Facelift with Fat Grafting, Necklift, Upper and Lower Bleph

Like many women here, I was not feeling that my outer appearance was reflecting how I felt on the inside. When I looked in the mirror, I saw lots of lines all pointed downward along with a saggy neck and eyelids. I started researching facial rejuvenation procedures about 3 years ago using many info sources, including this site. Once I generally knew what procedures would be a good fit, I met with a few plastic surgeons to determine a good fit as far as their aesthetic vision for me. I found my surgeon and had my surgery performed on September 20, 2021. I am now one month post op and here are a few take aways based on my experience:

1. The recovery is much harder (at least for some of us) than touted on RS and other sites. I am still numb, bruised and swollen with tightness all along the lower one third of my face. At one month, I would still not comfortably return to work. Do not freak out, if your recovery takes longer! We all heal differently.

2. Self care post surgery is a full time job. Get yourself a good full time caregiver for at least the first 48 hours post op--you will definitely not regret it. You will be icing, compressing, lymphatic massaging, heat compressing several times daily. Be consistent. At one month post, I am still doing all of these and still have a long way to go.

3. For convenience, use a local surgeon if you are able to find a good fit. I traveled for my surgery and really missed the comforts of home after sleeping in polyester sheets on a 20 year old mattress at the Airbnb I rented for 2 weeks and spending another week in a hotel because my surgeon determined that I could not get my stitches/staples out at the one week post visit and would have to stay put for another week. If you do travel for surgery, make sure you have a contingency plan should you not be able to go home when you anticipate.

4. On some sites they promote getting a facelift earlier--even in your forties. We all age differently and there are certainly outliers, but I am glad I waited until I was 63 to get these procedures done as I DO NOT want to have to ever undergo another surgery like this.

This has been a very tough recovery with less than stellar results. My skin has weird wrinkles where none used to be and my jawline still has some sagging. My smile is no longer natural looking. The fat transfer on both sides of my face (cheekbones) appear to be uneven—the laugh lines on the side of my eyes go up on the right side and down on the left. Fat was grafted into a “divot” (old hockey accident) in the orbital ridge area above my left eye, but has now completely disappeared. My upper blepharoplasty is okay, but my lower bleph left visible scars, dark discoloration and eye bags-festoons (which I never had before surgery). My surgeon suggested additional fat injections to dispel the under eye bags, but I don’t have any confidence that would have helped. I continue to have issues with edema and extreme numbness and tightness in my face and neck. I have spent at least $10k minimum post surgery for the following treatments:
Lymphatic massage
Mechanical lymphatic drainage
Facial Acupuncture
Medical micro needling
I am also considering Ultherapy to tighten the saggy jowls that should have been resolved with the neck lift. Another $3K expense.

I’m not really sure what to do at this point. Do I address directly with my surgeon? Do I make an appointment with another surgeon to get their perspective? I would love some advice.

After a year and a half of “waiting for things to settle” I have come to terms with the substandard outcome of my face/neck lift, fat grafting and upper/lower blepharoplasty. My face is now noticeably asymmetrical with one full cheek and one hollow cheek, malar bags (festoons) under both eyes and a saggy skinned “cobra” neck. I have consulted with two local facial plastic surgeons who’ve told me there’s not much they can do short of me undergoing another full procedure. I have had little to no follow up from Dr. Judge, unless initiated by me. I actually look older than I did prior to this surgery. Buyer beware and do your research—this was definitely a huge not worth it for me and has had deep emotional consequences.