Where to Begin...big Decision - Minneapolis, MN

Former smoker here too, which my daughter who detests smoking reminded me. I always said I had my dad's wrinkly Irish skin...to which she replied "yeah, grandpa smoked too" . So no sympathy from that girl. I continue to post questions on realself.com and am amazed how many doctors respond. It's like getting free consultations without leaving your house. They are pretty darn honest too...even though I don't like hearing how bad my face is. I am not going to be able to have anything done for a few months because we go to Florida from Dec. - May. But I am using this month to make my decision and set a surgery date in May before I leave. I talked on the phone to one of Dr. Tholens previous patients and she goes to Florida for the winter too, so she scheduled her surgery for when she returned in the spring. I just didn't have enough time now to do it, but now that I've been told how bad my sagging wrinkled face is I hate to postpone the surgery. I find that now when I'm talking to people, I kind of cover the bottom of my face in some way. Crazy! People say it doesn't really hurt and I only want to have one surgery, so I'm going to do it all at once. Except they won't do the facial resurfacing at the same time because it needs to be the really major CO2 one. I'm more concerned about that part of it than the facelift. Payback for all those years smoking that gave me all those deep wrinkles. So, anyway, you may be getting your surgery BEFORE me. Keep me posted on what you're finding out and considering. Carol

Former smoker, well, i made it two months now, still miss it a lot. I will be interested seeing who you all choose. I planned on going to a local PS but I think i will go to Dr Stoker who id my MM, i trust him and that is so important. So another long trip. Mthanks for the post. And remember the docs re in the business so have to try to sell you on more procedures, do not take it to heart. You look like a lovely attractive lady, and who maybe could benefit from a little help as we all can.

Thanks for reminding me of that...the more procedures they do while they've got you there the better. That may be another place 'trust' comes in and another reason to get multiple referrals. I'm a retired teacher, so this is a lot of money for me to be spending.

What procedures did you have done?

I had my neck, jowls, face, upper and lower eyes and fat transfer done! Oh and a brow lift and my bottom lids adjusted (can't remember the name!)

That's what I'm supposed to have done too. Let me know how the fat transfer works as my 2 doctors had different opinions on that in my case. Not sure why but one said I wasn't a 'candidate' for a fat transfer....and a doctor on realself agreed...so I need to investigate that further. So you just had this all done 4 days ago? How's the recovery so far? Will you need laser resurfacing? How did you decide you needed a facelift? I had no idea I even needed one. I just saw an ad for a 'free consultation' and thought what the heck, I'll see if there's anything they can do about the wrinkles around my mouth. Sure wasn't prepared for the diagnosis. Wish I was in your place and had already had it all done? Stay rested...and keep me posted.

What were the docs opinions about the fat transfer? Yup the surgery was on Monday- 6 hours, general anesthesia. Recovery has not been bad- stopped the drugs and went to tylenol on Tuesday sometime. As long as I keep taking it every 4 hours I am good. It is more SORE then pain, and mainly my neck! No laser- at least it has not been mentioned. I wanted THE MOST to get rid of my chicken neck, turkey waddle, or what ever you want to call it. Close behind that came the bags under my eyes and then the drooping lids, until before I knew it...... it was a "happy meal" :-). Just because they have "diagnosed" you as needing this, you have the option of NOT! That is the beauty.... until YOU want to do this for YOU don't do it! I am the worlds biggest chicken tho and for ME to have done this it is BIG :-)) Kathy

You will "figger" it all out :-). I am such a chicken that I decided if I was gonna do it, I was gonna do it ALL at one time. I had a friend tell me yesterday that it TOTALLY floored him I was doing this because of my fears of sedation! He knew I was SERIOUS! :-)

Hi, what helped for your mouth wrinkles? I will maybe do some surgery in the Spring, depends on how far along we are i moving and selling this place.

I had a round of Silikon 1000, it's used off label. I just couldn't take the needles, swelling & cost of Rystlane every 6 months.

My wrinkles around my mouth are pretty deep so I need some major laser resurfacing there and the one doctor who saw me said the fractionated type laser would not take care of mine. I would need to go with the more extreme CO2 laser. From what I've read from people who have had it is that it doesn't hurt, but it is a time consuming recovery ...not in length, more in what you have to do on a daily basis to take care of the skin as it heals. The one doctor I saw and probably trust the most says it needs to be done after the facelift. It can't be done at the same time which is what I wanted.

The PS I am going to use does it both at the same time (old fashioned ablated Co2). I'm just a chicken so I'll probably do that later. Plus anyway if there are any bad scars from the FL the laser should fix them right up. I was originally going for just the COs but ehhh....I need my jowls & waddle gone, CO2 isn't going to fix that slack mess sooo time to go under the knife (YIKES!!).

Yup, I originally just went in for the resurfacing too. But after consulting with the PS I realized what he was saying about my neck and jowls. I really didn't think that part of my face was that bad as most people my age seem to have it much worse, so in comparing, I was on the better half. But then when you look at before and after pictures , I could see that I looked like all the other 'before' pictures. I really wish I could have the resurfacing done at the same time and just be out of commission one time, but it does sound like there is a lot of after are with the resurfacing procedure if they don't do the fractional one, which my doctor didn't recommend. I had not intended on doing anything with my eyes or forehead , but then the PS said if I don't do it he guarantees I will be in after the bottom of my face is done because now the 'top' will look old compared to the bottom. He also recommended a bottom Blepharoplasty. It's adds about $5000 onto the cost. I never expected to be spending this much on my face. That 'free consultation' opened the door to a bunch of issues of was not even aware of. Why does the brow lift bother you? It's hard to get a good look at you in your picture, but you look pretty young and I don't see many wrinkles. I doubt you need as much work as I do. Keep me posted.

Nah, I'm old, that picture was after a liquid facelift. That works wonders but at $1,500 a pop & only lasting at the max 9 months I've spent about as much as my neck/facelift is going to cost. My waddle is what bothers me the most, not so much as it's there but the texture of it is terrible, it really belongs on a rooster!! Ugghhh!! I don't know what I have against brow lifts, I'm just afraid of looking like some of the "our age" actresses that have had work done & now look shocked. If not done right it can change the entire look of your face. I agree with your doctor, fractional, not so good for older skin. Are you comfortable with the PS you went to? Is he going to do a full lower lid lift or just a pinch lift? Happy Friday!! :)

We go to Phoenix in the winter so I may get the laser done while We are down there. That way I will just reappear in the spring look I Nguyen even better.

I had the CO2 done on a facial scar from a burn. The injections before they did the laser was the most painful. Recover was not a problem, keep it clean, moisture with satisfied, and no Sun. All was pretty easy. PS recommended at least two treatments, which I have had.

What type of laser sod they use? The main doctor I went to didn't think a fractionated laser would be enough in my case because the lines around my mouth appear to deep. The traditional CO2 is what he recommends as it only needs to be done once...but the after are is a lot more than with the fractionated type so I'm unsure. Have narrowed my search down to 2 doctors, but approaches are pretty different so I am having another consultation with both now that I have researched all these procedures.

Old fashioned ablated Co2 is the way to go at our ages but sadly that stops at the jaw line. I was thinking of having it feathered out with maybe the ablated or probably a deep TCA peel so there isn't such a line of demarcation at the jaw. Speaking of TCA peels, I purchased one, going to do it in a few days here. :)