Consultation review: Lip Lift That Did Not Happen

Warning : long review.
When I stumbled upon lift lift procedure on Real Self a couple years ago, I realized for the first time why I had started looking different since a few years back and why my lips did not look the way they used to. While I could see how important this small increase in length of the upper lip could make any face
( including mine) look off balance and old, The prospect of a scar in the middle of face excluded lip lift for me. But later I thought if I found a surgeon I could trust I would go ahead hence my search for best surgeon started. After reading many stories on Real Self , about a year ago I decided that Dr. Mascaro was the one I would be willing to go with. And yes the review of the African American lady was the first review I read on dr. M. She said and in the picture showed that she had no scar to speak of. More excellent and “worth it “reviews confirmed dr. Mascaro for me.
I had a face time consult with him in August or sept of 2017. He told me I could benefit from lip lift and when I asked about the scar prognosis he said he could give me a pencil thin scar.
Eventually I set up my surgery appointment for early June 2018. Lynette was the one who helped me with the process. I talked to her maybe 5 or 6 times and she was always kind, and helpful. When the surgery date was set she waited until I arranged my airplane and hotel reservations before taking my payment.
someone named Maria was placed on the call to take my payment. I had an unpleasant conversation with her over my return schedule. I did tell her she was out of place and should not behave that way just because she works at a surgeon,s office. Because I am in health care myself, I know too well how it goes. I myself have lost many patients who never had the chance to meet me and neither Did I have the chance to meet them due to bad impression left by my personnel over the phone. I was upset for a while from that incident but did not hold it against dr. Mascaro. I knew he was worth the bump in the road also I knew Lynette was there and that I would try to deal only with her from then on as she was always wonderful.
Since I like to have a head start and no rush, my husband and I arrived in Delray Beach on Tuesday the day before the surgery day at 10:00 am. As I had already talked to Lynette I called the office upon arrival and Was to go in for a pre surgery visit at 4:00 that day. We arrived at the office a few minutes before 4 and were taken into dr. M’s office a few minutes later.
Dr. M. came in I guess out of a surgery. He listened to me talk for a few minutes , as I am sure he was considering distances and dynamics of my face and lips. He did come close with a caliper and told me he will probably take 5 mm maybe a bit more. That I may not have much tooth show as lip lift was really about balancing the distance and not about tooth show. I told him I was afraid of a rabbit look and he said because I had a thin nose ( my nose is not wide ), meaning the width of my nose only covers the very middle of my lips , I may be susceptible to it as the lift happens to area only under the nose. He then told me I had to be prepared to accept a scar. I asked him like what. He then brought a picture of a lip lift patient on his computer screen. He said 3 out of every 5 patients would scar like that( like the picture on the screen) , one patient with better scaring and one with worse. When I I did the math i concluded that there was 80% chance that I would scar like that or worse. (%60 as in the picture and %20 for a worse case) my husband asked him to show a picture of the better scar case and dr. M said he would not do that because he doesn’t think that would be the case as in most cases.
The scar he was showing on the picture which was as he put it the result with most cases was not what I was willing to accept knowing beforehand. I did tell him that I understood he would be doing a great job as far as what it took with the design and incision and suturing but what happens afterwards in this extremely active and functional area , was what stretched the scar. He agreed and said although he places three layers of suture the scar is susceptible to stretch for at least 3 months and that’s why most cases end up with scars like the one he was showing us. And it was already too much for me let alone the 20% possibility of worse scarring.
I asked him if it was possible to immibilize the top lip with Botox during the three month period ( or longer). He thought for a second and said he would do that if I wanted to and if I was willing to deal with that temporary immobility.
Dr. M told me during this conversation that I should think about and consider the scar more carefully before moving ahead with the surgery the next morning. He said I was free to decide one way or another and that I would get a refund if I decided to cancel. I had already become shaky in my decision considering the scar he showed which contradicted my hopes of ending up with an invisible scar. I asked him if there are other people who don’t go ahead
( or “cancel “ but not sure which term I used) with the lip lift after this information and he said about 50%.
So I called the next morning and cancelled. I was refunded the full $2250.00.
( 250.00 more than the 2000 I was quoted because I scheduled my surgery more than 6 months after the quote , but as a courtesy still less than 2750.00 which I was told in April was his new fee for lip lift. It may have gone up since then again)
While I cancelled my surgery due to information Dr. M. provided and encouraged me to seriously consider, I never doubted his capability as a surgeon I could trust. I appreciate his forth coming in regards to scarring which unlike many others in this or other businesses only show you the rosy side but hide the thorns.
Now about his demeanor, Dr. M did not strike me as friendly or kind. He was very up to point and cold and not someone who impressed me with his kindness and warmth. I wished we could all find the kindness and warmth that when present make every human interaction a joy but it is not always possible. That perfect god sent package in a person is something rare. But !!!!! I would take the competant, honest and responsible surgeon any day even if he is not friendly and warm.
Some people have had a different impression from him than mine and I think like some people, he may have different reactions to different types of people. Or perhaps if he was too tired ( although I got the same impression over the face time consult).
So for now I am not going to have a sub nasal lip lift. I will research vermilion advancement for a while in which the cut is made on the lip line. But I don’t think I will do anything soon.
But to all others who are unhappy with their long upper lip please remember every face and skin is different. A nose shaped differently , in many ways including a tip that is lower, nose that is wider, skin texture and shadows, which may cover a fine scar can easily allow for this procedure.