POSTED UNDER Facelift Reviews
Various procedures
UPDATED FROM KareninCali
2 months post
Please note this review is my own personal journey...
WORTH IT$12,700
Unfortunately, due to the restrictions on users from this site I am unable to accurately portray my experience at this time. In fairness to the surgeon and his staff, it needs to be noted that my posts were more about me sharing my personal reactions and as a process of gaining insight. It was not my intention, for my posts to personally reflect upon the surgeon. Had I been more fully informed as a user, I would have proceeded in a different way. The surgeon and the office have been active in providing solutions to this situation. It has been their intent to try and provide an experience that is positive for their clients, at least in my situation.
KareninCali's provider
UPDATED FROM KareninCali
1 month post
How to deal with the aftermath of an unexpected scar... treatment options?
One thing that helps me deal with not being listened to prior to my surgery and now having a 2 and a half inch scar, is trying to move forward with what I can to try and correct a wrong.
I will be investigating lasers and possibly tattoo treatments to see if I can address reducing the length on this scar on my chin.
Does anyone have information of scar treatments using lasers, tattooing or anything else? I currently am already using a scar cream regularly.
I will be investigating lasers and possibly tattoo treatments to see if I can address reducing the length on this scar on my chin.
Does anyone have information of scar treatments using lasers, tattooing or anything else? I currently am already using a scar cream regularly.
Replies (5)
My recent procedure has eliminated my savings and then some so I really need to know potential costs for these treatments too ;)
you need to remember one thing. the scar is under the chin and no one looks under your chin!
Give it time, the scar will go. It is almost a year since my facelift and you wouldn't know I'd had one. The scar under my chin is invisible now. The sagging to my neck has come back too, though not as bad. Not sure it was worth it really although I did look good for my son's wedding as I was still swollen which made me look younger. Enough about me - give the scar time.
Thanks Linda. Of course, I feel very remorseful now and all for not much improvement. As I already mentioned in another post, there are pockets of fat that remain. They are not significant but then I was not overly concerned with this area to begin with (I did not come in with the intent to have fat removed in this area but my surgeon recommended it.) The problem is these "side pockets" actually accentuated the jowl area... and that was the main reason that had me seeking cosmetic interventions in the first place!
When I have my surgery I do not want cut under my chin at all for simply the reason u are having trouble with that scar. I do not want a scar under that area . than f sharing
For the lady post saying the scar will go away It doesn't disappear!!maybe some heal better than ever but I would be the one that would not heal well. Any nerve damage? Or numb areas?
That is part of the reason for me posting. There was limited information on the actual scar you will receive I need to emphasize I did not have a lot of fat or loose skin and still this was the scar. I basically just had information from the surgeon (which should have been enough). My hope is that this may inform others and they can avoid my fate ;)
I am using a pharmaceutical grade scar cream and so forth. I am using special concealer to try and cover it up but it does not do a very good job of concealing a scar such as this. Maybe in a number of months it will work better.
It is numb and tight. When I stretch my neck, it looks "pulled". As far as I know, these lightly is part of the normal healing process.
I think this is more than disappointing. Disappointing is coming home with the wrong shade of lipstick. This result and its cost seem outrageous, to say nothing of the doctor not really being able to remember the details. A reminder to all of us to keep notes. But solving this should not be your problem, but his. Do you have a friend who can help advocate on your behalf. I think you need to put your concerns in writing and ask for a response and a meeting so that the issues can be resolved without you incurring any further expense. No wonder liability insurance is so expensive in California! I wish you the best possible outcome. Don't give up.
You are right, disappointing is the word I use in place of a expletive ;)
Yes, I blame myself for not following through more but that is just because of hindsight. I did ask the right questions and share what was important to me to ensure the procedure was successful. For whatever reason, being too busy, not taking notes or remembering...*sigh* who knows... he was careless and I am paying the price.
I feel justifiably I should be refunded the full amount and then some to address all the scaring that is now there for no positive purpose. I look worse that I did prior to the operation ;(
Thank you for your encouragement. This is difficult... not only has what was hoped to be a positive experience not come to fruition but I feel like I am now permanently scarred because a doctor did not do what was in my best interests. I also will likely be involved in a drawn out process dealing with the surgeon and in the aftermath of trying to fix as much as can be fixed.
I am very sorry to see you have been left with a scar you were not aware would be so visible. It doesn't seem as though your physician is focused on your concerns on the outcome of the surgery. He seems more focused on what he might do differently next time-which is of no benefit to you. That he would state he does not recall your individual case is nothing short of terrible. If he took three minutes to read your file maybe it would jog his memory. What a waste of your trust, time and money.
You hit it on the nail. As much as possible, I am trying to focus on what I can do now. I feel now more work and money is ahead of me to try and improve the areas that still were not improved. I was cautious before, now I will be that much more extreme!
They really required only minor revision but I felt it was important enough to do. Hopefully I can still find a way to achieve this. Unfortunately, added to the mix is fixing the scars I now have and revising the chin as fat left in a position that actually enhances the jowel area ;(
Truth be told, I would be more likely to just leave it all because of this bad experience and the fear of making it worse but I actually look worse than I did before in some areas ;( Thank you for you words, it will help me do what I need to do to move forward with this.
Replies (5)
One month post op is way too early to worry.....it may shrink and lighten considerably. Give it a little time.
yes, mine was very red and raised then, even at 7 weeks it is looking a bit better. I think yours will improve a lot.
I am at the same time frame and make up is not covering it. I am using scar cream every day as directed and special make up for scars. It will be a long time before it becomes a thin scar if ever. Likely I will need to invest more $ to try and get some support to fix this mistake. Makes me very sad considering this was suppose to be a special gift to myself. I am considering seeing a different surgeon... maybe something else can be done.
I can see why you are disappointed when he said the scar would be a thumb size. Fortunately, it's not the most scene area, unless your seven feet. After the scar is done fading, I have scene some really neat youtube videos where tattoo artists can tattoo the color of your skin and blend in the scar to your skin color. The one I saw does random dots of three colors so it takes three different sitting times. Perhaps you should concentrate on the unevenness and lack of fat in the area you wanted first. I hope you can get it resolved to where you are happy.
seen
I had one scar covered in with a tattoo and had to wait a year and 1/2 before the artist would work on covering it because it takes a long while for scars to mature. (I also got permanent eyeliner and brows which I LOVE!!!)
Yes sisterch, thankfully I am short! Unfortunately, I dance and we do things called laybacks. This along with the yoga I practice daily has be exposing the underside of my chin. The special concealing makeup is not covering it up at this stage and it will probably show through for some time. I actually opted out of performing in the next while because of it ;(
I am working hard to come to some level of peace with this because what can I do? I do think I will explore laser and tattoo at some point. I honestly just saved up for this so I was not expecting to have to put more money into fixing this ;(
Batavia, I unfortunately expected that it may be that long of a wait. I never wear makeup under my chin but if it at least heals enough that some type of makeup will cover this mistake then I can at least feel less self conscious when I dance. Hot yoga is an area where makeup will not work at all so I am trying to prepare a response for when the inevitable question comes up about my chin...
Just wait at least a year and do some laser there, if people ask you can tell them that you felt and they have to do stitches thas it! Hey could happen to people you just trip and fall, just accident ! Bless
Thanks Mariposa. I was going planning to fib about the scar. It is large enough to look like I was in some type of accident. Ironically people who know me probably with not attribute it to cosmetic surgery because who would do something that would leave a scar like this right?!? So I was going to say the scar is because of an "accident" and then say it would be too long to elaborate. It is somewhat honest ;)
Goodness, the scar is just beginning to mature. Mine is now a hair-thin scar and looked like yours early on. The firmness under my chin from the tightening has lasted forever. Take a deep breath and wait about 6 months and compare, then 6 more months. I have noticed so many people on this website freak-out (just like I do), in spitr of being told to be patient and wait months or a year for the result. I had cosmetic procedures at 25, 40, and 50. Every time in the beginning I was certain that I had made a terrible mistake, that I was going to be disfigured or scarred for life or that it was useless. Please wait before deciding. I am now 58 and I am planning on more work before the 60. It is way too early to be worried about excessive scarring under your chin. At one month, this incision is fresh and barely beginning the scar maturation. You will be fine with a thin scar before you know it. I do not see your orbital rims; so I cannot discuss whether I had a similar experience. I am going to Cancun to save money and was searching through the posts when I found yours. I do not know why I found yours; but please, do not worry. IT IS TOO SOON.
Unfortunately, my first reaction was OMG not because of how the scar currently looks but how it will look even when if it healed perfectly. Right now, it is that much more upsetting. I am also upset because I was asked specifically about scars prior to the surgery. I was not informed accurately. Had I known it was going to be this length, I would NOT have had the surgery done. I realize everyone has their preferences of what would be acceptable and a reasonable trade off for results. For me personally, this is not.
Thanks you for your words of encouragement. I cannot undo what has been done but I am investigating lasers and tattooing to hopefully make this into less of a mistake ;)
*because I asked
Dear don't worry, relax, trust me after couples of months will be less just like a c section, just don't focus on it because you will magnifiet! I am a holistic skin care consultant and face yoga teacher and I notice that I have a line under the chin very deep since I was 44 and I am now almost 47, I was so concern and was looking at other people even men's that they have it so don't worry about it, people have that line under the chin, just give yourself time to heal! Bless
Yes, I am doing my best to try and come to peace with this. I think there is a lot of anger because I was very clear about knowing about scars and the importance of this. Now I have a scar for life I was not prepared for because there level of care and consideration was not there. I am angry at myself too for trusting someone who really was not listening.
Unfortunately the scar does not follow that natural crease. What has been done is done so I am just trying to be proactive. I wish I could say that it is an improvement not considering the scar but it is not. In fact, there is a flat area in the middle that extends to two "pouches" on the side. It is not grotesque but it also is not an improvement... in fact, it looks odd especially in movement. I wish I had my old scar-free neck back ;(
Thanks Sminky and CeeBee. Unfortunately, it was just a scar I was not prepared for. I had researched other things for a long time and thus was more prepared. My chin happens to be more exposed than the average person because the activities I do. This now will be an area where I will be self-conscious not only during the long healing period but also when and if it heals properly. I felt I did my part to avoid this my asking lots of questions and stressing the importance of scars and how big a concern they were for me. It seems this concern was not taken seriously or considered. If it had this could have been avoided.
Replies (2)