POSTED UNDER Cheek Lift REVIEWS
Deep Plane Mid-Face Lift - Portland, OR
ORIGINAL POST
I decided to go for the mid-face lift because I...
Monica28January 19, 2012
$7,000
I decided to go for the mid-face lift because I had deep nasolabial lines around my nose. The surgeon explained that he would do an endoscopic lift through the brow, which would gently lift the cheeks up and leave approximately 1" scars on my head. What I actually got were 8" scars going from my brow down behind my ears, which you can see when my hair is wet. My cheeks were lifted off of the bone and repositioned in a very high position which looked very unnatural. In a side profile it looked as though the cheek was pointed at the corner. I looked ridiculous.
Initially, the swelling was extreme, as it went down I prayed that what I was seeing wasn't what I would get. Unfortunately, it was. When the swelling went down my cheeks were very, very, high, unnaturally so. I did not venture out of my home for at least 3 months, when I did people stared at me. One man asked me if I had been in an accident. Family members were shocked, and my brother-in-law actually laughed in my face.
Since having this surgery 7 years ago, my life has gone down hill. I lost two jobs as people seem to act very negatively towards me. I have suffered from chronic depression and have been in hospital 3 times and I am taking anti-depressants. I have been seeing a therapist, but it is going nowhere. I do not have a job and know I will never have another as I have lost my confidence. I used to pride myself on my lovely hair, however, my hairdresser of 8 years was so disgusted that I had had surgery that she started giving me bad haircuts, her way of telling me she didn't want me as a client anymore. I have found that other hairdressers feel the same way, when they see the horrific scarring on my head.
The saddest thing of all is that I have lost my sense of identity. When I look in the mirror I don't recognize myself anymore, surgery took away my identity. My surgeon lied to me, he told me I would look subtle and be back to work in 2 weeks. I do not look subtle and it took me 2 years to pluck up the courage to go back to work and when I did it backfired. Finally, it will be 8 years this August since I had my surgery and I STILL do not look normal, and I STILL think about my surgery every single day, it never goes away.
Replies (25)
January 23, 2012
Is there a reason you did not post any before and after pictures to see how you looked then and how you look now?
Dr. Shah
Dr. Shah
January 23, 2012
Hello Dr. Shah,
The reason I have not posted before and after pictures is that I do not want to be reminded of how lovely I looked then and how horrible I look now. I don't let people take pictures of me any more.
The reason I have not posted before and after pictures is that I do not want to be reminded of how lovely I looked then and how horrible I look now. I don't let people take pictures of me any more.
February 2, 2012
Hello Monica28,
I just meant that it would be helpful to see what happened to you, that's all. I meant no disrespect. As they say "a picture says a thousand words."
Dr. Shah
I just meant that it would be helpful to see what happened to you, that's all. I meant no disrespect. As they say "a picture says a thousand words."
Dr. Shah
March 31, 2019
Yup I can't even look at myself on the mirror. I'm disgusted I Pa I money to destroy myself
February 15, 2012
Hi Monica,
I'm so sorry to hear about your predicament and completely understand how you feel. I also went through surgery which made me look completely different with the physician doing my upper lids which wasn't even part of the surgery. I look in the mirror all day hoping to recognize myself at some point, but that doesn't happen. The saving grace is that I'm saving to have a correction; which I think might also work wonders for you. Is this something you've considered? As rough as each day is things won't get better unless we make those changes. As for not providing pictures I understand your position. I don't even look at preop pics because it's too painful. Bless you friend and please consider a correction. Take Care.
I'm so sorry to hear about your predicament and completely understand how you feel. I also went through surgery which made me look completely different with the physician doing my upper lids which wasn't even part of the surgery. I look in the mirror all day hoping to recognize myself at some point, but that doesn't happen. The saving grace is that I'm saving to have a correction; which I think might also work wonders for you. Is this something you've considered? As rough as each day is things won't get better unless we make those changes. As for not providing pictures I understand your position. I don't even look at preop pics because it's too painful. Bless you friend and please consider a correction. Take Care.
March 2, 2012
Hi Roni48,
I wish you all the luck in the world with your correction. However, I decided years ago that I would never do another thing to my face, emotionally I just can't handle it. Thanks for your kind comments it is good to know there are still people like you out there. Good luck.
I wish you all the luck in the world with your correction. However, I decided years ago that I would never do another thing to my face, emotionally I just can't handle it. Thanks for your kind comments it is good to know there are still people like you out there. Good luck.
April 1, 2012
Hi Monica28,
I was moved and saddened by your story.
I know how people can become cruel and offensive with you when you want to enhance your beuauty or stop the ageing process so I can't imagine once what you do has a bad result.
Still, remember : no-one has the right to scorn you or to be mean to you. And also, are you sure that even hairdressers despise you for what they did (not you) to your face ? I'm not so sure. I'm sure there are compassionate and kind peple there. And probably many people don't even realize you had a surgical operation.
Very good luck, take care and keep close the ones you love and who love you.
I was moved and saddened by your story.
I know how people can become cruel and offensive with you when you want to enhance your beuauty or stop the ageing process so I can't imagine once what you do has a bad result.
Still, remember : no-one has the right to scorn you or to be mean to you. And also, are you sure that even hairdressers despise you for what they did (not you) to your face ? I'm not so sure. I'm sure there are compassionate and kind peple there. And probably many people don't even realize you had a surgical operation.
Very good luck, take care and keep close the ones you love and who love you.
I feel that my story should be posted in cheek lift not facelift.
Thanks.
I've moved your story to the cheek lift section. Thanks for letting us know.
I have had a similar experience recently and am going through hell, so I know what you mean about your appearance feels completely changed. I also feel that people react differently to me now, and my boyfiend has lost respect for me having this done in the first place. Revision is possible, and I am currently seeking help. Have you done tried to seek some opinions on whether your situation can be improved?
I know exactly how you feel and I am terribly sorry. I was told that once scar tissue set in that revision to the cheeks was impossible. I have been told that I can go with fillers to even things out. However, I made a decision a couple of years ago that I will never, ever, let another surgeon touch my face. I did this to myself and so I will live with the consequences. I hope you are able to get help before serious depression sets in (which it will). I have been suffering from major depression for years now, I have been seeing a therapist, however, I can pick up the vibe that she thinks plastic surgery is totally vain and stupid, and she has no compassion at all in that regard, so I don't see her anymore. My life ended the day I had surgery. I wish you the best of luck, just be careful with revision as it can make things a whole lot worse from what I have read.