My forehead/brow lift, Lip Lift and vertical canthoplasty with Dr Ahn

[thelilachour]

Thanks for posting again. You look fabulous! Love the canthoplasty

Were you interested in grooveplasty or v-y plasty for your liplift?

I want a revision philtrum shortening soon but I need either more filler or v-y done so I can close my lips properly and get the right shape.

and what post op care did Dr Ahn recommend for the philtrum shortening?

 

[seoulsister]

Dr Ahn is the anti aging specialist at Hyundai so he would be the one for FL at that clinic. But I only personally experienced his skills with the endoscopic forehead and lip lift. Can't speak for his FL results. Yoo from dream is my go to guy for my next FL when i did it down the track but after this experience I would consider Ahn for my next FL. The thing I would stress with FL is deliberate overcorrection. You can actually tell this immediatedly post op. If you see a patient right after post op and the overcorrection is so drastic that they look horrendous, thats a great indicator of a long lasting FL

Hi K Couture, always get a lot out of your posts, would you put Dr lee from Asps next to Yoo from Dream for FL?

 

[K Couture]

Thanks for posting again. You look fabulous! Love the canthoplasty

Were you interested in grooveplasty or v-y plasty for your liplift?

I want a revision philtrum shortening soon but I need either more filler or v-y done so I can close my lips properly and get the right shape.

and what post op care did Dr Ahn recommend for the philtrum shortening?

The method used on me was neither grooveplasty nor v-y plasty actually. And grooveplasty i find the results to be very subpar tbh.

There really was no post op care. He just gave me the ointment to use that was it. And i even got lazy ands stopped using it after 10 days. Still there's no visible scar. As i mentioned to earlier its because the scar is hidden in the collumela crease which works since my tip was done using a shield graft and not upturned so the shadowing conceals it too

 

[K Couture]

Hi K Couture, always get a lot out of your posts, would you put Dr lee from Asps next to Yoo from Dream for FL?

I think Dr Yoo is better tbh

 

[Hautelady]

I think Dr Yoo is better tbh

@K Couture Is it the guy Dr. Yoo or the lady doc?

 

[K Couture]

@K Couture Is it the guy Dr. Yoo or the lady doc?

the male one. I think the female one only does eyes and nose.

 

[Otto8]

@K Couture , this is very helpful.

Did you have botox prior to the brow lift and before consultation? Or you have never had botox in that area?

I have botox between the eyebrows and a bit at the outer corners of the eyes, and the outer corners of my eyebrows to give it a lift.

I am wondering if this would affect the surgery results.

My next Botox top-up is within this week and I thought to forego it, although my surgery can realistically only be scheduled in February next year or December this year due to work commitments.

Thank you for your insight.

 

[K Couture]

@K Couture , this is very helpful.

Did you have botox prior to the brow lift and before consultation? Or you have never had botox in that area?

I have botox between the eyebrows and a bit at the outer corners of the eyes, and the outer corners of my eyebrows to give it a lift.

I am wondering if this would affect the surgery results.

My next Botox top-up is within this week and I thought to forego it, although my surgery can realistically only be scheduled in February next year or December this year due to work commitments.

Thank you for your insight.

I did it once with the intention to make the right brow lower since naturally my right brow is more raised than the left. The botox ended up causing the right brow to drop too much, made me look saggier and I had to use make up to draw it in a higher position.

I personally only use botox for the masseter. No other areas as its too subtle and unnoticeable for my liking

 

[Otto8]

I did it once with the intention to make the right brow lower since naturally my right brow is more raised than the left. The botox ended up causing the right brow to drop too much, made me look saggier and I had to use make up to draw it in a higher position.

I personally only use botox for the masseter. No other areas as its too subtle and unnoticeable for my liking

Thank you. I won't do the botox this time. I will hold off. I want to stay off it as much as I can.

 

[K Couture]

Thank you. I won't do the botox this time. I will hold off. I want to stay off it as much as I can.

its best you stay off it so whoever is doing your lift can see realistically how much lifting is required. You do not want the botox to skew the canvas imo

 

[K Couture]

Part 2: Post op recovery

Pain threshold for the following procedures:

1) Endoscopic forehead/brow lift (0/10)

2) Lip lift/ philtrum reduction (0/10)

3) Vertical Canthoplasty (4/10)

4) facial fat and internal scar removal (0/10)

5) alar cinching (0/10)

6) diamond injection (0/10)

As you guys can see, the only procedure I did which was painful is the vertical canthoplasty. I woke up in the recovery room feeling the stitches jabbing at my outer eye corner, especially the right side. It was very uncomfortable and I have thirsty af, and I couldn’t find the call button to call the nurse because the only time the eye jabbing feeling was tolerable was when my eyes were closed. So I started banging on the wall for someone to come lol. The nurses came in a bit shocked . They put the call buzzer in my hand (apparently it was under my ass, must be rolled over while I was waking up) and gave me a glass of water. Note that it wasn’t exactly super painful, its just very comfortable having a jabby object against your eye.

After about 30 mins Dr Ahn comes in to see me. Explains to me that the surgery went on for longer than he expected because I had quite a bit of bleeding. This was my fault actually because I use loniten 10mg which they told me to stop using butttt I stupidly conveniently forgot to do so. Because of this, my swelling would take a bit longer to dissipate. Additionally Dr Ahn mentioned I had quite a bit of scar tissue which made the surgery a bit more difficult than expected. He did remove scar tissue in the nostrils and at the alars, and removed as much as he could in the right cheek. My forehead actually wasn’t that easy to lift according to him as the scar tissue there made it harder to get around since that region’s couldn’t be removed properly with the endoscopic method (but possible with incisional method). However surgery overall went well and he said the lips came out exactly as I had requested, which if you see my post op photo, he was correct.

I also tend to get quite *****y whenever I wake up from anesthesia. It doesn’t happen when ketamine is used but for some reason propofol turns me into a mega grouchy biatch. I remembered when Dr Ahn told me to use the ointment for my eye to stop the pain from the stitches. I looked at him and said:

Me: You and me to put this in my eyeball?
Ahn: Yes it will help a lot
Me: Is this an eye drop?
Ahn: No its an oinment.
Me: You want me…to CREAM MY EYEBALL?
Ahn: yes trust me it will help
Me: (glares at him with an irritated look) Why on earth would I put a cream in my eyeball. Don’t you have some numbing eyedrops
Ahn: Ok let me do it for you so you will see what I mean

After the puts it in, the stabbing discomfort immediately was gone. And I was like oh……how pleasant it feels to be creamed in the eye LOL. I think after my rude behaviour during the next check up 3 days later he became wary and said when he saw me “Hello, are you in good mood today” LOL sheesh I left an impression didn’t I…..

Note: Apparently most patients will develop some kind of temporary headache from the endoscopic lift due to the initial over-tightening. Hence why they provide headache medication. I however, never had any issues with that so I didn’t use it. I find that Koreans and actually, Asians in general love to self medicate. I personally avoid only so.


Overall recovery was quite breezy, except for the fact that I looked like jabba the hut from star wars when my swelling peaked. My nose from alar cinching also looked VERY asymmetrical and I was also beginning to regret doing that last minute procedure I had requested. Dr Ahn did tell me not to worry and that if I notice the asymmetry still present after I have recovered, he would redo it free of charge. However, 3 weeks later the asymmetry was gone and my nose ended up looking so much smaller and sharper. I was so worried about it at first that I was already planning to have another nose job should it not improve. Thank god it looks soo nice now.

What I got in terms of post op care:

1) about 4???maybe 5 check ups and cleaning.
2) 2 deswelling injections
3) excess fluid from my right eye was drained with a tiny needle. That was uncomfortable but easily bearable
4) healite laser for deswelling

Tbh, all these deswelling treatments really does shiit all. No matter which clinic/hospital you go to, it makes such a minimal difference that its kinda pointless. The best thing you can do to recovery is take nice slow long walks. It helps with blood circulation. And most importantly, just give it TIME. In time it will heal up.

Oh and guys, also do try the diamond injection. I did 8 ccs split into 2 sessions 10 days apart, and I noticed 2 weeks later when I went to visit my dentist back home, my skin was glowing even when I had no make up on

Anyways ill continue will Part 3: Why I decided against doing zygoma revision – when I have time next. Will add the CT scans to explain why too. xx

 

[Hautelady]

Wow, I really think your genes are made for these. You always bounce back. I bruise and scar a lot so if we were in the same war both blown up, you’d still look like a model and I’d be zombie.

Are those fat and scar removal done from inside the mouth?
So plus lip reduction , how were you able to eat? I’m thinking just soups and shakes for weeks.

 

[K Couture]

Wow, I really think your genes are made for these. You always bounce back. I bruise and scar a lot so if we were in the same war both blown up, you’d still look like a model and I’d be zombie.

Are those fat and scar removal done from inside the mouth?
So plus lip reduction , how were you able to eat? I’m thinking just soups and shakes for weeks.

Nono this time I was actually very much bruised too. I think its due to me not stopping the loniten before the surgery which caused unnecessary bleeding during the operation. I usually dont get bruising like this. But I did look god awful for a good 2 weeks. 3 weeks I morphed back to normal.

The fat and scar removal is done through a punch biopsy at the fold crease. No scar visible. Come to think of it, I didnt even noticed any stitches tbh.

I had no problems eating. I ate whatever the hell I wanted from day 1. I remember when I came back to my airbnb, first thing I did was walk down the street and ordered tuna sashimi and rice with the korean red pepper sauce, a grilled swordfish nigiri and a prawn mayo nirigi take away lol.

 

[babykyoong]

Im writing this post in hopes you guys can get a better idea of what to look for in a surgeon during your consultations. I highly advise to first have an understanding of your facial anatomy, the limitations involved with what can be REALISTICALLY done to enhance your features and as I always say: methodology methodology methodology. Within every procedure there are different methods of performing them. The more you knowledge you have about your anatomy, the more knowledge you have about the methodologies involved, the more you are able to have a sense making discussion with your surgeon on how to customize the surgery and the techniques to be used to your anatomy. Because remember, we all have different facial anatomy. What might work for me may not be suitable for someone else. Select your surgeon based primarily on specialisation and methodology, not reviews, not before and after photos etc because all that is either nothing more than marketing OR has too many unknown factors involved. I discussed this in a previous age old post of mine here: https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/k-coutures-guide-to-seoul-plastic-surgery.886985/

So lets begin shall we. I’m nearly one month post op and ready to do a post on my experience. Procedures I did:

1) Endoscopic forehead/brow lift

2) Lip lift/ philtrum reduction

3) Vertical Canthoplasty (to make my eyes less slanty)

4) facial fat and internal scar removal

5) alar cinching

6) diamond injection (8cc split into 2 sessions, 10 days apart)

All procedures were performed under Deep Sedation (so no intubation) and took approximately 4.5 hours-5 hours

Note: I was planning to do a zygoma revision to reduce my arch but I did not end up doing it. Will explain why with the CT scans in the next posts.

First off, INCREDIBLY HAPPY WITH MY RESULTS! I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SURGEON SO MUCH. And this is the reason. Dr Ahn is an anti aging specialist, did his education in the US and his surgical training in Korea. If any of you read my previous post about my breast augmentation, you will know I chose the female Dr Kim and I explained why. Dr Kim, like Dr Ahn, was also educated in the US and trained in Korea. Hence they both have the same consultation etiquette and surgical skills to compliment their excellent communication skills. Anyone who has ever consulted in Korea vs the west will know there’s a clear difference with how the western surgeons communicate with their patients. Its not just a language difference but a cultural difference. Korean surgeons tend to be less detailed, focusing on the main patient concerns and consultations tend to be quicker, with the surgeon telling you what he is going to do to achieve the result in the photo you showed him/her. Western surgeons however, tend to be more communicative and handle their consultation in a pro and con manner, explaining the limitations and overall a more educational consultation whereby additional information is presented to the patient where more factors are to be considered. The problem I have with western surgeons however, is that often (from my experience), the results are not on par with the consultation. Dr Ahn and the female Dr Kim had both the communication skills I value and the surgical skills to back it up. Anyways, here’s how the consultation with Dr Ahn went:

Me: So my main concern with the endoscopic brow lift is there tends to be some degree of eyes slanting. I am aware the endotine is typically placed at 5 points. I would like them to be placed at 3 points instead, avoiding the outer brow corners so prevent slanting

Dr Ahn: Well for your case if your concern is the slanting effect, it would not be fully mitigated even if I perform the surgery the way you suggested. I will be using 4 points instead of 3, 2 for the inner corner, 2 for the middle, pulled diagonally towards the center away from the outer corner. I will also be making an internal incision to detach the sub fascia so it allows me to reposition your tissues the way you want it. There still will be some slight slanting because even if focus on lifting the inner and mid brow corner, the tension will still have some effect on the outer brow but much less. So I want you to be aware of that first.

Me: Yes I am fine with that. My right eye corner is also slightly more slanted than the left. Is it possible to lower it to even it up a little?

Ahn: I can do that. It’s actually very simple and will take me about 10 mins only. I just need to make a tiny 1-1.5mm incision to adjust the tissue. Another option you have is for me to perform the vertical cantepexy. I can make your eyes less slanted and bigger from the bottom. This would really compliment the brow lift because your eyes would be bigger from both the top and the bottom and you don’t have to worry about slanting since we will be correcting the lower eye. But I do like your eyes the way they are now so it is up to you. Do you prefer a more western look or an Asian look for your eye? That’s the decision you have to make.

Me: Definitely a more western look. I do my eye make up more western too. But I was told previously that my under eye muscles are weak due to the incisions from my concentric malar lift in the past. My concern is the red of my eye might show permanently.

Ahn: (examines my under eye) No that’s not a concern of mine because I will be adjusting and reattaching your lower orbital muscles to the new position before it reaches the red part. And I have performed so many of these procedures I am very very confident. Also with the style of make up you do the results will compliment it.

Me: Ok if you are confident the red of the eye won’t show I will trust you with it.

Ahn: Yes you don’t have to worry. If I am uncertain of something I will always be direct with you. With the vertical catepexy and how it correlates to your anatomy I am very confident the red will not be visible post op. But you will have conjunctivitis temporarily during your recovery.

Me: How long will the eye take to recover from conjunctivitis ?

Ahn: About 1-2 weeks. Depends how well you heal. But its definitely not permanent. In fact with this procedure 100% of patients always end up with temporary conjunctivitis. Some milder than others. It depends on many factors such as how much lowering is done, how healthy your tissues are, how your body reacts etc.

Me: And how long will the bumps take to disappear from my forehead for the lift? (In case you guys are wondering, typically the endo lift will have 5 bumps in front of the hair line which will dissolve over time)

Ahn: You won’t have any. I do it from inside the hair line.

Me: Oh that’s great BUT I am also aware that when procedures involve the hairline, Betadine is used to disinfect the scalp. I am highly allergic to betadine and lost about 1/3 of my hair from it from a previous procedure whereby betadine was used to disinfect my scalp

Ahn: So the reason for that is hospitals and clinics tend to use 10% betadine, which is very corrosive. The reason being they can use it straight out of the bottle and won’t have to pre mix it. 5% betadine is far less corrosive and just as effective. I can do the pre mixture for you. I will also only apply it on where the incision is and not over a larger area.

Me: Oh I had no idea the difference between 5 and 10%. That’s very informative. What about my lip lift? I want my upper lips quite big and juicy and my philtrum to be reduced. However I am concerned about the incision scar. Is is possible to do it from inside the nostrils?

Ahn: Yes I can do that. the only visible incision would be at the bottom of the collumela. Even then it wouldn’t be very visible once you recovery especially since there will be a minor natural looking crease from me rolling up the philtrum tissue. The maximum I can do yours is 4mm for the lift. Any more than that would look unnatural. (proceeds to show me my options with his tool – what It would look like when 4mm is lifted vs 3mm)

Me: Ill go with 4. I like the juicy look

So the consultation actually went on for much longer than this because I also told him to adjust my nostrils which were slightly unevenly from me walking into a glass door -_-. He also did facial lipo for me with the purpose to remove some internal scar tissue on my right cheek. And finally he injected 4cc of diamond injection cross linked HA to my face to make it glow. Another 4 cc was injected 10 days later before I flew out of korea. I’m not going to go through the rest of the consultation as I imagine you guys can already understand why I was so satisfied and impressed with his consultation. I never felt rushed, and he explained everything in such detail. He used medical terminology where I understood some and for the ones I didn’t, he patiently explained it to me. It was a consultation whereby BOTH THE SURGEON AND I DESIGNED MY FACE TOGETHER. It was a very educational conversation which I think is important. That way the patient isn’t going in blind, and has a clear understand of what the surgeon will be doing to their face and how they will be doing it. It also gives the patient realistic expectations. Likewise, a patient should always go into a consultation with a decent amount of medical knowledge. The most frustrating thing for a surgeon is when they have a clueless bonkers patient who thinks plastic surgery is some wizarding magic that can make miracles happen. You know what I mean. The type that shows a surgeon a K-pop celebrity’s nose which is completely different from their pre exisiting structure and expects those kind of results #facepalm

Moving on, Ill continue with pre and post op photos. When I got time Ill do part 2: post op recovery and part 3: zygoma revision consultation and why I did not end up doing my zygoma.

I always look forward to your posts and replies... Thankyou so much for this

 

[pie]

You mentioned that you did a couple of face lifts before the brow lift. I’m not in immediate need of a face lift yet, although I’m sure I’ll more refreshed if I did. Would you recommend doing a brow lift first instead of a face lift? A brow lift does not sound very invasive.