to give me the best results, and the longest results. The recovery time would be longer, but it would be worth it. I just at that point realised that I might as well do this properly if at all...enough quick fixes with fillers, threads etc...and so that was that. I had to be at the hospital at 6:30 Tuesday morning, I was on my own so decided to book an Uber, and I was so concerned about the traffic and being late that I ended up being so early...there was not traffic and I had to sit outside the hospital in the morning light for 40 mins before they opened. Never mind! I went in to reception and was admitted and paid my fees. I waited there for a little while and then a lovely nurse came and took me to my own room on the ground floor. I was a little bit cold from waiting outside so she got me another blanket. She then weighed me, had me sign forms that I knew what surgery I was having, and gave me a hospital gown to change into. At around 7:30 she told me I had better change into it as I was first on the list! It still seemed all surreal, but I changed, and got under the covers. The anaesthetist came to visit me...a very nice man,...they are always rather stern though :).....he asked me about my height and weight, etc etc, then he left and an orderly and nurse came to take me upstairs to theatre. They were so lovely and took me in the lift and then got me one of those nice heated blankets so I was feeling very snug...but nervous, too.....once out of the lift it was like being in another world..the serious part of the hospital, where it all happens..I was put into a little waiting area outside the theatre and the theatre nurse came out to introduce herself and check my blood pressure etc again. Then Dr Gerarchi arrived - smiling and excited and this made me happy and excited too. We didnt talk much...he looked at the saggy jowls and neck..pulled them up and then made a few markings with the marker on my face. His manner was happy and relaxed and just inspired confidence in me. After that, he left, and the theatre nurse came in and said "you are walking in there you know"....so here it was, that moment when I got out of the hospital bed and walked through those doors into the theatre. It really is like a theatre, and there is that table, ....it looked so very small and narrow, it could have been frightening but the Anaesthetist started chatting to me about this and that and cooking, while a put myself on the table, and then I was out. I woke up feeling..not pain but there is that sort of awful shock you always have, after a general, of becoming aware of your body again...it doesnt feel good. I did have a headache, and in the recovery room the nurse gave me some endone, which really helped. My head was wrapped up in what felt like a huge ball, and my hearing was incredibly muffled. Later my ears got very blocked...probably because Id had a sinus infection quite recently on top of blood with the operation....if I had my time over Id have my ears syringed before the op...but honestly that was the worst of that wrap...being deaf. My surgeon did come visit toward the end of the day to tell me everything had gone well. They took me back down to my room and I was really woozy ..not really nauseous..just very very weak for the whole day really and didnt eat anything much. I felt so glad to be in the hospital. I cannot imagine getting up and going anywhere after that. I was on the table for four and a half hours and it was the anaesthetic required that really makes the recovery more difficult. I read somewhere mild depression is much more common in patients who undergo full general anaesthetic. I felt awful all day but by about 9pm I started to pick up, and realised that the operation itself had not knocked me around that much...it was the effects of the anaesthetic. I dozed on and off through the night with some codeine and panadol, I was not in any great pain, just very frustrated with being deaf and the dreaded head gear! The painkillers definately calmed me down as the head wrap at times made me feel very claustrophobic, but at no time did I regret or have any fear or "what have I done?" thoughts. The next morning I ate breakfast..., had an appetite, and was desperate to get the head gear off!! Finally a lovely couple of nurses came and carefully removed my drains, and the head dress, and her first remark after the unwrapping was "well, thats neat", which I was very very pleased to hear. I forgot to mention that I was on a drip for the whole time from after the op to discharge, I do think this really helped hydrate and revive me. I actually felt quite good after the headwrap, dressed myself, and after going over all the meds and instructions with a nurse, I left, and caught an Uber home. I was very happy to be be home...so relieved to have it done. I felt like a had the best surgeon and the best of care. I am still waking up in the mornings...when you just wake up and remember something wonderful..its like a gift, every morning, I have had my surgery, it is done. Updated on 26 Aug 2018: I still have two very black eyes from the fat transfer...I do bruise very very easily so not really surprised, I spent over an hour yesterday trying to cover them with makeup but it was not very successful, and I have all this tape on my chin and neck that I cannot remove as yet so there is really no way to go out in public without looking quite shocking...I walked up to the supermarket yesterday and did some shopping but I was very nervous and moody, I felt like people were staring at me though they probably were not, I just wanted to be home. I just want to be home until I can look somewhat normal. I don't mind the healing process, I am just very glad I have my own space and some time to do just that. I am getting my stitches out on Wednesday, and I will be driving too that day, so that's exciting. Updated on 27 Aug 2018: Hi everyone, here is a pic of my stitches on the left side, showing day 2 and day 7. I will get some of the stitches out tomorrow. Going through this facelift journey and watching others - I have realised something, and that is that a lot more people are doing this than admit to it! It's hypocritical of me in a way, but I had a slow realisation over the past few days.....all those celebrities we are encouraged to think are somehow genetically superior and beautiful etc are actually not - they just have access to more plastic surgery. Those stars, I won't name names, in their 50s or even sixties and there will be articles on "how they stay sexy" etc..... it is all a load of rubbish when they talk about their vegan diet, or their good genes, or sunscreen etc. those things help, for sure, but nothing works as well as surgery! It all kind of perpetuates the idea that these non invasive treatments are going to keep us young, because not many ppl admit to surgery, Jennifer Anniston talking lasers and Nicole Kidman once tried Botox - please! There's a demand for the non invasive because we are all short of time - it takes a lot of organising to disappear for a couple of weeks - when older women in the media look amazing and attribute it to non invasive - we all then wonder why it's not working the same for us! I know I'm goin on a bit about it but it's like this big, obvious falsehood that is presented everywhere. Only yesterday I watched an interview with an Australian cosmetic surgeon saying he liked fillers and he didn't like facelifts - really?! The problem is there is so much money to be made. I remember ages ago reading an interview with Courtney Love who was honest and said she had take the advice of Goldie Hawn and had a facelift at 35. Everyone thought she'd looked so great because she'd been in rehab but no, it was the facelift. I do feel a little responsible now that I'm not telling anyone either but I will say it here, that if I had the last 5 years over I would skip all the fuss, and go straight for the facelift. Anyway, enough ranting! If our faces are sagging it isn't because we are inferior humans, or because we weren't vegan, or because we didn't treat ourselves right. It happens to everyone, regardless of what they might say....lasers shmazers. Updated on 29 Aug 2018: I had some of my stitches out yesterday, just The ones in front of my ears, the rest will come out Monday. Healing very well, and feeling a bit more energetic too. I also got the dreaded neck tape removed, and I have a few stitches under my chin. My neck is a bit numb.... it is swollen and has a bit of the feeling of being moulded out of wax. But improving every day. For anyone contemplating this, it is truly a journey. Part of it is that you are taken out of circulation so to speak, and with your own internal self for a lot more of the day... it's a time of resetting internally as well. The challenging part I've found was not really the op itself, but having a shocking looking appearance- I did a bit of shopping yesterday with my two black eyes and I could see people looking and then looking away...but anyway every morning when I'm waking up and remember it is DONE I am so happy happy happy. I went through some photos of how my face aged...maybe they are useful, there I was at 46 thinking I'd done so well, never mind! Updated on 1 Sep 2018: Left and right ear day 11.....amazing how the healing has progressed. Every day is better yet. I still have all the stitches behind the ears and the ones into the temples, these and under the chin will be removed on Monday. I have an infrared and led lamp at home and can highly recommend it for healing and reducing swelling. Updated on 3 Sep 2018: So here I am, on day 14, I had the last of my sutures out today and tomorrow I go back to work. The hard part, the decision making, the choice of dr, the disappearing time, the solitude and recovery, the looking like Frankenstein, it is all done. Unless I have another facelift I will not be undergoing voluntarily such a momentous and lonesome decision again as this one. Thankyou to everyone who commented, and everyone who has left a review. I can feel a new phase beginning in my life, I'm not there yet, but I can feel, in a few weeks I'll be used to being fortyish or maybe even late thirties and I will have forgotten the feeling I had of looking old whenever I looked in the mirror. The brain is a strange adaptive thing, and this will become my new normal. I won't forget though, the amazing gift of this surgery, the years go by so very quickly, the chance to have another 15 or 20 of feeling pretty, it's such an amazing miracle, buying time like that. I've still got some heavy duty bruises but nothing that can't be explained away. Once they go I'll post some before afters. Updated on 4 Sep 2018: i will let the pics speak for themselves, afters taken on day 15 and I am wearing some dermablend as you can see I’m still very blotchy and bruised. At work today - i got the compliments that I look nice and well rested. It’s easy not looking to feel the same, however these photos do not lie. Tried my best to get the same lighting and angles. Updated on 7 Sep 2018: Well ,I've been back at work a week now and thought I would write a little about how things are going. These are the things I wanted to know, apart from the physical healing - did people feel better? Did it relieve the anxiety about their appearance? Despite the fact that I went back with visible bruises which I covered with badly applied makeup (getting better at this!), I feel much much better. I work in an office with mostly men. I recieved compliments on looking nice, on my eyeliner, lol, and my hair. But it wasn't their reaction that was the best thing...... the thing I've really noticed is my own sense of confidence. I'm much more likely to feel happy talking to someone or engaging them in conversation........it's. not about flirting but simple human communication. Becoming invisible and losing confidence is such a lonely experience, people don't mean to start ignoring you.... it all happens on a subconscious level . But the best thing of all is how I feel around other people now. I hope it doesn't sound superficial. I can say now that this is so, so worth it. Updated on 22 Sep 2018: Wow, how quickly the time goes. Healing very well, kept sleeping on my wedge until about day 21. I still wear the support chinstrap at night as my drs instructions. Swelling is down, and has not been much of a problem, I do notice later in the day my neck will feel a little lumpy....in different places, but it is just swelling. I still have faint bruises under my eyes but they are fading...I have very fair skin so I think this is the reason. There is a slight pulling of a platysma under my chin but will get dr to look at during next appointment. One thing it helps me to remember is that while I can see the healing of the incisions there are also incisions and muscles etc healing under the skin and so lumps and bumps do come and go, it's nothing to worry about. I am so very glad I did this. I took lots of photos before, which help, because it's so easy to forget what I really did look like! I have some crinkles under my eyes that don't bother too much, I did not have my eyes done, I know I can address this when I want to but I will probably have to prepare for a month of bruising !! I'm back into excersise and loosing the couple of pounds I gained post op.... No one has noticed!!!! Having said that, everyone I know has complimented me on my appearance in one way or another ... so they have noticed but they don't know what it is they are noticing. It has been an amazing experience. Having a facelift isn't the type of surgery that will turn you into a sexy siren in the same way that say, a great set of breast implants or lip fillers will. It simply takes you back to where you look like you, healthy and where your face once again reflects what is going on inside. For me , there is the aspect of feeling like I look nice, but also that feeling of better connection with people as I feel like my expressions now reflect ME. Oh, it's easier now to apply makeup too, my skin felt very strange the first few weeks with the swelling, sort of firm and dry like the surface of a balloon. I am not done yet, getting better every day. Updated on 22 Sep 2018: Photos didn't load with the previous post so here they are... If you look closely at the mole on my neck in the second photo you can see in the first photo it is now right behind my earlobe incisions all healing well , still pink. Updated on 2 Oct 2018: This update is for those who are thinking of surgery, who are reading this, as I did before you. That is what this site is all about, to hear, first hand, what it was like, was it worth it, to share with others so you know, no, you are not being crazy or extravagant or vain. Yes, it is costly, yes there are risks. Many things in life are costly, home renovations, new cars, trips.. I could go on. But having a facelift is something that will add to your joy in living every day and with every interaction you have, for your face you take everywhere and you never take it off, sell it, or leave it in the garage! Quite simply it has given me confidence in everything, from dealing with strangers at the shops, to being healthily confident and assertive at work, and getting up every morning and liking what I see in the mirror. Because of that, I'm able to just really be me, and relax. It's priceless. A few weeks of looking weird ...and the $$ involved are a price I would willingly pay again. There is always a voice to say the money could have been better spent elsewhere, or that its selfish, but what is the value of being happy in yourself every day? People pay thousands in therapy for just that! So my advice , and this is just my advice, is to go for it. Find a good surgeon you love who has done many successful facelifts, go right ahead, and do it for you. Because when you feel your best version of yourself, you are your best version of yourself for everyone else too. Money can be replaced. But time feeling miserable cannot. All the best. Updated on 5 Jan 2019: Hi all, With regard to photos pls be advised I took them down due to some privacy issues.... I also sent a few out privately to ppl who did not reply or say thanks so it made me feel very uneasy. Still so happy re my surgery... no one has noticed, friends and family just say I look great. With regard to strangers though I do get taken for 10 to 15 years younger which is very nice! With this surgery ... don't be offended if your friends and family don't notice, they are just seeing the you they saw a few years ago so there is nothing "new" to comment on. Am going for my checkup with dr in feb. I did have a slight issue with a part of the muscle under the neck being swollen so looking forward to that being resolved. I didn't get my eyes done so I still have my tired looking days.....but no saggy chops days. :) all the best. Updated on 14 Jan 2019: So hopefully my friends you can see here the change in shape of my face....first, two years ago, second, last July and third, last week, five months post op. My smile has always been a little crooked but you can see that my mouth does not droop like it was. Amind my jowls are completely gone, my heart shaped face is back. Updated on 9 Feb 2019: Just an update of my ears at almost six months. All numbness just about gone. Am due for a checkup but have been so busy with work and my Dr has moved office further away and we have been very busy at work. Updated on 9 Feb 2019: Pics didn't post first time so here they are. Scars very faint....comfortable with hair up for yoga etc. behind the ear stayed red a little longer than in front of the ear, but really not visible now unless you really looked for them.
I am 62 year old female, and live in regional town of NSW after doing alot of research locally and in the Sydney area I found Dr Gerarchi reading all the reviews and comparing them I made an appointment with Dr Gerarchi and felt comfortable discussing what procedure l wanted and found him easy to talk to.I had alot of sun damage on my face and a very saggy neck area so I new I definitely wanted a neck lift and Dr Gerarchi recommended co2 laser for sun damage. Going ahead I followed all the print out instructions carefully. I purchased the pre op and post op packs recommended which made my healing flow along easy,there are a lot of medications and creams which is supplied but all for a healthy trouble free recovery. Now 1 month after co2 laser on face and a neck lift l am so far pleased with the results,still a bit of numbness and swelling but I'm sure that's normal. I have an appointment with Dr at the end of the month . I am very pleased I found Dr Paul Gerarchi and his wonderful helpful staff. They get my full unreserved recommendation.
For over a year I had been thinking about a face lift, or was it a neck lift,a mini face lift, deep plane or SMAS? It was confusing. I consulted with 5 different surgeons and still didn't feel comfortable with a decision. Then I realized that, although I was consulting with reputable surgeons, they all had many specialties - some of their websites seemed to be mainly dedicated to "boobs"! So I did some more research and found Dr Gerarchi - who specializes in faces - perfect! The minute I met him I was so impressed with his warmth and integrity and soon all my fears and concerns and confusion melted away. He was personable, professional, interested and engaged. I left the consultation knowing I had found the surgeon for me and I booked in for the soonest possible surgery date I could. The communication with all of his staff has been excellent from the very start. On the morning of surgery, of course there were nerves, but Dr Gerarchi's warm manner soon calmed me. My recovery went without a hitch - there was very little pain and discomfort at all and even having the stitches removed was painless! Certainly what helped my recovery was an excellent post operative pack available from Dr Gerarchi's rooms which contains pre and post op advice as well as vitamins and creams to aid the healing process. My best friend could not believe what she was seeing when she saw me after just one week and has already decided Dr Gerarchi is the one for her too. I am just two weeks post op and struggle to see any scar at all around my ears. The whole experience has been pleasant and reassuring and I would not hesitate to recommend Dr Paul Gerarchi's expertise to anyone. His staff are also very praiseworthy.
I was looking tired and at the age of 66 felt I had to make a decision whether to go ahead with a neck and lower face lift. Although I was hesitant and a little anxious I knew it was now or never for me to have this surgery. I am so glad I went ahead with this surgery. I did some research and was fortunate to find Dr Paul Gerarchi. On initial consultation, he listened to what concerns I had and advised me what procedure would be most suitable for me. I felt very relaxed and confident that he would do an excellent job. I was not disappointed he worked his magic. I am so delighted with the results. The nursing staff, Wendy, Samantha and Jess were always available when I needed to ask questions or advise about my post-op recovery. I highly recommend Dr Paul Gerarchi to anyone seeking Facial Surgery he is the best in Sydney, you will not be disappointed.
Dr Gerarchi has been amazing. I was very nervous about the surgery, having a friend who had a bad experience a few years ago with a different surgeon. . Dr Gerachi listened to my concerns, was very understanding & managed to calm me, and assure me that he would make the result as natural looking as possible. There was very little pain - discomfort of course, but nothing that I was not able to cope with. I did make the mistake of trying to exercise too soon, which prolonged the swelling, but that's my own fault! Every call or email I made with my concerns post surgery was answered & explained to me. I am very happy with the results - there is a bit of fine tuning still, but again, De Gerarchi has been totally understanding & made suggestions that I am very happy with. The girls in the clinic are also wonderful - friendly, helpful & very knowledgeable. I would not hesitate to recommend Dr Gerarchi to anyone looking to enhance their looks with cosmetic surgery. An excellent surgeon all round.
For some reason (possibly due to a frozen shoulder that meant having to sleep on one side for 2 years) the left side of my face seemed to be sagging faster than the other. That combined with a slight eye ptosis on the same side meant that I was starting to look like a stroke victim! I wanted to explore my options!
Hi. Elevating the nasal tip can support the nasal valve and sometimes improve breathing, yes. However, there are many factors that contribute to nasal obstruction. A though examination and endoscopy by a nose specialist would be my recommendation. Best wishes
Hi. Yes there probably still is some residual swelling, but my feeling is that the asymmetry of your nostrils is unlikely to improve significantly. The good news is that your nostrils can be made more symmetrical. Arguably, the best way to achieve this is by further surgery by an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon who is confident in performing this correction. Alternatively (and again in experienced hands) cosmetic filler could be used to gain an improvement in symmetry. I hope this helps and best of luck!
Although this may represent infection, in my opinion the more likely event is that you have an area of ischaemia (blockage of the skin blood supply) secondary to the injected cosmetic filler. Even at this late stage, you may wish to consider dissolving the filler to see if there is any improvement.
Hi. Im sorry to hear about your disappointment. From your photos there do appear to be areas of potential improvement with your neck appearance, along with a couple of little surgical appearances of your earlobes that could be made to look better. You really do need an in person consultation to best assess this
A variable amount of tightness is commonly felt following a facelift procedure. This almost universally subsides, but in some patients make take a year or so. Gentle facial exercises and massage may also help,though this is best done under the guidance of your treating surgeon. I hope this helps.
