POSTED UNDER Neck Lift Reviews
Waited 30 Years To Do This
ORIGINAL POST
Waited 30 Years To Do This
WORTH IT$9,500
I have had a double chin since I was a young kid. Then, I grew older and fatter, it got bigger. I lost a great deal of weight in my early 30's and as the years went by, the skin just hung from my jaw line, along with some extra fat both above and below the platysma bands. I consulted a dermatologist, who suggested Kybella, but I knew it would only deal with the extra fat, not the skin laxity. I consulted Dr. Spies and he agreed. I went ahead with the surgery this week and am now home recuperating. So far, so good! Dr. Spies' office was wonderful and the procedure went exactly as expected. I'll post more as I heal.
AZPhD's provider
Replies (3)
March 2, 2020
Congratulations! Dr Spies and staff are wonderful!
March 2, 2020
Yes! They really are. I enjoy how low-key and pretty chill they are. They don't scream "Scottsdale Plastic Surgery" the way others do. Barely a website, barely any social media, super low-key office, nothing to prove to anyone. Subtle. I like that. Nothing flashy. Made me feel perfectly at-ease.
June 3, 2020
Hi, just checking in with you, hope your doing great!
June 3, 2020
Thanks, I am! I never got to do my 3-month follow-up with my surgeon because of COVID-19, but I'll go back in and see him eventually when I'm feeling it's safe. My scars are faded significantly and the swelling has gone down quite a bit. Dr. Spies is known for his very natural work so the change is subtle and no one has commented on it at all! I did this more for me anyway, and I love not having to think about my "waddle" anymore. :)
June 3, 2020
I'm so glad you are feeling better! All of your stitches got removed before the Covid19 thankfully I hope. I saw him last week I'm so happy they are able to work again.
June 3, 2020
Yup! I timed it very well. I'd be ok with going back but truth be told I'm not going *anywhere* at all right now, not even to the grocery store, so I'm going to hold off longer.
UPDATED FROM AZPhD
5 days post
First week recovery
Not surprisingly, the hardest part of recovery has been sleep. Not being able to sleep on my side or stomach is a real hurdle for me, since I'd spent years training myself not to sleep on my back due to my double chin causing breathing problems and mild apnea. So keeping my head elevated and sleeping sitting up has been super hard. But luckily, pain and bruising have been super minimal! I guess I bled a lot during the surgery so it took longer than Dr. Spies usually takes to do these (he told this to my husband when I was coming out of surgery). The other major struggle has been the swelling. My face looks so puffy and the muscles around my ears (incisions) and reaching down to my collar bone are very swollen and tight, even now on the 5th day after surgery. Icing helps, but I think I just need to be patient. Wound care has been pretty easy: just keeping incision areas clean with hydrogen peroxide and neosporin. The compression band is torture for me though: feels like I'm wearing over-the-ear headphones for 12 hours straight, all the time. I thought it would get better after the initial headwrap (ace bandage) was removed 48 hours after surgery, but it's still pretty uncomfortable. Hoping that when I get stitches out tomorrow (day 6) that the doc will say I don't have to wear the wrap anymore.
Replies (1)
March 2, 2020
Sleeping on my back was the worst as was the neck band! Try putting some gauze inside, especially near your ears.
March 3, 2020
Yup, doing that! I also read that soft socks work well. Gonna try that tonight. How long did you have to sleep elevated?
March 3, 2020
Maybe 4 weeks? I kept sliding off the wedge pillow I bought. It was much easier plopping up regular pillows instead of the wedge for me. I here some women buy In expensive recliners and They sleep great! Wish I wold of known that!
UPDATED FROM AZPhD
5 days post
Adding more photos
Trying to add some more photos. RealSelf's photo system isn't the greatest. But here are a few more photos from the first few days after the surgery. Again, doc said I had a lot of bleeding during the surgery, so that may be the reason why I had so little bruising. My ears are the most tender area, of course. Looking forward to getting stitches out on day 6.
Congratulations, you waited a long time for this! I look forward to seeing your progress updates.