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POSTED UNDER Lip Implants Reviews

Lip Lift and 5mm Surgisil Lip Implants Top and Bottom - Charleston, SC

UPDATED FROM RaRvn
8 days post

Incision Care

RaRvn
WORTH IT$2,800
So, I forgot this part. I am to continue using the cleanser given to me morning and night, followed by the application of a layer of squalane. Both the cleanser and the squalane were provided by my surgeon and he asked that I use nothing else on my incisions until the scars are fully mature - about a year.

RaRvn's provider

Marcelo Hochman, MD

Marcelo Hochman, MD

Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

RaRvn rating for Dr. Hochman:

Overall rating
Doctor's bedside manner
Answered my questions
After care follow-up
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Replies (4)

September 7, 2016
Thx for all your comments. I have been researching lip lifts for years but have not run across your surgeon in this regard. I looked up his website and he has impressive pics of his work but nothing about lip lifts that I could find. Do you know if he has done many of these and if he ever does corner lifts? I live in driving distance in upstate SC and have been considering this procedure so I am very much interested in your final outcome. Don't need the chin implant thank goodness - seems that was the hardest for you.
September 7, 2016
Hi, again. Dr. Hochman is a really interesting guy. He actually started out as a head and neck surgeon removing head and neck cancers, hemangiomas, birthmarks, cleft palates, trauma reconstruction, etc. He's a board certified head and neck surgeon. He says he got the most satisfaction out of putting people back together again and giving them normal faces, so he then did a residency and fellowship in facial plastic surgery and became board certified in that as well. He does several lip implants and lifts a week. He does have a before/after binder of photos in his office of numerous lip procedures. His office staff is really great and might be willing to email you some before/afters if you ask. I don't know if he does corner lifts but I imagine so. These are very minor procedures for him considering this is a guy that reconstructs people's skulls and noses and removes gigantic deforming tumors and stuff. He also does the teeniest stitches I've ever seen (I've had a rhino, breast aug, and bleph previous to this, by different surgeons). He really is amazing and I'm still pretty shocked by my results. I never would have dreamt that I could look like this again. Unbelievable.
September 8, 2016
Thx for your information. The doc does sound amazing and he certainly did a wonderful job on your procedure. I think gravity really shows up in the lower half of our faces and unfortunately a face lift doesn't affect the lips at alll - only a lip lift can make a difference. Please continue to let us hear from you regarding your progress and how well the scar is coming along. I also wonder if he anchored the incision site with internal permanent stitches. Would you know that?
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September 8, 2016
Wow, your lips look sooo good!!! Thanks so much for posting! I never realized how painful a chin implant would be but I believe you! YIKES!! Can't wait to read the rest of your updates!!
September 8, 2016
Who did your bleph and was it both u/L?
October 19, 2016
I must say you look 10 years younger with such a "simple"/small change!! It looks like if you would have a facelift or something! Amazing results!!
UPDATED FROM RaRvn
8 days post

Day 7 - Stitches Out

RaRvn
I had my 7 day follow-up yesterday and my stitches were removed. It stung a bit, but wasn't too uncomfortable. My cell phone camera sucks (sorry about that) and you can't see it too well but the incision is healing well and the bumps between the sutures will flatten over the next few days as the fluid can now absorb into the surrounding tissue. There is, as I thought, a lot of swelling in my chin and jowl area from the chin implant and it makes my jawline look really really weird. Doc said it will take several weeks for my new jawline to emerge. My chin is still entirely numb on the right side and probably will be for some time to come.

I do have make-up on in the pic, but nothing on my lips or the incision. For anyone that cares, I am wearing Too Faced Born This Way foundation in the shade Vanilla. This is seriously the BEST foundation ever for us more mature ladies. Highly recommend!

Replies (3)

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September 7, 2016
Your makeup looks beautiful! Now you will really start to heal up with the stitches out. Did you doctor say it was okay to use Scarguard to make the redness go away faster? One lady on her said it helped her a lot.
September 7, 2016
I love, love, love Too Faced cosmetics. Best stuff ever.

No, no Scarguard or any other ointments allowed. Doc is of the opinion that the fewer variables added to the mix the better. I was only allowed Aquafor until the sutures came out and now I am only allowed squalane on the incisions until the scars are fully mature - probably a year or so. I see his point really. People are unique and you never know who is going to have a reaction to what and the more ingredients you introduce the messier things can get. I'll post a pic of the stuff I'm allowed to use.

And by the way, my chin still hurts like mad. Is that normal at 7-8 days? It's driving me crazy.
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September 7, 2016
It's been 10 years since I had my chin done, so I can't really remember, but I think it is pretty painful because it involves attachment to the bone, which might take more time to heal. Your lip lift only involves skin, so look at it that way. It will get better every passing day. At least you look great, not swollen and bruised like most. Keep using those frozen peas!
September 7, 2016
Beautiful result! Exactly how many mm's were removed from the lip lift? Was it a skin only or was the muscle involved? Do you notice any flattening of the inside curve of the nostril from the incision there? Thx for your informative review. Happy Healing - looks like it will certainly be worth it in the end....
September 7, 2016
Hi, and thank you. The lift was skin only. I haven't noticed any difference in the shape of my nostrils though I do have a little bit of swelling going on there right now and of course the usual initial little bumps that form between all sutures. Those will flatten in a few days now that the sutures are out. My current nostril asymmetry is pre-op. I might have that fixed someday, but I doubt it. There is no sense looking for trouble! lol.
September 7, 2016
Oh, sorry. Forgot to add about 8 mm removed.
October 3, 2016
Lovely result - and no more lip lines! I definitely want this doing - thank you for sharing.
UPDATED FROM RaRvn
5 days post

Day 6 - All is well

RaRvn
I pretty much slept all day. I finished my Medrol pack this morning and crashed and burned a few hours later - steroids make me hyper, then I crash for about 10 solid hours after I finish them. I took whiterobin's advice and wrapped some frozen peas in a scarf, put the peas under my neck and wrapped the scarf around my head before I went to sleep. That helped a lot with the bone pain from chin and jaw where the bone was scraped to make a pocket for the chin implant. So no pain meds today. Lips are still stiff and tight and I can't smile worth a darn, but they don't hurt. I don't talk funny, either. I know some people seem to have problems with certain letters for awhile, but I'm A-ok there. My incisions are healing nicely, but they do itch at times. I get them out in 2 days but they really aren't bothering me. Doc gave me a special cleanser that I use to clean the incisions twice a day, followed by an application of Aquafor. I'm not allowed to use anything else - no antibacterial ointment or scar gel or anything like that. After the sutures come out I will continue to use the special cleanser and begin using a different product given to me by doc in place of the Aquafor. It's upstairs and I don't feel like going up there to get it, so I'll talk about it tomorrow. He was adamant that I use no other products in addition to the ones given to me, so that is what I shall do. I tell you, I am in love with this man and in love with my results and postop progress. He is amazing and gave my lower face balance that I thought I would never see again. I cannot thank him enough.

Replies (3)

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September 5, 2016
I think everything looks great no brusing or anything that's so great can I ask how much did he charge for the lip implants and lift ? If don't want to say it's ok anys think you look great
September 5, 2016
It's fine. The lift was $1500 and the implants $2800, so $4300 total for both.
September 5, 2016
I'm considering having the same procedure done. Could you tell me how long it was until your stitches came out?
September 5, 2016
Hi. I still have stitches. My procedure was last Tuesday afternoon and my stitches are coming out tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon. So 7 days. Looking forward to that. They are itchy!
September 5, 2016
You look fantastic, please post pictures when they come out.
September 6, 2016
I'll take pics when I get home tomorrow after having the sutures removed. Sometime in the early evening probably.
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September 6, 2016
I am so glad the frozen pea wrap worked! Yay!
September 6, 2016
I'm so glad you suggested it! I slept like a baby for about 10 hours all wrapped up like that. I really, really helped. Thank you!
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September 6, 2016
Great! Deep sleep is the best medicine! Best of luck for tomorrow getting your stitches out! So exciting.