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*Treatment results may vary
Good Experience
I’m in my early 30s and in the past few years, I’ve noticed volume loss in my face which caused my face to sag. I went back and forth about having a face lift because I’m still pretty young, but instead of getting fillers and threads, I wanted something more permanent.
There are so many plastic surgery clinics in Korea that it’s hard to know who to choose. I chose VLIF because they only specialize in face lifts and I chose Dr. Shim because his name kept popping up in the plastic surgery forum that I am in. I researched him and also looked at his before and afters. I liked that his results looked natural and I also read that his suturing is top notch.
I flew to Korea and had my initial meeting with Bella (English-speaking consultant) and Dr. Shim a few days later. I believe there are two English speaking consultants: Amy and Bella. They are both amazing and will stay with you during your duration at the clinic.
1/15: VLIF surgery day! I arrived at 12:30PM. Amy stayed with me the entire time. Dr. Shim asked me if I wanted the scar in the sideburn or along my side burns. I asked what was more popular and he said in the sideburn was more popular among the younger crowd. I ended up doing that. He did say it would shorten my sideburns.
The whole process was efficient. I signed the consent papers, washed my face, had Dr. Shim mark my face, and then waited to go into the OR.
The OR was cold so I asked for extra blankets for my feet haha. Honestly, after they gave me the IV medication, everything blacked out. I woke up from the surgery and Amy told me to rest and to make sure I wasn’t wobbly. I laid for a few minutes and I was ready to get up. Personally, I wasn’t affected by the anesthesia. It was mentioned that people who are light weights with drinking generally have a harder time with anesthesia.
I left the clinic around 4PM. Initially, I felt no pain. My whole face was pretty numb. Around midnight, I started to have sensation again and my face felt super tight. It was hard to sleep the first night.
POST-OP RECOVERY
Day 1 (1/16): My head felt super tight and my ears were throbbing. I had to take out my Invisalign tray overnight because my teeth were throbbing. I wasn’t as bruised or swollen as I thought I would be so I walked around and shopped.
Day 2 (1/17): My face definitely looked and felt more swollen. When I touched my cheeks, they were super tender. As I walked to the clinic for my appointment, I could feel under my right eye swell up. I also started to worry about what my sideburns would look like. I tried not to get into my head too much. Once I reached the clinic, a nurse took off my bandages and shampooed my hair. It felt so nice. Another nurse cleaned up my sutures, gave me IV antibiotic and IV deswelling treatment. Dr. Shim came in and removed both the drains. I just did a deep breath in and deep breath out while he pulled it. He stapled both sites, which wasn’t as bad as I thought. It felt like getting a quick ear piercing but in your head. I was also given red light therapy. Amy, again, was with me throughout the entire visit.
Day 3: Swelling was the worst on this day but that’s to be expected. Apparently day 3 and 4 are usually the worst and then it subsides.
Day 7: I got my sutures taken out by the nurse. She was gentle. It was definitely a weird sensation. My face still has a pins and needles sensation. Dr. Shim came in and took a look at my healing. He said everything looks really good. The dents are still present on the sides of my face. Apparently it is from the drains that were coming out of my head. The doctor said this was normal and will subside within 3 weeks. Once the sutures were taken out, the nurse applied some sort of waterproof bandage that will remain for a week. Apparently this bandage helps with scarring. I was also given red light therapy again.
Overall, it’s too early to tell what my results will be. Apparently it takes almost half a year to really see the results so I will be patient. For now, I am happy with the results. Bella/Amy were also very easy to contact throughout the entire process.
There are so many plastic surgery clinics in Korea that it’s hard to know who to choose. I chose VLIF because they only specialize in face lifts and I chose Dr. Shim because his name kept popping up in the plastic surgery forum that I am in. I researched him and also looked at his before and afters. I liked that his results looked natural and I also read that his suturing is top notch.
I flew to Korea and had my initial meeting with Bella (English-speaking consultant) and Dr. Shim a few days later. I believe there are two English speaking consultants: Amy and Bella. They are both amazing and will stay with you during your duration at the clinic.
1/15: VLIF surgery day! I arrived at 12:30PM. Amy stayed with me the entire time. Dr. Shim asked me if I wanted the scar in the sideburn or along my side burns. I asked what was more popular and he said in the sideburn was more popular among the younger crowd. I ended up doing that. He did say it would shorten my sideburns.
The whole process was efficient. I signed the consent papers, washed my face, had Dr. Shim mark my face, and then waited to go into the OR.
The OR was cold so I asked for extra blankets for my feet haha. Honestly, after they gave me the IV medication, everything blacked out. I woke up from the surgery and Amy told me to rest and to make sure I wasn’t wobbly. I laid for a few minutes and I was ready to get up. Personally, I wasn’t affected by the anesthesia. It was mentioned that people who are light weights with drinking generally have a harder time with anesthesia.
I left the clinic around 4PM. Initially, I felt no pain. My whole face was pretty numb. Around midnight, I started to have sensation again and my face felt super tight. It was hard to sleep the first night.
POST-OP RECOVERY
Day 1 (1/16): My head felt super tight and my ears were throbbing. I had to take out my Invisalign tray overnight because my teeth were throbbing. I wasn’t as bruised or swollen as I thought I would be so I walked around and shopped.
Day 2 (1/17): My face definitely looked and felt more swollen. When I touched my cheeks, they were super tender. As I walked to the clinic for my appointment, I could feel under my right eye swell up. I also started to worry about what my sideburns would look like. I tried not to get into my head too much. Once I reached the clinic, a nurse took off my bandages and shampooed my hair. It felt so nice. Another nurse cleaned up my sutures, gave me IV antibiotic and IV deswelling treatment. Dr. Shim came in and removed both the drains. I just did a deep breath in and deep breath out while he pulled it. He stapled both sites, which wasn’t as bad as I thought. It felt like getting a quick ear piercing but in your head. I was also given red light therapy. Amy, again, was with me throughout the entire visit.
Day 3: Swelling was the worst on this day but that’s to be expected. Apparently day 3 and 4 are usually the worst and then it subsides.
Day 7: I got my sutures taken out by the nurse. She was gentle. It was definitely a weird sensation. My face still has a pins and needles sensation. Dr. Shim came in and took a look at my healing. He said everything looks really good. The dents are still present on the sides of my face. Apparently it is from the drains that were coming out of my head. The doctor said this was normal and will subside within 3 weeks. Once the sutures were taken out, the nurse applied some sort of waterproof bandage that will remain for a week. Apparently this bandage helps with scarring. I was also given red light therapy again.
Overall, it’s too early to tell what my results will be. Apparently it takes almost half a year to really see the results so I will be patient. For now, I am happy with the results. Bella/Amy were also very easy to contact throughout the entire process.
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