73-year-old is sorry she waited so long - Miami, FL

As a fairly young 60-year-old I had the good luck of having my photo taken by a savvy young magazine photographer who posed me with my hand hiding my neck. I was already conscious of the one thing that really aged me: my turkey neck and rapidly drooping jowls. The picture was a great success and from then on I did my best to never be caught by a camera with my neck exposed. It became a joke with family and friends who all adopted my pose when we were being photographed together. Occasionally I would substitute a wine glass or well-wrapped scarf, even someone's shoulder to hide behind. I am now 73 and had been laughing less about this for some time, especially after a few snarky comments about my heavy head. Over the years I had several consultations with facial plastic surgeons, looking mainly to change my neck; but none fit the bill. It was mostly a question of trust. Choosing someone to cut your neck is not something one does lightly, and I have always been an indecisive person. But finally a gorgeous 60-year-old friend became stunningly more gorgeous after a perfectly subtle cosmetic surgery by a doctor she couldn't stop raving about: Dr. Brandon Kallman. I would wait no longer.The neck lift actually involves a facelift, and after an initial explanation by of the process and general procedure by Miranda, who has a Masters degree in nursing, the affable Dr. K examines your facial structure and skin elasticity, takes a few photos and explains his plan in detail as he shows you your shockingly aged face and neck on his computer screen. He answers all questions with patience, consideration, an abundance of confidence, and a great sense of humor. We consider doing my upper eyelids as well, but upon learning I have dry eye and blepheritis, he advises against it. Here is an ethical professional more interested in your well being than an extra thousand dollars. I get a quote from Miranda: $12,850, which is all inclusive of the operating room fee, the anesthesia, and all the follow up visits. The anesthesiologist is not a specialized nurse but an M.D. At first I was hesitant about the operating room at the upscale Four Seasons hotel on Brickell in Miami, thinking at the time that a hospital would be safer and less expensive. Wrong. First of all, the setup at the Four Seasons is the Miami Institute for Age Management and Intervention, an impressive luxury spa-like clinic fully equipped for any medical emergency and just across the causeway from Mt. Sinai Hospital on Miami Beach. The atmosphere of the Miami Institute is so professional, pristine, efficient, and GERM-FREE, you relax immediately before, during, and after your procedure until hours later you are discharged to go home or to a room in the hotel (if you so choose). There is a slightly discounted room rate for patients of the Institute, and an overnight nurse is available for an extra fee (about $500). You will need someone to stay with you for a couple of nights to apply ice packs, etc., but a reliable family member or friend is perfectly capable of what little care is required. I was lucky to have a willing family member to stay, so I booked a room for two nights to make her volunteer services as pleasant as possible. And it was more than pleasant, as only a Four Seasons hotel room can be, with a grand marble bath and luxury amenities, a desk, fridge, coffee maker, flat screen TV, room service, and spectacular views over the city. The doctor comes to see you the next morning in the clinic and replaces the big packing bandages with smaller ones, is as delighted as you are with the results so far, and sets up the next appointments in his office. At check out time, a Miami Institute staff member accompanies you down the service elevator (if you wish to avoid the eyes of the chic hotel guests in the lobby). The pain wasn't too bad the first two days but became worse on Day 3, so I took the pain medications he had prescribed, down to Extra Strength Tylenol a couple of days later. More than pain eventually it was the discomfort of sleeping on several pillows, and a stretchy numb feeling around my ears, lower face, and neck, which felt something like having a boa constrictor wrapped around it (although I have never personally had this experience). Little by little, day by day, the discomfort diminishes and you get accustomed to it, although more than six weeks later I am still numb, tight, and stiff, as the swelling decreases and moves southward. However, my friends and acquaintances (those who don't know) mostly find me looking "great," without knowing why. I had practically no facial bruising, just slight darkening around the lower cheeks and neck, and the only incision visible would be under my chin which is easily hidden behind a stroke of concealer. The other incisions are behind and under my ears which are naturally hidden by my hair style and almost invisible anyway. The skin on my face looks better than ever - which I initially attributed to my light diet and alcohol abstinence over weeks preceding the surgery - and Dr. K was kind enough not to correct me when I said so. Now I realize it was all part of his brilliant work. I was disappointed when he dismissed me after our one month visit, telling me to return after six months. Hell, no. I miss our jovial sessions, and I want my "after" pictures taken; so he agreed to three months. I leave in a few days for a three-week vacation and will see friends I haven't seen in a year. I know they will think I look "great" and attribute it to my vacation. No reason to hide it. I will share my good luck find with them. That's what friends are for.