POSTED UNDER Cheek Augmentation REVIEWS
My Surgery Experience with Dr. Harrison Lee. - Beverly Hills, CA
ORIGINAL POST
Originally I had messaged Dr. Alter to get a price...
WORTH IT$19,000
Originally I had messaged Dr. Alter to get a price quote for facial surgery, I had seen him on Dr. 90210 and was please with the before and afters. I was directed by Dr. Alter to Dr. Harrison Lee (his colleague, also appeared on Dr. 90210) Dr. Lee gave me a price quote and surgeries he thought I would have benefited from. The surgery plan was for a sub nasal lip lift, cheek implants, jaw and chin reconstruction and submental liposuction (between chin and neck). His office staff were awesome and so wonderfully accommodating.
I showed up for my surgery and went through the whole procedure with flying colors, anesthesia was a breeze and transportation home was met with no problems. All proper medications were taken as well Arnica Montana and Bromelain (started two days before surgery). No bruising whatsoever and some swelling, this is always to be expected from these surgeries.
Ever since my surgery, I have been extremely happy with how I look and I am able to get through my day, Dr. Lee and all the staff involved with my surgery did so well, I am so happy and look forward to the future. I recommend Dr. Lee, he really is a great doctor and I will only allow him to work on any cosmetic needs I may have in the future.
linaleigh's provider
UPDATED FROM linaleigh
19,000 is the ball park of how much I paid, 19,000...
19,000 is the ball park of how much I paid, 19,000 is not for the individual cheek implants but for the Sub nasal lip lift, cheek implants, jaw and chin remodeling and sub mental lipo suction
Replies (78)
November 8, 2012
To be honest, I like your face before the surgery. You were very pretty. YNow you look too done. How soon was that photo after your surgery? Maybe it needs to settle in more. And trust me, I say this out of sincerity, not envy. I just had a mid face lift (at 49, which feels an appropriate age to do this). Greedily, I added mid face implants to my surgery and now wish I hadn't! They look cartoonish and garish. I would now have preferred to have gotten the lift first to see if that fulfilled my wishes (I think it would have). And added cheeks later if needed. Now at nearly 5 weeks I KNOW I hate them. They have ruined my social life because I don't want to go out.
I wish you well in your process, but I do think the more natural the better. I've learned that the hard way, myself. Best wishes.
November 8, 2012
The after picture is what the caption says, me after two months (but it was more like a month and two weeks). I look in no way cartooney whatsoever. I am sorry you feel unhappy with yourself after your surgery. But for me, I am extremely happy with the way I look each month as the swelling continues to go down, everyone has their own vision of what beautiful is, Dr. Lee gave me exactly what I asked for.
November 8, 2012
Hi - I think that's great. That you're happy is truly all that matters. As for me, I think MY cheeks look cartoony. Maybe that was misconstrued. Take care!
November 8, 2012
I am not sure how your surgeon went about your surgery, but I would possibly look into having corrective surgery. One way would be to choose a smaller implant and have it screwed in rather than sutured so it can look like more like it is part of your skeletal system vs. the suture method which can sometimes give people that "puppet from Saw" look, if not done properly. Having a full implant removal can give you a very deflated look and fat transfer isn't always permanent. Hope everything works out and you can finally be happy :)
November 8, 2012
Also, I am not sure when you had that procedure, but you do realize that many surgeries can take up to a year to fully heal? Especially when you are over 35 your healing time can even increase beyond that. Not sure of the condition of your skin and if it is thin or not, but sometimes an implant looks really bad under thinner skin with little collagen on top of it.
November 8, 2012
I think the surgeon did an amazing job overall. I just prefer a more natural look. A midface already lifts the cheek pad, and I think that's all I really wanted/needed to be happy. I investigated these procedures and his work very well. Sometimes you just have to try it and see. I like that he can easily remove them (a great option more so to me than the other ways to do cheeks) - because I most likely will. Main reason is because is estimates they will reduce by only 25 percent more when finally healed. That still seems too big for me. I'd rather enjoy the lift (which he did a fab job on) and see if I need more later. In hindsight, that's what I should have done. By the way, don't think it's an age issue many examples that looked great were older. Just think it is preference. Sometimes ya gotta try it on to know. Live and learn :)
November 9, 2012
uh, so you don't like them and they are so horrible that you can't leave your home, but wont have them taken out? Sounds kind of self defeating.
December 7, 2012
I think that most people who say you look done are influenced by the difference between before and after picture and the swelling which exaggerates the results. I love your results! The fuller cheeks and the smoother shape of the chin make you look younger and your face looks more chiseled. I'm sure you'll look even better 3-6 months from now, I hope you post pictures.
December 7, 2012
Everything about the experience has exceeded my expectations. I agree, I myself, was pretty scared but I stayed as positive as possible through the recovery process and am loving this month to month unveiling of my face. I had a super cylindrical face before and no definition mid face and am really happy with the more chiseled look I have received as well. I definitely will post pics month to month and thank you for your gracious compliment :)
December 11, 2012
How long was it before you felt comfortable being seen in public. Where is your scar placement, if you don't mind my asking? Btw, I agree, you look great just getting ready to go through something similar and want to get a bit of info.
December 14, 2012
Thank you! The only scar I had was under my nostril line which is continuing to fade. I was in public within one week, wearing makeup and resuming my normal life. I was fully comfortable after my second week, I was still a little swollen, but just looked like I had an overly chubby face.
November 9, 2012
uh, so you don't like them and they are so horrible that you can't leave your home, but wont have them taken out? Sounds kind of self defeating.
November 9, 2012
If you had read closely, I said most likely will take the implants out and enjoy the benefits of the lift only. That in hindsight I wish I'd only done the lift. Right now I'm in the space of giving it 6 weeks per my surgeon's (and other's advice). I'm nearly 5 weeks out so I'll give it another week or so. But since the end of week one I have felt they were not a good choice. Just in the the wait and see zone. Glad I have the choices - which is not self defeating at all.
December 5, 2012
That is a really pretty shot of you! I can see the swelling reduction from the previous shot. Thanks for posting an update. I waited out the time on my mid face implants and they are much better now at two months post op and I've decided to keep them. I was a bit overwhelmed at week 4. I mean, I was a face full of cheeks! Now I can see they'll be great when the healing is complete.
December 5, 2012
yeah I totally understand that, people are really vulnerable to depression during the healing process, as I have noticed, they are always expecting the fix to be quick. My healing process for the jaw and chin reconstruction is long and tedious and I find myself worried at times, but I have to be as patient as possible. I am really glad that you are coming into your look and congratulate you on that :)
UPDATED FROM linaleigh
For those of you who asked, I added three pictures...
For those of you who asked, I added three pictures at the 6 month mark and two at the side. Thanks again for all your kind words, I really do appreciate all of it :)
Replies (28)
April 10, 2013
You're gorgeous! The entirety of the procedures combined gave you a more classic and exotic look. If I never saw the befores, I never would have guessed you had any of that work done. It does NOT look overdone to me, even with swelling. I would have thought you were blessed/ born lucky. ;)
I'm guessing he used a combined malar shell instead of just malars, or you would only get side projection and high cheekbones instead of the beautiful apples you have. Kudos to the surgeon and kudos to you for doing your homework!
I'm contemplating the same cheek work. See my photos and let me know your opinion.
Would you say by now your cheeks look similar to the model I posted?
April 18, 2013
I would say very similar actually, I think the procedure would benefit you greatly.
April 18, 2013
Thank you so much. I will be setting up a consult with Dr. Lee later in the year. Thanks for your feedback and photos!
May 6, 2013
Hi Lina,
You look beautiful! Each photo looks better than the last. Thank you for sharing. Did you notice any changes in your ability to make facial expressions? I've heard people complain about not being able to smile as wide after cheek implants.
May 6, 2013
Hi Katherine thank you for the compliments :) nothing changed as far as my ability to do any facial expression with the cheek implants, my chin work was different though, I was unable to suck my face in to do the fish lip face expression, I could do it but it hurt for a while.
May 10, 2013
Hi, you look stunning! truly a work of art :)
I just got rhinoplasty and cheek implants put in yesterday and I am experiencing some asymmetrical swelling, did you go through anything similar to this? Additionally, as far as the cheek implants are concerned, how fast did the swelling reduce and were you put on an antibiotic as a precautionary measure?
Again you look wonderful!
May 28, 2013
oh yeah, you will have asymmetrical swelling, specially in the left side, it could happen also on the right side. What the doctors aint telling you, this procedure take up to 2 years to see final results. They will look asymmetrical, but nothing to worried about. I had to put up with this problem for two years. that means waking up every morning one cheeck side swollen for the past 2 years exactly, it all went down. Now I get crazy compliments, No one could tell what exactly I had done, I just get compliments on my face structure, I got the male cheeck implants.
May 28, 2013
Thanks for the compliments and Carlos has answered your question better than I would have :D
May 11, 2013
In picture 1 you look like a pretty 30ish girl. In the ensuing pics you look like a very pretty 20s girl: if that's what you wanted, that's what you got! I do like the result. I do have a question. I had a procedure - I know swelling takes time, etc. After 10 days I am barely able to lick my upper lips - so they're chapped a lot. Percentage wise would you say at 2 weeks swelling is half way gone? I have an overbite in the mirror so I'm wondering how far away I am from getting substantially closer to my final result. I can look down and see my mew cheeks at the bottom of my visual field: the left side is more swollen than the right for some reason. It feels so odd touching my face - like little bubbles stick in there. I guess I'm curious if you thought the implants were to big for your face at the beginning and if so when that subsided?
May 28, 2013
To get final results, what the doctor dont tell you is that it could be 2 years to see the final results. You going to feel swollen and weird looking, especially the left side of the cheek, some how is the cheek that is affected the most. The left side. In the morning is usually swollen, but it will go away with time. At times i was depressed, because the first year I was like, damm still swollen on the left side. after two years, i finally saw the final results.
May 28, 2013
Thank you for your compliments, and Carlos just answered your question for me :D
June 18, 2013
So...what's with the left cheek being more swollen, longer? It's two weeks, and if my left cheek looked like my right one, I'd be a happier camper.
June 18, 2013
all I can say about that is to have patience, my cheeks didn't take it's final shape for months after the surgery.
Replies (78)