Expert Job!

I thought I should at least give you the jowls over time. I have not put in a current photo, but you get the drift. Hopefully next time I post I will have had the lip dissolve and fillers done as well, so that you can further compare the jowl problem.

It is now late Dec 2019. I originally wanted the surgery to rid myself of the jowls time had created. I had read enough to know that simply pulling the skin/jowls up did not fix the problem because the weight of the fat simply stretches the skin and the jowls reappear very quickly. However, when I asked the doctor on my last consult about the fat removal (which I had taken for granted up to this point as standard procedure), I was told that he couldn't do anything about it since that it was all me. Well of course it's me. All my fat is me as well, but that doesn't mean it cannot be removed. (Alarm bells ringing but too late to pull out - I'd already paid, the date was set and I trusted he make it all right.) In photos my jaw is looking more square and sagging a little more in the second photo - 2 months on.
It was a beautiful job, initially, andI was very happy. Unfortunately now only 4 1/2 months later that jowlie fat has begun its journey back downwards.
Presently, I am looking at a procedure called lipo dissolve (which the admin at the clinic suggested I pursue, and which I wish I'd known about earlier) to correct this by removing some of the weighty fat and prevent further "falling fat" reforming the jowls. Naturally, the risk is that after the removal of fat, the skin may simply sag like an empty sack, making it look worse, but am told that fillers elsewhere can offset the problem, and help to lift the skin back up. Sounds great, but means more cash and down time. Thankfully, so far the reformation of the jowls is not too advanced, but I cannot afford to leave it much longer.
To add to this feeling of regret, I recently met someone who traveled to USA from Australia to Dr Harley to have the same procedure done, and at roughly the same time I had my procedure, who paid half the amount and whose scarring is almost invisible. That rubbed salt into the wound. Although I had investigated going to the US for surgery, I decided the costs of flights and other transport, plus accommodation would be enough to make such a venture far too expensive. The other consideration is that if something went wrong, it was a long way to go to have a small adjustment done. However, those fears cost me big time to the tune of over $33K. The hospital and anethetist costs here in Brisbane were extraordinary!
What have I learnt from this? The doctor doing the procedure may charge a reasonable price, but this cost may be minimal compared to the hospital and anethetist costs, AND if the hospital charges per time and not by procedure, any run-on can add thousands of dollars to the final bill as was my case. It is worth checking hospital for operating costs etc.
Also the "before" and "after" pictures at doctors' offices are not always indicative because the after shots are usually taken within the first six weeks before long term problems occur. It is far better to check out sites like this to guage what the real results are likely to be.
I have noticed too that some B&A photos from some doctor's sites have been enhanced to make them look better than they actually are, so stick to sites that have real people's testimonies and pictures. (I can tell this because I have been using photo enhancements software and other picture editing software for some time and can tell at a glance.)

I'm slowly getting use to my new face, or rather beginning to see my old face. Still need the monkey lines around the mouth and the tear troughs filled if I truly want to look like I use to, but so far people's remarks have been very positive. So I am very happy with the response. One ladt said I was getting younger every time she saw me, another said I am looking very well. Doesn't get better than that!!

I no longer need to wear the head bandage which I personally found a little uncomfortable. So glad that's done with! The scars are healing very well but every now and then my skin pushes out a piece of dissolvable stictches from underneath the skin. They're hardly visible, but I can feel them to touch. Both doctor and nurse have happily removed anything bothersome, so no drama there.

I am having near infrared treatment to assist with the healing of the scars and so far it seems to be doing a wonderful job. Will soon be able to apply some scar healing gel that should take away even more redness.

You may be wondering where are the stiches that normaly follow the hair line. Actually those stiches normally near the top of the ear were hidden up through the hair instead. So they are totally "invisible" to those who are looking. Very happy with the outcome.

The staff at Northeast Plastic Surgery are always wonderful, and are happy to answer every question. They have been quite supportive and caring.

When I look at the stitching and scarring of some people, and even when reading things that have gone wrong with some people's neck & face lifts, I am so very thankful for choosing Dr Tansley. He is a truly skilled plastic surgeon. The signs of surgery are minimal. The under chin is probably slowest to heal, but fading fast nonetheless.

Thank you Dr Tansley and Staff.

Will update again early October.