POSTED UNDER Facelift REVIEWS
Birth Certificate Says 55, But Feel More Like 40 - Going for Biltmore Lift & More!
ORIGINAL POST
Confession time right from the start ... my...
MMMcKenzieMarch 29, 2016
WORTH IT$12,800
Confession time right from the start ... my profile photo is a Polaroid selfie from 34 years ago.
Don't I wish I still had that jawline. I must have been way more limber back then because I don't think I could manage to hold that clunky camera with one hand and press the shutter now. Thank goodness for innovation and self-timers because my back couldn't take it.
On the subject of photos, after a lot of back and forth in my head about privacy and wrinkly pics, I have decided to join some of the other women (and men) who've had Biltmore Lifts and More done by Dr Harley. Without their photos and recovery updates I would have just carried on moaning about how aging was making me look mean and angry when my inner self was humming a little tune and quite happy.
My Biltmore Lift (neck and lower face) along with an upper and lower bleph is scheduled for April 12 and I am seriously looking forward to it. I am not even worried about pain! Having gone three months with virtually no sugar, a bit of nip/tuck is going to be a breeze!
When I saw Dr Harley for my consult just before Christmas, I told him that I would not be seeing him again until I had lost at least 20 pounds. He was very gracious about this declaration from a 55 year-old woman with a rapidly spreading middle and backside and said in his quiet way that I could call Juanita when I felt ready. His easy going no judgement, no pressure manner confirmed I was making the right decision and the photos and reviews made me feel very comfortable with him as my surgeon.
I've followed the before and after photos of loads of his patients all of whom looked more youthful and lovely (and natural) than before and I'm hoping he can work some similar magic on my aging self.
I'll be posting some recent photos in a few days and for the record, I think nothing helps one lose unwanted pounds like the promise of a facelift.
I'm down 29 pounds so far and have lost over 30 inches from seven different places. So in addition to being a brilliant surgeon, I'm going to have to add " Unknowing Weight Loss Motivator " to Dr Harley's credit even though he never said a word about it.
Back in a bit with more!
Don't I wish I still had that jawline. I must have been way more limber back then because I don't think I could manage to hold that clunky camera with one hand and press the shutter now. Thank goodness for innovation and self-timers because my back couldn't take it.
On the subject of photos, after a lot of back and forth in my head about privacy and wrinkly pics, I have decided to join some of the other women (and men) who've had Biltmore Lifts and More done by Dr Harley. Without their photos and recovery updates I would have just carried on moaning about how aging was making me look mean and angry when my inner self was humming a little tune and quite happy.
My Biltmore Lift (neck and lower face) along with an upper and lower bleph is scheduled for April 12 and I am seriously looking forward to it. I am not even worried about pain! Having gone three months with virtually no sugar, a bit of nip/tuck is going to be a breeze!
When I saw Dr Harley for my consult just before Christmas, I told him that I would not be seeing him again until I had lost at least 20 pounds. He was very gracious about this declaration from a 55 year-old woman with a rapidly spreading middle and backside and said in his quiet way that I could call Juanita when I felt ready. His easy going no judgement, no pressure manner confirmed I was making the right decision and the photos and reviews made me feel very comfortable with him as my surgeon.
I've followed the before and after photos of loads of his patients all of whom looked more youthful and lovely (and natural) than before and I'm hoping he can work some similar magic on my aging self.
I'll be posting some recent photos in a few days and for the record, I think nothing helps one lose unwanted pounds like the promise of a facelift.
I'm down 29 pounds so far and have lost over 30 inches from seven different places. So in addition to being a brilliant surgeon, I'm going to have to add " Unknowing Weight Loss Motivator " to Dr Harley's credit even though he never said a word about it.
Back in a bit with more!
MMMcKenzie's provider
UPDATED FROM MMMcKenzie
11 days pre
Looking Back Photos 2002-2016 & Impact of Facial Bone Loss on Surgical Outcomes
MMMcKenzieMarch 31, 2016
As my date with Dr Harley is less than two weeks away, I thought I would post a little restrospective on the progression of changes in my face over the last 14 years. It was around that time that I began to see the changes that led to my extreme dissatisfaction with my look particularly over the last two years.
While I absolutely love and admire the courage of those who post after pictures and particularly their just before surgery pics too, ( mine will be gruesome ) I do wish more people would post some younger photos ( ten years or more ) so we can see just how far back the clock has been turned after recovery is complete.
I understand that as we age we experience bone loss with women being affected much earlier than men and that no one can ever look exactly as they once did? Most of the websites I researched agreed that this begins around age 41 for women and 65 or later for men.
Studies cite the obvious factors such genetics and things we can control like sun damage or nicotine use, but I wonder how much of an impact declining hormones in peri-menopausal ( 40s ) women (and later into full on menopause) may have to do with bone loss and facial changes.
I went through surgical menopause at 41 and have been on HRT since. I am 55 now and wonder if keeping my homone levels at a constant level for the last 14 may have deminished some of the normal bone loss one might expect to see with no HRT. My skin is certainly showing serious signs of change, but I do wonder how my facial bone structure has been affected.
I hope no one thinks that I am suggesting HRT for everyone because I'm not. It's down more to my tendency to think too much about ’ what if ' and I thought it might be interesting to consider and share.
Like my face, photography has changed a lot over the last 14 years so some the earlier scanned images from paper prints may not be a sharp as the later digital ones, but I think you'll be able to have a pretty clear idea of the impact of time.
I'm saving the most gruesome for next time. Hah!
(My photos don't look as if they will appear in the order I have selected, but I added a date in the caption )
Replies (16)
March 31, 2016
Damn! I need an editor or more sleep! That title should say Surgical not Sugical and it won't let me edit it! Argh!
March 31, 2016
McKenzie I can't really see a huge change over the years in terms of bone structure. Of course , you look younger in the early pictures, but you look fabulous in the later ones as well!
March 31, 2016
Thanks for the kind words, Red. I think I may have less bone loss than some because of using HRT for the last 14 years, but it will be interesting to me to see if I look like my younger self or just a refreshed more recent version of me after Dr H moves things around.
April 2, 2016
I agree with Red. I don't see a big change in bone structure either. You have beautiful features, as well as, skin!!! I love those dimples girl and whatever Dr. Harley does, you are going to seriously ADORE how you look!!! McKenzie, you are already ahead of the game with your great skin girl! Once Dr. Harley gets a'hold of you---WATCH OUT WORLD!!!! :)
April 2, 2016
Wait until I post the truly grim photo, SSister. I took them on Thursday and while my face (jaw and lip mostly ) have never been symmetrical, aging and weight loss have made it much more obvious. Maybe it's because it's a selfie and the camera was close, but my jaw looks seriously off kilter. Plus, I have lip lines that look as if I've been a two-pack a day smoker my whole life when I can't stand those cancer sticks and have never smoked! I seriously hate those lines more than any other! You are very sweet to say such nice things about my skin. I have a new camera that shows every wrinkle and blemish so I am thinking " What until she sees the next set of photos, she'll want to edit that comment! " Funny huh! It's easy to pop up the good pics but the next ones are going to be tougher. I'm am holding out hope that Dr H can work a little magic on me. Fingers crossed he can do something with my lip lines. I'm going to brave the world of filler for the first time and get some in those lines as well my marionette lines too. I just asked him to please not give me duck lips or a joker smile. I swore I would never get filler, but I am going to give it a try to see if I can get some softness in the deeper lines. Thanks again for your sweet words, I know I should be kinder to myself too, but gracious it's hard to see myself in my most recent photos. I'll be putting those up soon. :-(
April 2, 2016
Wow you age really nice !! Love to see what changes take place after. I'm pretty sure your going to look more refreshed cause you already look young ..so far underneath all my swelling I think I look the same which is ok by me because it's my neck that worried me.
April 3, 2016
I saw your before photos and you look lovely in those so I imagine you are be very pleased with the change to your neck. Reference my look back photos to show progression of the aging process, the dog shot with me holding the puppy is my most recent photo ( other than the chunky me at Christmas in the paper crown ) and was taken during the pre surgery weight loss program I have been doing on my own. In the photos to come, my unsmiling face looks a bit cross ( according to my husband ) in the photos I took on Thursday right after I got my hair cut. I was feeling fine actually when I took them and not angry at all so I told him that is exactly why I need this surgery ( he thinks I don't and loves my face ) but I said I don't like looking angry when I am not. I told him I would still look like me only a younger happier me without having to smile all the time. I'm counting on Dr H to send me home still looking like myself because my husband is expecting to recognize his wife at the airport. :-)
April 2, 2016
U know what I do not know anything about. Her I can tell u I went thru the chance at 39 and in 1 week I was done I have never we taken any hormones but at 60 my whole face fell as well as the wrinkles poped out on my neck e I do know that I n ever even though about ps until Nov of 2015 and as u can see the rest is history lol
April 2, 2016
I feel the same way as long as my nec was fixed that's all I cared about it I didn't want to change my face
April 3, 2016
You are looking so good and in such a short time, are you happy with the filler?
April 4, 2016
Hi, see you are from the uk. Just wondering why you are traveling to have this procedure? Did you have any consultations in the uk?
Xx
Xx
April 4, 2016
Hi Suze, I researched a couple and spoke to a friend who recommended her PS, but after seeing the glowing reviews and photo results from Dr Harley's patients, I decided to have it done in the US. I do have family in Georgia about 4.5 hours from Asheville so it's a visit as well as surgical trip for me although I'm anticipating a somewhat more subdued visit than usual. :-)
April 4, 2016
Thanks.
You will look fantastic, I actually think you look great now.
Will be following you!
Xx
You will look fantastic, I actually think you look great now.
Will be following you!
Xx
April 4, 2016
The scary pics are going up soon so you may have to revise that statement. :-) x
UPDATED FROM MMMcKenzie
1 day pre
Asheville Here I Come!
MMMcKenzieApril 11, 2016
I'll be leaving for Asheville in the wee hours ( about 6 hours from now) to check in to my AirBnb and take care of any last minute details before my surgery on Tuesday. I will be following TxAnn into the surgical chair on the morning of the 12 th and have been alternating between excitement and a bit of trepidation. I am not really scared of pain, but I do worry a bit about not looking like myself afterwards and I absolutely hate being drugged!
I will be trying create the first of my videos with a little pre op rocking chair redo tomorrow so keep an eye out for it.
Here are the dreaded very recent " before " photos that I promised you.
I will be trying create the first of my videos with a little pre op rocking chair redo tomorrow so keep an eye out for it.
Here are the dreaded very recent " before " photos that I promised you.
Replies (20)
April 11, 2016
Girl, you crack me up with the "smiling me", "serious me, and "smirking me" photos!! LOL!!! You are going to look fabulous!!! I totally understand the concern about not looking like yourself. It took me almost 2 weeks before I started seeing "myself". So, I'm living proof that even though it might not SEEM like you'll ever look like yourself again, you REALLY will---except a YOUNGER version of yourself---that evolves over time!! My husband, on the other hand, looked like himself from the first minute following his procedures. Makes me ill, but it it what it is!! LOL!!! Have a great trip to Asheville and I look forward to your rocking chair videos, as well as, following your results as they unfold. :)
April 11, 2016
Wow - if these are your "dreaded" photos, I can't wait to see your "afters"!
April 11, 2016
You are going to look amazing as you have such a beautiful face already! Good luck...you're almost there....just another day to wait!
April 15, 2016
Thanks for your kind words Lmm, I am just now getting back to some of the comments and support folks posted a few days ago. As you can see, I came out the other side and am in healing mode now. I am looking forward to a decrease in my swelling, but feeling pretty good.
April 11, 2016
I will be arriving in Asheville on Thur. morn. I am staying at Comfort Suites. My cell number is ***-***-****. Please feel free to call me if you need anything or need a nurse!!!!! Best of luck! I look forward to meeting you!
April 11, 2016
I only see an old post for you... please share! Did you just get tired of the fillers? That is kind of where I am.
April 11, 2016
I actually removed my pics. Yes, I got tired of spending all the $$$$ on the fillers and really could not tell that much of a difference. I am scheduled FRIDAY morning at 6 am. with Dr. Harley. I promise to post before and after pics. as I soooooo appreciate each and everyone else who has done so!!!!
April 15, 2016
I am reading this at 7:36 AM on Friday so I imagine Dr Harley is fast at work on you right now. You have nothing to worry about just remember ice, ice, and more ice! I will look forward to photos when you feel up to it.
Replies (45)