Question for those who have had facial plastic surgery

[KimR]

What procedure(s) did you have done and were you happy w/ the results? Anything you regret or would do differently (or would you even have the procedure at all)? Did the results match your expectations? I'm seriously considering having cosmetic surgery this winter and although this is something I've wanted for a long time, I am NERVOUS!

 

[mickeyfan1]

Here is my story. At 47 I had: a face lift, a brow lift, upper eyelid reduction, a nieck lift, and liposuction under my chin.

Total surgery time was about 8 hours. It was done in the Doctors office, he has an OR in his office space. Recovery time was 2 weeks away from work and about 3 months total for all the brusing and swelling to go down, the mag jority of sweeling/bruising was gone in 3 weeks.

I don't regret it at all, I still looked like me, just better, not younger per say, but better. The reason I did it was that I had a very big deposit of fat under my chin, when I went to see the Dr about it, he said he would do lipo it out, but I would not be happy, because then I would start to see the other things, like the jowls on my chinline and the saggy neck skin. You could not see my upper eyelids at all, either. So I went for it. My husband was not wild about me doing it, but after it was over and I was healed, he said it was the best money I ever spent.

I probably won't ever get any more, I don't have that kind of disposable income, but I am always happy when I see my reflection. As far as meeting expectations, I was not happy with my left eyelid, the doctor wasn't happy with it either, and after 2 years, I had a touch up done, now it's perfect for me. Before I had it the whole thing done, he took a digital picture and enhanced it to show me what I could look like after. And he was right.

Some people want to know how long it will last. It will last forever, your face will not go back to what it was before, that extra skin won't magially reappear! Eventually, age and gravity will take over, but I figure the first face lasted 47 years, I doubt I will be redoing it at 94!

 

[Van Helsing]

Whenever i hear plastic surgery ( FACE LIFT ) all i can think of is those people that have a permanent smile on their face ( gross ) you'd nearly think their face was going to crack.


JMHO

 

[mickeyfan1]

Originally posted by Van Helsing
Whenever i hear plastic surgery ( FACE LIFT ) all i can think of is those people that have a permanent smile on their face ( gross ) you'd nearly think their face was going to crack.


JMHO

Too bad there are so many bad results out there, and so many people expecting and demanding things they shouldn't. I think that some people over do it, but no one can tell by looking at me I had it done unless I tell them.

 

[KimR]

Thanks, Marsha. My DH is not happy about it either, but I've discussed it with him and I've finally gotten him to the point where he is reluctantly supportive (and that's probably as good as it's going to get!). I am glad to hear the digitally enhanced picture realistically reflected the results. That's the kind of thing I was hoping to be able to see but I wasn't sure how accurate it would be. Wow, if it takes 3 months to heal, I'll need to have it done right after New Years in order to look good in time for our Disney trip.....6 more months!

 

[Desnik]

My sis and mother have had plastic surgery. Not on the face though. My mom said she would do it in a heartbeat if she needed it! My sis had a tummy tuck and breast implants, my mom got implants. You just have to find a really good, qualified Dr. that you trust and feel comfortable with. I know lots of people who have had nose jobs, all happy with the results. I do know someone who had a facelift and she lokked amazing afterwards! She was very happy with the results. Funny thing is she is the same age as mickeyfan1, got the same surgery, and her name is Marsha too!!

Good luck to you. It is very nerve racking, but most people who have had plastic surgery say it was all worth it in the end!

 

[southernclass]

The only thing I had done was botox and that was cake.

 

[Disney01]

I'm not sure how old you are or what type of surgery you're thinking of, but I am at home recovering this week from having lower blepharolplasty done. (That's the bags under my eyes.) I'm recovering nicely, and wish I would have had my uppers done at the same time, it's been so smooth. I will say, I researched doctors and went with the better known, more expensive one. I would, in time, like to do more to combat anti aging, but who knows. The bags under my eyes were really noticeable and too much for a 36 year old like me.

 

[arminnie]

I have not had any plastic surgery but I do know that if you do decide to have any plastic surgery that you should be sure that the doctor you use is a member of the American Board of Plastic Surgery. That means that he is board certified in plastic surgery.

There are many, many doctors out there performing plastic surgery that are NOT board certified plastic surgeons. Some ophthamologists decide that they will perform eye plastic surgery.
I'm sure that some of them even do an ok job but I would not take any chances.

When you hear of these horror cases of botched up plastic surgery - it is almost always something that was done by doctor who was not board certified in plastic surgery.

Web site that provided the information below

Importance of Board Certification:
When considering a body procedure, such as lipo, tummy tuck or breast surgery, you want plastic surgeon that is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). Do not confuse the ABPS with the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery (ABFPRS) or The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) or any other board. These other boards are NOT recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) which oversees legit boards and is expressly designed to provide public protection through quality control in medical education. The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is the ONLY plastic surgery board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).

By choosing an ABPS certified plastic surgeon, patients are ensured the surgeon has graduated from an accredited medical school and completed at least five years of residency. Usually three years of general surgery and two years of plastic surgery. A plastic surgeon must also practice for two years and pass comprehensive written and oral examinations in plastic surgery. All of our plastic surgeons are Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. I have personally checked their qualifications and most have been recommended by site visitors. In fact, we only list select surgeons to be in our directory. Our plastic surgeons meet higher standards than those of any other referral service. Our plastic surgeons must also maintain that standard in order to remain in our plastic surgeon directory.

I cannot stress how important it is to make sure your surgeon is certified by the ABPS. In the 6+ years I have personally been researching breast augmentation outcomes and cosmetic surgeons, not many breast augmentations surgeries have a bad outcome. However, in those bad outcomes, half the time it was done by a doctor that was not certified by the ABPS. Considering only 10% of licensed doctors are not certified, that means 50% of the time non-certified doctors encounter problems, vs only .05% of certified plastic surgeons. I don't advocate flipping a coin with someone's body.

Do not let a surgeon's office tell you that the doctor just moved from another state and they haven't gotten certification