POSTED UNDER Neck Lift REVIEWS
65 Yrs Old - Birthday Present for Myself. Melbourne, AU
ORIGINAL POST
A bit about me: I am just turning 65 yrs old, and...
evitravelApril 3, 2016
$11,700
A bit about me: I am just turning 65 yrs old, and after following a number of your posts, I convinced myself that I too can do with a much, much better neck. My neck looks absolutely terrible, after I had a lipo a number of years ago and they took more out on one side than on the other. So it is not only a turkey neck that comes with the age and extra weight (gave up smoking a few years ago, and the kilos just pilled on!! ? ), but it is uneven. I too was tossing up, as it is a very expensive procedure, especially they seem to be much more expensive here in Australia (let's be honest, everything is much more expensive than they are in the States), but I thought my birthday is coming up, that would be a great birthday present! I am going on a cruise (love cruising!! :-) ) in November with my husband, three "kids" and their partners and want to look good by then. Hopefully I will be. I am very self-conscious of getting my photo taken, therefore I always take photos of everybody else and I am hardly ever on any. Anyway this is my story, hopefully everything will go well. Dr Ross is a very experienced cosmetic surgeon who has done lots of these procedures, so I am sure I will be in good hands. I will keep you up to date when I get a bit closer to the op. We are going on another cruise in two weeks time, so I will be nice and relaxed by the time my operation comes up. I am just getting over a foot operation to fuse my big toe together, and I needed this time before I went under the knife again.
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UPDATED FROM evitravel
9 days pre
Only 10 days till surgery
evitravelMay 14, 2016
I am booked in to have my neck lift in 10days time. I am a bit worried, not knowing what to expect. Keep reading lots of reviews, some are promising, some are frightening. I just have to trust my surgeon that he is good and going to do a good job, which I am sure he will. Looking at my photos, he couldn't make it any worse!! (I hope!!!) Seriously, I do trust him, and will keep you up to date with photos and with my healing progress. Starting to doubt that I am doing the right thing as the date of the surgery gets closer, but I assume everybody feels a bit like that before a surgery.
Replies (11)
May 14, 2016
If you've been following my story, you know it hasn't been easy for me. That noted, I am here encourage you. It's not that misery loves company because it does not. I just want to share some things I wish someone had told me.
All procedures are not the same. Some people have what are referred to as mini-lifts and some have more involved procedures. As procedures differ, so does the healing.
You are starting at the right place: with trust in your surgeon. Try not to doubt and second-guess yourself. It's natural to feel a bit of unease before a big surgery, especially one not medically necessary that can seem frivolous in the back of our minds. So try not to be overwhelmed by that. This is as important to you as the foot surgery. One thing on our side is that most of us reach these decisions about cosmetic surgery from a place of wisdom. We are mature and have confronted a lot of major life decisions. We know when something is wrong. If you've done your homework and made a decision over time based on facts and felt confident, don't let any last-minute superficial fear stop you. If it's more than that you'll know.
It's an exciting time: you're days away from something you've wanted and are excited about. Something you deserve to enhance your life in a way you want. You've assembled your financial and emotional resources. Congratulations!!!
I have no idea how involved your surgery will be and am completely unfamiliar with practices in Australia. However, once the doctor is chosen after careful consideration, which you have done, permit me to offer my post-surgical suggestions: 1) have a supportive, nonjudgmental person to care for you in the first week; 2) try to avoid salt in your diet because it promotes swelling; 3) eat healthy overall and drink lots of water (maybe add some lemon if you can) and avoid alcohol; 4) be gentle and patient with yourself; 5) do not expect rapid results; 6) get a pillow wedge if you have to sleep upright for a few weeks; 7) avoid stress; 8) Be prepared for numbness and a tight feeling in your neck, like you have a scarf wrapped around your neck. Maybe you won't have that, but highly likely you'll have tightness, so be prepared. It could last many weeks. 9) If the procedure involves your ears, they may be numb for a while. 10) BE PATIENT. What woman wouldn't want to have a baby a few weeks after getting pregnant, eh, but it takes 9 months and there is nothing that can be done to hurry that process. It takes the time it takes. You have had to wait for you foot surgery to heal. It takes the time it takes to heal. We want this faster because it's our face/neck, but we have to be patient. It takes the time it takes to heal. If you are having general anesthesia, give yourself extra time to recover. It can take a while for the effects of the anesthesia to leave the body.
Take care of yourself, prepare your body to heal, create an environment where it can do that and let the body do what it does. Your body is amazing. You've seen your body heal before; You know it can!
I'm so excited for you!!! Yay you!!! Keep us posted.
Sending warm thoughts and positive energy all the way to Australia.
May 15, 2016
Hi GeeGeeBug, thanks for the encouragement, I sure can do with it. I will have my husband looking after me, but beside him, nobody knows about my operation. I am trying to keep it quite, will see how that works!! My younger son lives next door, hopefully he will be too busy to come over and if he does, I will tell my husband to say that I am asleep. I am having a general anesthesia and will be in hospital overnight. I read that the ears stay numb for quite a while and that is the slowest to heel. I am trying to work out how am I going to cover my ears, as i have long hair and always keep it either in a bun or in a ponytail. Thank you for your detailed suggestions, I really appreciate it. Nice to know that I have this support on this site, as I can't really talk to anybody about it. I feel guilty not telling my mother, as I normally tell her everything, but she is 95yrs old, and she doesn't need to stress about my operation, which she would, knowing her. My husband is great, but he thinks if I worry about it then why do it?? He doesn't think that there is anything wrong with my neck. Obviously he hasn't seen them on the photos or my neck isn't the one he concentrate on...... if you know what I mean!! Sorry, my weird sense of humour is at it again ;-) Anyway, thank you again for your kind words and support, will keep you up to date. Seeing the surgeon tomorrow for some last minute discussion. He is good, straight to the point, and I read a few of his reviews and everybody says that he might not be too chatty, but his results are excellent and that's what I need. Thanks again for your support. :-)
May 14, 2016
I'm excited for you. Where does Dr Ross do his surgery? Are you in hospital for long? I think $11,000 is a very good price. I paid more for my tummy tuck. You're going to look so great on your Nov cruise do your sons know about your surgery? Good luck
May 15, 2016
Hi Uonga, thanks for your message. Dr Ross's surgery is in Brighton, Victoria and he will be operating on my in Masada Hospital. Nor my sons, nor my daughter knows about the surgery. I kind of feel a bit vain to do something like this, so I am not advertising it. I am hoping that I will look OK by early August as that's when my daughter has her 35th birthday, and hopefully the "kids" will see something different, but won't know what. I am on a diet too at the same time, so I might be able to put it down of loosing weight???? (mind you that would mean that the skin on my neck would be even looser :-( ) Anyway I am going to see the surgeon tomorrow morning for a last minute appointment, to discuss anything that we haven't covered, or reinforce what we have discussed. I am hoping that everything will be OK! Have to be positive..... I am going to look ...... uhmmmm better, not younger, but better. Looking younger is not really my aim, just put it in for good measures. Sorry, I have a weird sense of humour. ;-) Will keep you up to date.
How are you going with your tummy tuck? It is a much bigger operation and it takes much longer to heal then my neck lift, so I hope you are healing well! All the best
How are you going with your tummy tuck? It is a much bigger operation and it takes much longer to heal then my neck lift, so I hope you are healing well! All the best
May 15, 2016
I had my son at Masada, back in the day when they had maternity services. Don't feel vain - there's nothing wrong with wanting to look your best. From what I've read on this site you should be looking fabulous by August for your daughter's party. I bet she'll figure it out. Good luck. It's five weeks since my TT and I've been recovering really well. Unfortunately in the past week my body has started spitting stitches which means my incision has opened up about a centimetre wide. It's not pretty. I need to have the wound redressed weekly until it scabs over. A hiccup in my recovery that I wasn't expecting. I am very happy with the care I'm receiving though. Talk soon
UPDATED FROM evitravel
8 days pre
Just seen Dr Ross, my last visit before the op
evitravelMay 16, 2016
I went to see Dr Ross this morning, next time I will see him is in the operating theater!!! He is very patient, explains everything, even when I have already asked the same questions a number of times. He said that my neck will be a "challenge", but he enjoys challenges. Why he said it, because I had previously operations on my neck when I was 5 yrs old and he will try to do a scar revision, but it might be a bit hard to correct. I also had liposuction on my neck a few years ago and the dermatologist/surgeon who did the liposuction has taken more out in one side than on the other, so Dr Ross will need to correct that too. I am confident, especially after seeing him today, so fingers cross!! It is a week from tomorrow...... so it is getting close. I have purchased my neck brace that I will be wearing after the bandages come off, so I am ready!! The "butterflies in the stomach" will probably come next Monday, at the moment I am looking forward to my new neck!!
Replies (2)
May 16, 2016
All sounds very good. So maybe you can tell your children that you had the childhood surgery and previous lipo (if they know about that) revised/fixed and that the tighter neck is just a happy consequence.
May 17, 2016
Thank you for your suggestion, that actually sound quite feasible!! The kids don't know about the lipo and I don't think they ever noticed the scars on my neck from my operation 60 years ago. To them I am Mum, who always looked like this. As they see me often they don't notice it, or at least they have never brought it up. My daughter might notice it as she is more observant then the boys. I think I will tell them if the subject comes up what you said, that I just had the childhood surgery revised. That was very good of you, as they said in the comedy “Get Smart” (if you ever watched it) - “Good thinking 99”. Actually it is true in a way. So thanks again for your suggestion. Not long to go now!! :-)
Replies (5)
Congratulations on quitting smoking! Thanks so much for starting your story on RealSelf. How many doctors did you consult with before you chose?