Time to out Myself as a Bray Babe! - London, GB

For any who have followed my saga you will have gathered that I was biding time for a face-lift.
I’ve been keeping my cards close to my chest after 2 failed procedures elsewhere (excessive buccal fat extraction leading to premature drooping and failed adequate correction) so I didn’t want to put the cart before the horse and get overly anticipant over my impending surgery.
As with my well-researched rhinoplasty I had a number of consultations with different surgeons, but the moment I met the disarmingly charming Dominic (and it was just a fleeting meeting prior to my consultation) I knew I could trust him with my face.
I can probably add nothing new to all that has been said before, but his bright, open and breezy manner will put you at ease. He answers all questions with clarity. In addition to his website he has reams of photos of prior patients and can show you. He is very realistic regarding the aesthetics that can be achieved and isn’t one to push for unnecessary procedures (in my case, not even the obagi skincare).
It was a relief to have someone note that which I have always perceived as imbalances in my facial proportions, and even better say that they can help to achieve the aesthetics I’ve always wanted.
We agreed on a brow, face and neck lift, something that most surgeons wouldn’t have done because I’m not 45 yet, but as he says, he treats the face not the year of birth.
So stay tuned and I’ll take you through the next chapter of my surgical adventures…
…Oh, and one heads up, he doesn’t shake hands in a stuffy way, more a hug and cheek kiss kind of a guy, so don’t accidentally head butt him (which I almost did! I think I styled it out though…).

Some on here have objected to Dominic's prices and raise concerns, to this I say;
1) Yes, he is priced equivocally to surgeons who put you under general rather than local anaesthetic, but with local sedation you can express facial movement during the procedure, not an approximate guess by the surgeon when you are out cold.
I see this as a major benefit as I'm an expressive person and would hate to lose part of my mannerisms, hence part of me. It may sound odd, but when you are 'changing face', you still want to save part of yourself.
2) I'm sure keeping someone under local/twilight sedation actually takes more work than the full knock-out drops. So his anesthesiologist (who is lovely BTW) must really have to work hard for the hours she is sedating you.
3) Unlike my surgery elsewhere I got my meds included in the price. No awkward, woozy post-op hospital moments having to fork out more coinage (or plastic) of the realm before being permitted to leave. The pre and aftercare sheets are properly printed pamphlets too unlike photocopied pages I have received elsewhere and even presented in their own branded bags.
4) You are not discharged the same day and sent home, you don't have to pay extra for an overnight hospital stay (unlike other places) your overnight is included in the cost.
5) Dominic doesn't charge for revisions, unlike many other surgeons. This was comforting to me as I had to pay for my previous facial surgeon's mistakes which still didn't correct the problem he created. adding insult to injury. Literally!
6) Some things are worth paying that bit more for, be it a perfectly aged wine, stepping on a plane and turning left, a boutique hotel at a remote beach location or for the expertise and passion of someone working on something people see all day (and far more than you do).
I heeded the advice given to me by an aircraft buddy who had seen too much bad surgery in her time; Do it ONCE, do it WELL.

Dominic recommended that I follow a low salicylate prior to, and after surgery.
The idea is to thicken the blood to minimise bruising.
I did warn him in advance that I suffer severely with a condition know as BLATB (bruise like a total [RS bleep]! - check out my post rhinoplasty panda look on my other review...) so not only did I follow the swish sheet that he gives you (wipe clean for handy kitchen reference), but I googled "Low Salicylate
Diets" and came upon all sorts of suggestions.
Bad news folks, peppermint is off the charts high in salicylates so I switched to using sodium bicarbonate. You get used to the manly taste after a while and it's actually not as abrasive to your teeth as you'd think.
As some people have said (in private) that they struggled with the diet and/or found it boring and repetitive I may well share some recipe ideas with you.
Please keep in mind I'm probably what would be called an experimental cook. I use my dishwasher to poach salmon, asparagus and pears (not all in the same jar...) to good effect.
Also after catering to the madness of Hub's sister for 3 months (a vegan, demi-pescetarian, secret ham eater) who would change her fictitious allergies on a whim, after seeing her eating wheat, dairy, sugar etc. I called her out on it all and bluntly told her she had 3 choices;
1) Eat what you asked for.
2) Go and get your own bloody food.
3) How about I smack you in the head with a frying pan?
Anyway, this was all training ground for the "How do I make these limited ingredients more fun and flavourful?" show that became "The Diet"!
On a side note the diet can also be used to reduce tinnitus and being a sufferer it was a perfect time to experiment and a perfect cover reason.

My tips on the diet in general;
If you are a caffeinated person wean yourself off several weeks or even a month before, that way you can slip but get back on the bull/horse/large quadruped.
If you are a sugar fiend you'll possibly have to reconnect with baking.
If you give up sugar (I did as it depletes the immune system) you can take the following to help reduce cravings; chromium, Vit B, Co-enzyme Q10 (there are more, just google them).
If you LOVE your wine, just remember that alcohol thins the blood (read wine considerably so), use this a the key reason not to sabotage your recovery.
If you don't taper off various habits before you start the diet you'll get crappy headaches and skin for the week before your surgery (don't ask me how I know o_O ).

If you need any further (th)inspiration to stick with it I'll share my best photo from week 1...