My New Face! - Sydney, AU

I am a 48 year old professional sales woman who has recently undergone extensive facial surgery by Dr Gerachi at the Face Institute and am writing this to share my incredible experience and transformation; the incredible highs and a relatively few lows so that you may gain insights into the emotional side of it all.

Working in sales, a significant contributor to my success is forging successful relationship with my clients. A first impression with a new client will often determine the outcome. I have a very expressive face and have a tendency to frown when listening and, over the years, this had forged deep furrows and made me look rather "cranky" and severe when, in fact, I am nothing like that, so when I was negotiating with clients, I was often negatively received. Coupled with that, the double chin I have carried around since childhood was becoming more prominent and I just looked haggard. Catching my reflection in a mirror or on the device I use in my work was causing me great anguish because I just didn't feel as tired and a miserable as I looked. I had recently come out of a long term relationship and made the decision that it was time to do something about how I was feeling, to invest in myself, so to speak. I went online and started searching for chin lifts, Botox and face lifts....
The Real Self was one of the first sites I came across. the plethora of personal journeys, before and after shots was quite overwhelming; some were encouraging by how fabulous the results and others downright disastrous looking like aliens re entering the earths atmosphere at a great speed their faces so badly altered.
I took about eight months of online searching and thinking to commit to the decision, it is my face, after all.
I did not want to go to one of those "cheap" Thailand places as I firmly believe in the talent and expertise of our own.
After reading extensive personal accounts of and seeing the before and after shots on the Real Self, it was the testimonies and photos of Dr Gerarchi's that I kept going back to; the results in the photos simply breathtaking and yet so natural. Particularly for the chin lifts!

From my very first online enquiry, the experience I have had with the Face Institute has been amazing. Wendy Scholl, the practice manager initially sent me a very comprehensive email outlining dr Gerachi's extensive experience, treatment options, what to expect, etc that was so considered it waylaid any concerns I had about their practice and what I was considering doing to my face. Dr Gerachi, from the outset, incredible in his professionalism, warmth and listening to what I liked and didn't like about my face. His recommendation of a chin implant, brow and facelift and some Botox/filler for my frown all very carefully explained in terms of procedure/incisions, down time, financial outlay, results etc etc. I just felt comfortable with the face institute from the get go. I felt nothing but excitement and realistic outcome expectations for what was about to happen! the surgery pack Wendy provided was brilliant, detailing how and when to use the contents (saline, strata derm, Meds etc.) pre and post op.

In terms of the actual surgery ... I slept through it so I can't tell you what happened on he table but I had absolutely no pain, with the exception of a raging headache post surgery. As expected, I was incredibly swollen in my face but no pain. As dr Gerachi had told me, the first two weeks were the worst with stitches, compression headband, adjusting to the chin implant and the effects of the anaesthetic which made me very tired throughout the day.
Once again, the follow up from the face institute was just so lovely with a phone call in the second day at home to see how I was.

My follow up a week later was again, really caring and kind. I had developed a slight pooling of liquid in my right temple which had to be drained. That was the only pain I experienced in the entire time of my journey. Again, the sensations of numbness and the other symptoms I was feeling were all addressed by the wonderful team in the practice. The referral for lymph draining massage on my face was just brilliant; I'm glad that the face institute is considering doing this as an In-house service rather than outsource soon, it's fantastic! Interestingly, the physio therapist doing the lymph massage said that a lot of her clients go through a period of post facelift depression three weeks in, wondering if they had done the right thing and a sense of remorse. I never felt that, I think the research I did and the face institutes explanations of expected outcomes kept me in perspective.

What I have so appreciated are the post, non surgery treatments that have been recommended by Wendy and the other talented practitioners to help me get the best out of this extensive investment; the chemical peels, omnilux light therapy and creams, all of which I have done and am still doing. It could have been quite easy to have my facelift been the end of the story and not just part of a longer journey.

As far as the results go..... I have never felt so confident, beautiful and happy in my entire life! I have a jawline for the first time ever . My frown is a memory and the tired face has been replaced with me, twenty years ago! The best part is that my friends, colleagues and even my sister can't quite put a finger on what I've done, it's so natural. Dr Gerachi, because he specialises on the face, is a genius! I admit to Botox and a new hair colour when pushed. I have recommended the face institute to all my friends that know what I have actually done and will continue to do so. A picture paints a thousand words... Here are mine (see attachments)

I'm almost eight weeks in and every day is just a delight. I haven't stopped smiling and am just so pleased I finally did this.