My Facelift Experience

Over ten years ago, I was prescribed medication which had weight gain as a side effect. This resulted in me gaining nearly twenty kilograms and though I eventually returned to my normal weight upon ceasing this medication, my skin ended up sagging around my lower face. In time, the normal ageing process accentuated the sagging and I decided to do something about it.

After doing some research, I decided to consult Doctor Kien Ha. He immediately put my mind at rest with his confident, friendly, professional manner. He listened to my concerns and answered all my questions succinctly. He recommended a face + neck lift, and made it clear that the decision to proceed was entirely up to me. It was reassuring to know he had my best interests at heart and wasn’t simply pushing for work.

Once I’d decided to go ahead, I had a further consultation with Doctor Ha where he explained the procedure in greater detail and answered any further questions I had. Photos were taken and a surgery date was set.

So it was that on the 30th of May 2024, I travelled to hospital for face + neck lift surgery. The hospital staff spoke very highly of Doctor Ha’s skills and attention to detail which was very reassuring. The procedure took several hours, and when I woke, my head was wrapped in bandages and there was a large bruise on my neck. Despite a bit of pain, I was able to sleep well.

The next day, the bandages were changed and I got to see the initial results. I could already see an improvement, but obviously there was some swelling. Eating was initially difficult due to the tightness I felt when opening my mouth. Doctor Ha visited that afternoon and was happy to answer any remaining questions I had before I was discharged from hospital.

I had three appointments with Doctor Ha during the first two weeks of recovery. He was even prepared to see me on his day off which was very good of him. The stitches were removed after several days, and further recovery instructions given. I applied a gel to my scars as instructed, and they continued to improve. The bandages were swapped for a lightweight band which, apart from when showering, I had to wear all day and night. Initially, I had to take antibiotics and painkillers. I also had to sleep with my head in an elevated position. Doctor Ha had been very careful with my beard line during the procedure and despite the inevitable shift, it looked neat and natural. I was able to resume shaving once the stitches were out.

At the end of two weeks, I was recovering very well. In fact, my own GP was astonished upon being informed I’d had this surgery barely three weeks ago. He had to lean in close to examine my face to see where the scars were. It was reassuring to know that this time-frame was exactly what Doctor Ha had predicted. By the end of the third week, the bruise on my neck had gone, as had the swelling.

With the swelling now gone, my skin did seem rather heavy around my jawline and gave the appearance of a double chin. Now, whilst it would have been easy to just blame Doctor Ha for not exactly matching my expectations, I had to be realistic. Doctor Ha has many medical degrees to his name, but I’m pretty sure none are from Hogwarts. The truth is, I’d been recovering for a month with very little exercise, and my diet could certainly have been better. Doctor Ha had done his job, and now it was time for me to put in some effort. I increased my fitness regime, walked every day, looked after my skin and improved my diet. Within a month my face became much leaner, revealing the wonderful job Doctor Ha had done on the underlying structure. I feel that this illustrates the need to be patient and realistic when undergoing a procedure like this.

It’s now been over a year since my surgery and I’m very happy with Doctor Ha and his work. His professional attitude is exemplary, and he clearly takes great pride in his work. My results look very natural, and as far as I know, no one has suspected I’ve had a facelift, which makes me a very happy patient.