Turning 30, Chin Lipo

Honest, thorough real self reviews have been unbelievably helpful to me both when I planned and underwent breast augmentation years ago and now as I plan to undergo chin liposuction in the coming month. I hope to provide a detailed overview of my experience for people considering the procedure, and I also hope to find some friendly support in this community as I go through this myself! I am both hopeful and nervous! Please forgive my novel...if you get through all this and respond/comment you are a saint =D!
A double chin is hereditary on both sides of my family (thanks mom and dad!). I am a healthy weight at 5’5” and 135lbs, but even when I weighed 110 lbs..I was skinny everywhere but under my chin! I remember in my early 20s being disappointed that even when I was a size 2/4, the fat on my neck didn’t really budge. I have been afraid to have this particular procedure because this is my face...what if it ends up looking worse? What if it ends up lumpy and scarred? I overall like my face and don’t want to take an insecurity and make it worse....
However, I have had positive experience with plastic surgery in the past and taking that risk (getting my breasts done) certainly paid off and absolutely changed my life for the better. I love the results from my breast augmentation and feel like I now have proportions that suit my frame perfectly. I gained so much confidence from that procedure, and even now, 7 years later, I have absolutely no regrets.
I am about to turn 30, and I feel that if I can rid myself of this lingering insecurity, it will be worth it 100%. I eloped this past summer, and while our photos are gorgeous (we married in the blue ridge mountains at sunset), I hate about half the photos because of my double chin stealing the shot! We are having the wedding reception with family this summer at the end of July...and I would love to have only one chin by then XD!
After a decent amount of online research, I went to two consultations here in Virginia Beach. The first was with a facial cosmetic surgeon. I was immediately turned off during the consultation because even though it was a paid consultation, it felt rushed, and the surgeon did not have any before and afters to show me. He told me I could ‘find photos online.’ I just got a bad vibe about the whole thing. The second Dr. I was not expecting to like as much as I did. Dr. Kevin Bounds’ consultation was free, but you wouldn’t know it. He gave me over an hour of his time, was prepared with before and afters, discussed my options, discussed the ins and outs of the surgery and recovery, and was clearly trying to make sure I would leave his office with realistic expectations of the procedure. I didn’t feel pressured. I discussed what I wanted and the concerns I have. He answered all of my questions thoroughly. He seems like a genuinely nice man, and his office staff and wife seem to be happy working there. I went home and thought about my consultation and my gut told me.. go for it! *please gut do NOT be wrong!* I decided not to schedule any further consultations and I booked the surgery with Dr.Bounds on June 18th.
My biggest anxiety at this point is the timing of the surgery. My Dr. seems confident that 6 weeks out from the wedding should give me enough time to heal to the point of feeling good about my looks, but Dr.s here on real self have cautioned me against having a surgery less than three months out from a major event...I have gone back and forth SO MUCH about whether or not I should have the surgery only 6 weeks out from the wedding, but as I teach and taking off is so stressful/difficult, I don’t really have the option to have this done before the school year ends. I wanted to have this done over spring break...but my husband’s poor old childhood pup got sick and then passed away during that time =.[. Family first before my vanity.
I would honestly love to hear from people who have had this procedure...is 6 weeks a pretty safe bet, or am I flirting with disaster here??? =p what have your experiences been with healing? I am terrrrified of visible lumpiness. I know full healing takes months, but as long as I don’t look like a topographical map of the moon when my husband and I exchange vows again for our families, I’ll be quite content!
My pre-op with Dr. Bounds is on May 31st-I’ll be sure to update again then! Hope to hear from some of you real-selfers!

So my surgery will be in about 2 weeks, and I went in yesterday for my pre-op appointment. Let me start by saying that Tonia, the staff member that was with me most of my visit, is amazing =]. She has the rare gift of patience and ease with patients. More than anything I appreciated just how much sincere kindness and empathy I felt from her. If I am going to be completely honest, I would not have felt ok leaving my appointment yesterday if it had not been for her sweet calming presence. I have had this experience with doctors quite often in the past- don’t get me wrong, Dr. Bounds did not rush me and did answer my questions, but he, like every single surgeon I’ve ever encountered (shout out to my appendectomy, ovarian cyst, tonsillectomy, wisdom teeth, and breast augmentation surgeons!), has a certain wall up that you only realize is truly there when you look in his eyes and share your fears. It always makes me hyper aware, this may be my body (and I want to talk as openly and frankly as possible), but it is his business and livelihood, and everything is worded very carefully. The NYer in me just doesn’t feel completely comfortable unless you tell it to me exactly how it is. I wonder if anyone else feels this way talking to doctors.
It just makes it very hard going forward to get a true picture of what to expect. I mean, I get it, complete and utter detailed straight forwardness could be disastrous for a doctor, especially a surgeon of elective procedures. I am the type to prepare for the worst and hope for the best, so I was asking questions about possible complications and healing timelines. I want to know about some of your patients who didn’t heal as planned! I want to know about your patients who healed better than expected! I want to know how you treated past complications and what action is taken if problems arise! I want to know what your general expectations are as far as outcome and stages of healing! I was told “everyone heals differently,” and I understand why doctors say this to their patients. It’s the only safe true thing to say. Perhaps doctors worry that if they share too much detail about someone else’s experience, it will make their patient expect that particular outcome. It must be very hard to manage expectations. Is it weird that I want to know the worst case that Dr. Bounds has ever seen? Haha
I’m that kid in class who asks 1 million questions if you haven’t already noticed (probably why I love teaching and answering all those many questions for the next generation of little me’s). Thank goodness for this website and the many wonderful people who share their stories here. I have gotten more information here than anywhere else!
My surgeon told me that if I’m worried about being wedding ready 6 weeks post op, I can reschedule or cancel. He is clearly an honest man in that he does not want me to feel pushed or rushed or like it’s too late to change my mind...but I think I want to take the leap of faith. I want to trust my surgeon, and he seemed confident that 6 weeks was enough time. He did say that in general patients are happy at 4 weeks after surgery, but that full healing can take up to 6 months to 1 year.
I was given some prescriptions, signed some paperwork, took before pictures in case they want to use them, and was given a list of dos and don’ts for the weeks before and after my procedure. Tonia and Dr. Bounds kindly encouraged me to email or call with any and all questions, and I was on my way.
I left my appointment yesterday wondering, amid general thoughts about my upcoming surgery, what surgeons would say if they felt comfortable being 100% honest about their job and musing over just how strategic a business really is and how many parts and personalities it takes to make a business successful. Tonia was recently hired, and I’m pretty confident she will help Dr. Bounds already successful business to grow. Dr. Bounds may be the talent and expertise, but his team is just as important to his success!
Sorry if this post has gone off on a tangent. It has been a long day, realselfers! I welcome comments and questions! Looking for friends in healing =].

2 weeks till the big day! Here are some before pictures. Does anyone have any healing or other care tips for me before my surgery? My doctor said he isn’t against or for arnica or bromelain supplements. He said there isn’t solid evidence that it really helps. Wondering how some of you on this forum feel!