POSTED UNDER Facelift REVIEWS
Gonna Do This! -Baltimore, MD
ORIGINAL POST
I have had a sagging area under my chin like a...
AnywhereAugust 8, 2013
WORTH IT$20,000
I have had a sagging area under my chin like a turkey gobble and bags under my eyes forever. The "Gobble" is hereditary (my Mom had it and my Brother has it too) but the eyes are just "age". Also dislike the marionette lines on the side of my mouth. I have had
Juvaderm over the years and also had some collagen injections and while the collagen helped, everything is temporary. I finally decided to go for an evaluation about my eyes and after we got there and I found out that they were going to use a twilight sleep (colonoscopy type sedation) my husband who was sitting there suggested if I was doing that maybe I'd want to do my neck too! I asked the surgeon and he actually does that too and said it would actually be less expensive in the long run to do them both at the same time, but there was truly no pressure. I am just thrilled to have found a forum for support- I know NO ONE who has done this and am looking forward to the support here!
Juvaderm over the years and also had some collagen injections and while the collagen helped, everything is temporary. I finally decided to go for an evaluation about my eyes and after we got there and I found out that they were going to use a twilight sleep (colonoscopy type sedation) my husband who was sitting there suggested if I was doing that maybe I'd want to do my neck too! I asked the surgeon and he actually does that too and said it would actually be less expensive in the long run to do them both at the same time, but there was truly no pressure. I am just thrilled to have found a forum for support- I know NO ONE who has done this and am looking forward to the support here!
Anywhere's provider
UPDATED FROM Anywhere
2 months pre
Moving forward and gathering info!
AnywhereAugust 15, 2013
Just LOVE all the knowledge I am accumulating from this forum! Thanks to all of you and especially to those who have bared their souls by posting their before and after pics! I am SO MUCH more prepared than I would have been without you all! I have been "laying in supplies" (I know, I know my procedure isn't til October, but what the heck?) And also have made another appointment with the PS with a WHOLE list of questions that I never knew to ask when I was there for the initial consult! :-) Questions mostly gathered thru reading your reviews! So thank you
"everybuddy" :-)) and keep up the wonderful posts! Kathy
"everybuddy" :-)) and keep up the wonderful posts! Kathy
Replies (0)
UPDATED FROM Anywhere
2 months pre
Date change and lots of questions answered
AnywhereAugust 22, 2013
So this week we went BACK to the PS with a list of 22 questions which he answered very patiently and with all things I WANTED to hear! LOL! Date was changed (for our convenience to the 22nd of October and he had me make follow-up appointments while I was there. I asked him if they have a back door, LOL. He explained that the first post-op will be at the surgery center and after that they will give me EARLY am appts so I don't scare any one (my words not his).
I purchased BIG sunglasses this week for that purpose too! I asked him about the laser treatment and he said he prefers NOT to do that at the same time as the procedures, and I also asked him about fat transfer and he is going to do that. Total cost is $11,050, so I think that is pretty good. Thank you all for all your vital info! :-)) Kathy
I purchased BIG sunglasses this week for that purpose too! I asked him about the laser treatment and he said he prefers NOT to do that at the same time as the procedures, and I also asked him about fat transfer and he is going to do that. Total cost is $11,050, so I think that is pretty good. Thank you all for all your vital info! :-)) Kathy
Replies (17)
August 22, 2013
Good luck Kathy. I am finding the post surgery period to be easier than I thought (or at least, after I got the drugs that didn't agree with me out of my system). I only took pain pills the actual day of surgery and the next morning.) After that, they weren't necessary. My biggest problem now is being bored sitting around. I think you will be very happy you decided to go for it! Best wishes and keep us posted.
August 22, 2013
I sure will keep ya'll posted and thanks for all your info as you have traveled this journey! I was up last night at midnight (pre-colonoscopy night JOY) and was rooting around the basement for a picture I KNEW I had from about 15 years ago and found it! Will take it with me! :-)) Rent some movies and announce to yourself these are "be kind to me days!" Kathy
August 22, 2013
Renaissancelady46: I was so bored I started washing and ironing clean clothes just to have a diversion and sense of accomplishment. Try it, it works!
August 22, 2013
Here's to a quick recovery! I had the laser at the same time and I will admit it is a slower more difficult healing process than the FL and other procedures. Sounds like your surgeon is ideal.
August 22, 2013
Oct will be here before you know it. I wish you the best with your FL. I am having Thigh lifts, butt lift the 29th next week. I been trying to get everything in order here, but I am so tired today from working hard yesterday. I hope I have in it in me to get prepared. God Bless
Evie
August 22, 2013
Thanks so much Evie!!!! Please check in after your procedures!!! We will keep the lights burning! :-). Kathy
August 22, 2013
I am in the "anxious and excited waiting line" right in front of you. Best of luck...I will also be right here, on the side lines, cheering you on. : )
August 22, 2013
Thanks inlovewithlife I'll be cheering you on too! When is your procedure!?? I'll go with you "virtually" and I promise to be good! ;-) Kathy
August 23, 2013
iamkathy... how hard is it to wait this out?! But as another poster said, October will be here before you know it. I'm kind of glad your PS is waiting on the laser... it's a lot to do all at once. I know others have it all at the same time, but you really need to process all of this and my gut feeling is that one or two procedures at a time is enough for our bodies to go through... really just my own opinion ...because as you see so many go through multiples quite successfully. :) I'm thinking the waiting is harder than the procedure and recovery! So, my thoughts are with you as you continue to prepare! FG
August 23, 2013
Thanks Financegirl- I am waiting because I have too much going on until then! We have a trip planned that can't be canceled to Russian and I volunteer at the Salvation Army most of September. THEN a family wedding came up and I had to push it back and only by being at the PS and mentioning I wanted to come in the next week but he was headed out of the country did I find out that he had decided NOT to go and could put me in the week following my planned week. That was long story long, LOL, but I TRY not to worry about it and I really will be so busy there won't be much time! I am glad you are with me tho! Kathy
August 30, 2013
IamKathy01
Read that you were considering changing from Baltimore to Ashville. I too am considering Dr Harley and live not too far away in SC . However I am at my family home in DE right now and travel between there and GA and TN. I actually don't even know why I still LIVE in SC. Anyway I was wondering if you are doing upper/lower eyes PLUS a face/neck lift? Dr Harley doesn't ever use IV sedation. Only oral awake with local anesthetic. He does all of these procedures and I too wanted to "do it all" while I was at it. But having work done on lower lid while not under even twilight sleep seems like it would be difficult if all the other procedures were all being done "in the same sitting". What are you thinking about that???
August 30, 2013
I am thinking that if he can do it, I will. I asked about the amount of time for both procedures and they said about 2.5 hours. RL said she did not even remember anything about the surgery so it must be pretty heavy.
August 30, 2013
IamK,
Good morning....Both procedures? Upper eye and lower eye? Or are you also doing face and neck lift for a total of 4 procedures. They price each of those 4 separately.
I think RenaissanceLady46 said just her face/neck lift was over 2 hours.
Will they give you a way to talk with former patients who had that much done at once? I would love to know the experience of someone who did that. It makes sense to want to get it over with only one recovery but I don't think we have had anyone on Realself lately who did all 4 at once. I have been thinking about this surgery and putting it off for all kinds of reasons mostly having to do with caring for an aging parent and not wanting to be out of commission for even a day. But when I talked with the large group in Reston VA...Austin Westin gr a couple of years ago they gave me several former patients who were immediately post op (within a yr.) as well as had me meet two patients who were 8 and 9 yrs post op so I could see how long lasting the results were. Anyway I'd love to hear your thoughts on all of this since those of us still getting our plan together can benefit from "collective thoughts" ......thanks, grace60
September 7, 2013
Hi Kathy: Where are you in this process? Have you decided on your doctor? I think you should check out all options. Other than the travel and other inconvenience, Dr. Harley is a great choice. But, I am sure there are many good choices in your area too. I did have a wonderful experience and hope that whatever you end up deciding, you are just as thrilled as I am. To add to the comment above from grace60, Dr. Harley regularly adds eyes to his Biltmore lift and neck lift. If you do talk to him, he can tell you what he does and how long it will take. I think there are several people on here who have done face, neck and upper and lower eyes. Anyway, if Harley says you can do it at once, I certainly would trust his judgement. I trust him implicitly. Also, having just gone through this, I would be inclined to do it all at once. You don't want to have two periods of time when you will be "out of circulation" so to speak, if it can be accomplished with one. Anyway, good luck and do keep us all posted.
Replies (13)
What a great photo of you and your husband! Thank you so much for sharing your story on RealSelf. I hope this is a relatively easy journey for you and that you get the results you want. We are here for you so please keep us posted!