POSTED UNDER Facelift REVIEWS
Facial Rejuvenation at 60, one year later
ORIGINAL POST
Was originally planning just upper and lower...
Was originally planning just upper and lower blephs, but figured I would only do this once, so I'm getting "the works". By the "works" I mean full facelift (which includes necklift), upper and lower blephs, lateral (temporal) browlift, fat transfer and laser resurfacing a month or two after. I am beyond excited, but also nervous, which I'm sure is completely normal. I have pored over the questions and reviews here for months and asked a few questions of my own. The knowledge I've gained has given me the confidence to proceed. What an exciting time we live in!
StillSouthern's provider
UPDATED FROM StillSouthern
2 months pre
Before picture
This is a very flattering pic I took yesterday morning. Lighting and angles are everything! ;)
Replies (4)
UPDATED FROM StillSouthern
13 days pre
Had the worst headache at my pre op yesterday…
I was a bundle of nerves I guess? Got there 5 mins late due to: a train, emergency road construction, and snowbirds… ugh! I hate being late, left so I’d be 15 mins early… oh well. But my head felt like it was gonna split open lol .. Anyways, Dr Maloney spent over an hour talking with me and answering my questions (6 pages worth lol) Prob got on his nerves but he was nice about it, it’s my FACE after all.
Signed all the paperwork, walked through what exactly would happen, in what order (like incisions and stuff, I need to know!), saw the room, PAID lol. So no turning back now.
I made copies of some pics I wanted him to have for reference, some of me through the years at 12, 27, 32, and 35 yo, and some of results I hoped for, especially around the mouth area and the oblique cheek area. He said a couple were photoshopped? Lol idk, anyway I was very clear about what I wanted and he seemed to think it was all reasonable. I am having fat grafting and realize that they overfill because it doesn’t all take, and told him I was fine with coming in for another round, I know that is necessary sometimes. I brought that up, not him.
I asked about revision policy and he said it wouldn’t be necessary. Lol again! I pressed on it and if I change my mind about what I wanted in my FL he would redo for half price (he’s very reasonable already imo). I doubt any of that will be necessary, that’s the reason I took care to communicate my desires and bring pictures etc.
Oh, I got my prescriptions, FIVE of them. Sedative (valium), pain med (vicodin), antibiotic, eye ointment and eye drops. Asked about Arnica, etc, he didn't seem to think it made any difference, but said it was ok if I wanted to. I came home and ordered the VitaMedica Surgery Program Kit, with Arnica and Bromelain, and multivitamins that don't interfere with surgery (ie Vitamin E)
Says it contains:
Clinical Support Morning Formulation
Clinical Support Evening Formulation
Bromelain with Quercetin
Arnica Montana
So I’m really doing this, hugely excited and just not going to dwell on the nerves part, they seemed to think the valium would take care of that just fine when the time comes. I tend to agree lol.
Oh, if you didn’t know already, I’m having this done in the office, with valium and local anesthetic (injections), thus the anxiety. I guess it’s pretty common and much easier recovery, so…
Came home and took a few pictures for posterity, will try to post them.
Signed all the paperwork, walked through what exactly would happen, in what order (like incisions and stuff, I need to know!), saw the room, PAID lol. So no turning back now.
I made copies of some pics I wanted him to have for reference, some of me through the years at 12, 27, 32, and 35 yo, and some of results I hoped for, especially around the mouth area and the oblique cheek area. He said a couple were photoshopped? Lol idk, anyway I was very clear about what I wanted and he seemed to think it was all reasonable. I am having fat grafting and realize that they overfill because it doesn’t all take, and told him I was fine with coming in for another round, I know that is necessary sometimes. I brought that up, not him.
I asked about revision policy and he said it wouldn’t be necessary. Lol again! I pressed on it and if I change my mind about what I wanted in my FL he would redo for half price (he’s very reasonable already imo). I doubt any of that will be necessary, that’s the reason I took care to communicate my desires and bring pictures etc.
Oh, I got my prescriptions, FIVE of them. Sedative (valium), pain med (vicodin), antibiotic, eye ointment and eye drops. Asked about Arnica, etc, he didn't seem to think it made any difference, but said it was ok if I wanted to. I came home and ordered the VitaMedica Surgery Program Kit, with Arnica and Bromelain, and multivitamins that don't interfere with surgery (ie Vitamin E)
Says it contains:
Clinical Support Morning Formulation
Clinical Support Evening Formulation
Bromelain with Quercetin
Arnica Montana
So I’m really doing this, hugely excited and just not going to dwell on the nerves part, they seemed to think the valium would take care of that just fine when the time comes. I tend to agree lol.
Oh, if you didn’t know already, I’m having this done in the office, with valium and local anesthetic (injections), thus the anxiety. I guess it’s pretty common and much easier recovery, so…
Came home and took a few pictures for posterity, will try to post them.
Replies (34)
November 18, 2014
Congrats for taking that leap of faith. We have "talked" before, and I know you are going to have nice results. If I might, please seriously consider general vs. local. Have a Plan B, if the sedative doesn't hold up during the lengthy surgery. You NEVER want a doctor rushing.
November 18, 2014
I had my FL September 10th under general. But, I also had two major dental surgeries, that trip, and I woke up 3/4 of the way through one. Not good. Lots of rushing, lots of pain, and scrabble to get me sort of under again. There are too many anesthesia nightmare stories being told. You're brave.
Don't let money or the "story" about recovery time keep you from making the safe choice. Recovery is instantaneous or nearly under general these days. Believe me, you won't care about the money.
November 18, 2014
Your very brave, I don't think I would have the nerve to do it. Good luck and look forward to your posts x
November 19, 2014
Do you know where the lateral brow lift incisions will be~ in the scalp or in front of the hairline? And is an endoscope used to do this procedure? You and he agree that your eyebrows are too low? They actually look great and even on the high side to me. Maybe his version of a lateral brow lift is not intended to lift as much as to take up excess skin. This, above almost all procedures, is the most difficult to get "good intel" on exactly what each PS is doing with their lateral BL's
November 19, 2014
I felt the same way. My are sky high and it has been recommended that I try Botox to lower them. But that is a crap shoot, especially so close to the holidays.
November 19, 2014
We discussed that, I feel my eyebrows are in pretty much an "ideal" position after the botox and don't want them changed. The brow lift (just behind the hairline at the temples, also called a temporal brow lift) is mainly because of the amount of excess eyelid skin, much like sewing, when you have to pleat etc, to make everything fit together. Maybe that's not the best way to explain it, can't remember exactly how he said it, but we discussed it in detail and I feel comfortable with his explanation. I actually said I didn't think I needed it and didn't want my brows changed. Like I said, I'm in agreement after he showed me..
November 19, 2014
Evelyn, my brows were real pointy for some reason (prob 60 years of expression?) and after the botox (which was actually for the 11's) they smoothed out and look much better now imo. A nice surprise, I love botox lol.
December 6, 2014
Grace I added a pic of the "lateral brow lift" incisions on day 4 "gory" pics. Turns out it was actually an extension of the FL incision to allow for more vertical vector pull. Was super interesting to talk through the whole procedure, did get long toward the end though. Would I do it again? Definately :)
December 9, 2014
Hi grace, I posted incision pics yesterday (I think?) that show that what he called the lateral brow lift looks to me like an extended FL incision, allowing for more tightening up past the eye area. I did have LOTS of hooding and extra skin. I can already tell my periperal vision is better :)
December 12, 2014
I didn't think my brows needed anything either, but like you he did a simple lifting of my brow on one side to show me what would happen and I agreed, the difference was amazing. Botox has kept my brows in check for years maybe after surgery I can get less of Botox.
November 19, 2014
Evelyn, you 'woke up' from general anesthesia? Yikes! I asked about that, it's 6 hours of surgery! Actually, these were some of my questions: How “sedated” will I be? How do you know if I am “sedated” enough? What if it wears off before you’re done (6 hours is a long time)? So part way through I will prob take some more valium. And he numbs my face in sections, the order is, fat graft harvest, then graft/transfer/injections, then neck, right side of face, left side, right brow, left brow, adjust neck/chin if needed, then suture that up. Bathroom break and more valium, as needed. Then eyes (right then left, I think it maybe left then right for all of it)... He does 3 or 4 of these a week, 90% with this type of anesthesia and says he's never had a problem with the local. Says the problems are almost always related to general anesthesia. I feel very confident with him, but it's kinda like steering in the snow, it seems almost counter-intuitive, but I can tell he knows what he's doing. I guess I'll have a story to tell lol. Also, I have to go to the bathroom a lot O_o so I told them to be prepared... we'll see how that goes, will try to not get too hydrated before hand.
November 19, 2014
I got shivers just reading this. OH MY GOD, you ARE truly brave. You were so cautious, for so very long, per your postings., For clarification (: No, I woke up from local with sedation used at one of my dental surgeries.
November 19, 2014
You are sooooo brave. I couldn't even consider having my upper and lower blephs without being put under. That was the first thing I addressed when I went for the consult. I just wanted to go to sleep and when I woke up it would be all over.
December 8, 2014
In the end do you have clear recollection of the surgery? How does one have a bathroom break between procedures?
November 22, 2014
SS, you are going for it! What type of neck lift are you getting...incision and tightening with sutures under the chin? And is he doing lipo? Also, curious which areas of the face are getting the fat transfer since you appear to have a wonderfully full face pre op. I notice you asked a question about your submandibular glands and wonder how your doc is going to address the issue.
November 23, 2014
Yes, on neck lift, incision under chin, tightening and suturing of platysma, instead of lipo on neck he does direct excision, so he can see exactly how much he is removing and how much he is leaving (which he said is just as important for smoothness, etc). We looked at many pictures and had a lengthy discussion about my future jawline, which he feels will be very nice. I did bring in pics of me when I was younger so he could see how my neck and jaw looked then. My face is still full in certain areas, but ha also deflated and is pretty asymmetrical (I posted questions to doctors that have pics that show these areas more clearly, click on my profile to find them). He is going to add structural fat to my jawline, prejowl sulcus (between chin and jowl), around mouth and marionette, lips, left cheek dented area, naso labial area, upper cheeks and eye area (esp tear trough, to make a smooth transition from eye to cheek). He calculated about 20 cc's of fat (which prob less than half will stick). He will do conservative fat transfer per my wishes, as I would rather go another round than have too much. Re the submandibular glands, he doesn't think it's an issue. According to him, this is something pretty specific to that doctor I consulted with, he implied that BCPS including that in all consults? idk...
December 9, 2014
Winky, I had pretty extensive neck work and the front of my neck is really the only place I am uncomfortable at this point, 6 days out. Still too soon to tell re the sub man glands, I should have asked him at the follow up today, but doesn't look like it's an issue.
Replies (38)