POSTED UNDER Eyelid Surgery REVIEWS
51 Years Old and Looking 60, Sad and Tired!
ORIGINAL POST
I am working very hard to drop pounds and get my...
$3,000
I am working very hard to drop pounds and get my back/core strong (I've had two lower back surgeries.) When I get to my goal weight, it will be time to fix this sad, old looking face. My hope is to do this this summer if possible. I have been reading reviews for a few months now and searching other sites too. I am interested in a few Costa Rica docs and Dr. H of the renowned Biltmore lift. The thing is, in addition to a lowerface/neck lift, I need to get a dental implant and would like to have lipo on a few small stubborn areas too if possible which would make Costa Rica a good choice. But I am in love with the results I am seeing here on the Biltmore lift. I don't know how I will ever decide.
CathyDH's provider
UPDATED FROM CathyDH
2 months pre
I have found my doctor.
I loved everything I learned from Dr. Edmond Khoury here in Denver. He reminds me of Dr. Harley in Ashville.
Dr. Khoury does the procedure in a fully accredited surgical room right in the office he shares with 3 other physicians. He operates only of the face and like Dr. Harley does it with oral sedation meds and Lidocaine numbing injection.
One difference is that he will only do the deep plane face/neck lift one day and eyes another day. He schedules 4 hours for the face and though he said it usually only takes 2.5 hours, it can take longer and he doesn't want. This increases the price of the bleph procedure compared to Dr. Harley.
Prices incase anyone is interested.
Full deep plane (meaning Platysma muscle lift and of course skin excison) Face and neck lift $7000 includes all fees and costs except prescriptions.
Lower bleph (which I am seriously considering too) $3000 again, includes all costs except prescriptions.
If you were to get only the neck or only the face, he charges $5000. He said he does this in about 5% of cases such as if someone has major weight loss and only the neck is affected.
Other things I thought were interesting is that he uses a scissors and scalpel like most surgeons but that the step of separating the upper layer from the sublayers he does with a special laser that basically cauterizes any small capillaries and also causes the heat that encourages collagen regrowth. Like Dr. Harley and other good PSs there is very little bruising with the face lift. The bleph is the surgery that causes much more bruising.
One last thing. I like that part of the stitches are made behind the tragus. I have only seen a few do that. I like the way it breaks up the line of the scar and maintains the current look of the tragus. Not a big deal, but I really like the look of his incision placement.
Dr. Khoury does the procedure in a fully accredited surgical room right in the office he shares with 3 other physicians. He operates only of the face and like Dr. Harley does it with oral sedation meds and Lidocaine numbing injection.
One difference is that he will only do the deep plane face/neck lift one day and eyes another day. He schedules 4 hours for the face and though he said it usually only takes 2.5 hours, it can take longer and he doesn't want. This increases the price of the bleph procedure compared to Dr. Harley.
Prices incase anyone is interested.
Full deep plane (meaning Platysma muscle lift and of course skin excison) Face and neck lift $7000 includes all fees and costs except prescriptions.
Lower bleph (which I am seriously considering too) $3000 again, includes all costs except prescriptions.
If you were to get only the neck or only the face, he charges $5000. He said he does this in about 5% of cases such as if someone has major weight loss and only the neck is affected.
Other things I thought were interesting is that he uses a scissors and scalpel like most surgeons but that the step of separating the upper layer from the sublayers he does with a special laser that basically cauterizes any small capillaries and also causes the heat that encourages collagen regrowth. Like Dr. Harley and other good PSs there is very little bruising with the face lift. The bleph is the surgery that causes much more bruising.
One last thing. I like that part of the stitches are made behind the tragus. I have only seen a few do that. I like the way it breaks up the line of the scar and maintains the current look of the tragus. Not a big deal, but I really like the look of his incision placement.
Replies (9)
April 6, 2016
Sounds like you've really done your homework and if chosen the right doctor for you. I don't know what your situation is with your lower eyes but I will say that removing the fat pads underneath my eyes made a really big difference. And I didn't have large bags under my eyes - they had just started in the last year. If you do have them and have them removed your face will open up even more. Good luck I wish you the very best - sounds like you're in great hands.
April 6, 2016
Ooops I didn't see this post. Yup, I like the way you put it. Getting rid of that pad and the resulting shadows it causes opens up the face :-) I feel like I look angry and tired when I am just relaxed. Not a good look!
April 6, 2016
Cathy - I just saw your photos and the area under your eye looks about the same as minded before the lower bleph. So if you look at those before and Afters it might help you decide if it's worth it at this time.
April 6, 2016
Thanks so much red! I have followed your entire journey and love your results. It is why I was seriously considering Dr. Harley before I found Dr. Khoury right in my own back yard :-) He does charge more, but I wouldn't have the added expenses of flight etc. so It would be very close in the end. I am 90% sure I will go ahead with the lower bleph too. I like how it refreshes the face so much, taking away that perpetual tired look.
April 6, 2016
I received some concern from a fellow RS friend about doing deep plane under local. I should have said modified deep plane or partial deep plane? Not really sure how to describe it. rest assured, my entire face will not be incised clear to the mouth. Mostly along the cheek/hair/ear line to get a nice lift. And also I will have the underchin scar from tightening the platysma muscle for my neck. seems there are so many variations on technique I couldn't really find consensus on the procedure names even here on RS. Basically, I think any time the doc goes below the platysma muscle it is deep plane. Really I am very impressed with the many, many before and afters of this doc and how natural each patient looks. I trust that he will perform my surgery safely and comfortably as he has done over 2,000 face lifts and I have seen no negative reviews about this. (having the surgery under local)
I don't want to misrepresent this doctor. If you are curious, his website has a brief overview of the many different types of facial lifts and procedures with general descriptions. But his consultation was 1.5 hours and he goes over the anatomy of the lift and your individual concerns in great detail.
I don't want to misrepresent this doctor. If you are curious, his website has a brief overview of the many different types of facial lifts and procedures with general descriptions. But his consultation was 1.5 hours and he goes over the anatomy of the lift and your individual concerns in great detail.
April 8, 2016
Whar do you mean by "behind the targus"?
April 9, 2016
The tragus (sorry, I misspelled it up there.)is the cartilage flap at the front of the ear. Most docs to it in front and that is fine too as most people seem to heal 100% from what I can see.. I just prefer the look inside or behind it. Kind of breaks up the scar line.
April 9, 2016
Hi CathyDH - I appreciated your feedback on my procedure. Finding a doctor that stitches behind the tragus is key. As you can see, I wear my hair short and picked my doctor based on the fact that he has many "after" photos of patients with their hair pulled back. I had the tiniest little stitches in that area - tiny stitches along the incision that started just under my hairline under the sideburns, ran down the *inside* of tragus, and along the crease around my earlobe. The incision continued up the back of each ear and then followed the hairline about three inches on each side of the neck. Those stitches were substantial since they were the anchors. I posted photos of the stitches/incisions on my review. My only "complication" was a lot of fluid/swelling along the sides of my neck but, but as promised by my PS, that went down (it took several months).
The bruising from my lower bleph was minimal - again tiny tiny stitches. (Photos on my review). You can only see the scar now with a magnifying mirror and because it is so close to my lash line and when I've asked my friends they say that it looks like some sort of liner and actually enhances my eye.
I so much appreciate the skill of my PS, I have one friend who got a low cost facelift a number of years ago and she has a visible U-shaped scar around her hairline on both sides of her face so she has to wear her hair in front of her ears. We've talked about whether she could get permanent cosmetics (tattoo makeup - I just got my lips done and love it) to blend out the scar and I think she is considering it.
The bruising from my lower bleph was minimal - again tiny tiny stitches. (Photos on my review). You can only see the scar now with a magnifying mirror and because it is so close to my lash line and when I've asked my friends they say that it looks like some sort of liner and actually enhances my eye.
I so much appreciate the skill of my PS, I have one friend who got a low cost facelift a number of years ago and she has a visible U-shaped scar around her hairline on both sides of her face so she has to wear her hair in front of her ears. We've talked about whether she could get permanent cosmetics (tattoo makeup - I just got my lips done and love it) to blend out the scar and I think she is considering it.
UPDATED FROM CathyDH
2 months pre
Lower Bleph only for now. Face lift later.
So, I have been having some dental issues and now am scheduled in June for my implant. I also am cast in a play that closes June 19th. Aannnd my brother is getting married July 2nd. It seems the world is conspiring for me to hold off on the FL.
On the bright side, I will get to experience Dr. Khoury's work with a lesser procedure first and have another year to prepare mentally for the bigger one!
On the bright side, I will get to experience Dr. Khoury's work with a lesser procedure first and have another year to prepare mentally for the bigger one!
Replies (2)
April 8, 2016
A lower bleph makes all the difference. I got a facelift and lower bleph at the same time and I think the facelift would have been wasted if I hadn't gotten my eyes done at the same time.
Replies (3)