We've Only Just Begun! - Houston, TX

Charlane, THANKS and Blessings for sharing answers, pictures, fears so many of us want to know. You ate Beautiful inside and out! I first posted somewhere below yours telling of my prayers for this procedure after following you. I want your doctor, too. The rest is in God's Hands. Fondly, Susan

Amazing results. When I had surgery I did not want to look younger, just better. I would love to see a picture so we could see how wonderful you look. I understand if you want to keep the surgery as a private matter.

Just curious, why did you go to Houston? I know the city & it has excellent drs. But just wondered why...I'm in Las Vegas, NV now & the healthcare leaves something to be desired...maybe I should go to Houston? Thanks!

I did quite a bit of research on the procedure, and face lifts in general. Somewhere I read, "A face lift is as good as it's doctor". I prayerfully sought out who would be the best for me. I was originally assigned a doctor from San Antonio. However, the inner peace with this assignment was just not there, so I kept doing my homework. I found that Dr.Kevin Smith comes highly qualified, has his own practice outside of lifestyle lift. He's been at this for many years with an abundance of success. Intuitively I knew this was to be the doctor. I called in and made the switch. When it comes to the body, a good doctor is worth the drive!

Day three was the worse day for me post-op and I did wonder at what I had done to myself. I called the doctor and he phone me back and put my mind at ease. This is day 6 for me and the swelling has come down considerably and the bruising slowly disappearing. I am still hard at the corners of my ears and side areas, still feel tightening bands under my throat but they are getting better. I look a bit like a puffed out heart more pronounced at the corners! I go back to work in a week and hope most of the residue side effects are gone as I treat patients. I had the LSL and laser done. I am optimistic and see the profile I wanted when I now look in the mirror but I am still a week out I believe. Just remember, if you think you can go in on a Friday and have this surgery and got back to work on a Monday, well, you are wrong. You need at least 2-4 wks downtime I believe. JM

I just had the LSL on Sept. 20 and so far, so good. Dr. Smith is great and actually the only doctor there who is a plastic surgeon. He also has a private practice in the Medical Center here in Houston. He calls his work "being Smitherized" and he is not only talented but has a great personality. He and his nurse talked the entire time they were working on me which kept me laughing. Of course, the 80+ shots are not fun and there are a lot of people who would not be able to undergo the shots, but once numb, it's well worth it. I have no bruising at all, but this is day three and I am quite swollen and sore. It will get better each day. I would recommend ONLY going to Dr. Smith and for those of you not so good with shots, see him at his private office and he can "put you out for the procedure" which is something they do not do at LSL. The meds they give you will NOT take away any of the pain from the shots and they are, by far, the worse part of the procedure! Dr. Smith rocks! BTW, I am 64!