@asukagirl wasn't able to start a new thread so I'm starting one for her. Please make sure to pin her if you have questions for her. 😊
Asukagirl's Day By Day Facelift Journey in South Korea
- Thread starter EmmaDr
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I'm just excited to hear your progress as the rest of us are also feeling, I'm sure!
DAY 1.
Surgery so finally settled on; endoscopic browlift, lower bleph, FL and facial liposuction. The last one is important to remember.
Arrived at the clinic at 10:30 I’ve got changed and went to a private waiting room. There I went through the procedures with my consultant. One thing I would night was they did not request a next of kin but I did set up a group chat with them and my sister and they did update her that I was okay.
I went into the operating room. My surgeon was there and a nurse was placing my hair with a very tight elastics into little pieces. This is painful. Next I went under.
My consultant woke up in a room with another patient at 8:15pm. I needed to pee so badly and I was so out of it. I did not think I could hold it so they took me to the bathroom despite insisting that I wait 30 minutes because of the medication and 10 then back to the bed. I was in absolute agony. Later another English translater came in and gave me my medication (includes Bromlein 100mg, laxative antibiotic and Loxoprofen), also in the bag we’re two different eyedrops sterilise cotton swabs, a cream to clean the eye with, an ice pack for my eyes, gauze for the ice pack, and my at home care sheets. It’s important to note the medication dosage is not on the sheets. I ended up videoing her instructions because I was completely out of it. I would never of remembered and the medication and eye drops are also in Korean. As I had multiple surgeries I had multiple sheets, the nice thing about this was at the bottom it told you when you can expect to have your stitches out. What I was not a fan of, and I need to discuss with my doctor tomorrow, one of these sheets says “Accusculpt liposuction” which is a laser to my knowledge. I was not made aware prior to that was what they would be doing I had been told it was like just liposuction to remove some unevenness.
I was let out at 9:00pm even though I was feeling quite groggy/nauseas. The English translator took me to a taxi. I am currently at home. It is now 4:30 am and I can tell you that this is the most painful experience of my life. I’ve had my breasts done and this is worse. I asked for a lift if I could have some painkillers because it was so excruciating, they told me to take some Tylenol. When I got home, I realised that I didn’t have instructions for how to use the eye cream when I should start. I also asked on the chats regarding painkillers that have with me if I could take then and have had no response (It’s an overnight clinic which is why I expected to have a response from the English translator told me she was there until 8 am). I think that part is the most disappointing.
I will be going back to the hospital at 2:30 pm tomorrow for my follow up with my doctor. I will be pushing for pain medication because I have absolutely not slept and there is no way to sleep with this level of pain. At this stage, I am regretting my decision, but let’s see how I feel tomorrow.
PS I understand there are typos, why does my eyes are swollen shut and the next one isn’t far from it
Surgery so finally settled on; endoscopic browlift, lower bleph, FL and facial liposuction. The last one is important to remember.
Arrived at the clinic at 10:30 I’ve got changed and went to a private waiting room. There I went through the procedures with my consultant. One thing I would night was they did not request a next of kin but I did set up a group chat with them and my sister and they did update her that I was okay.
I went into the operating room. My surgeon was there and a nurse was placing my hair with a very tight elastics into little pieces. This is painful. Next I went under.
My consultant woke up in a room with another patient at 8:15pm. I needed to pee so badly and I was so out of it. I did not think I could hold it so they took me to the bathroom despite insisting that I wait 30 minutes because of the medication and 10 then back to the bed. I was in absolute agony. Later another English translater came in and gave me my medication (includes Bromlein 100mg, laxative antibiotic and Loxoprofen), also in the bag we’re two different eyedrops sterilise cotton swabs, a cream to clean the eye with, an ice pack for my eyes, gauze for the ice pack, and my at home care sheets. It’s important to note the medication dosage is not on the sheets. I ended up videoing her instructions because I was completely out of it. I would never of remembered and the medication and eye drops are also in Korean. As I had multiple surgeries I had multiple sheets, the nice thing about this was at the bottom it told you when you can expect to have your stitches out. What I was not a fan of, and I need to discuss with my doctor tomorrow, one of these sheets says “Accusculpt liposuction” which is a laser to my knowledge. I was not made aware prior to that was what they would be doing I had been told it was like just liposuction to remove some unevenness.
I was let out at 9:00pm even though I was feeling quite groggy/nauseas. The English translator took me to a taxi. I am currently at home. It is now 4:30 am and I can tell you that this is the most painful experience of my life. I’ve had my breasts done and this is worse. I asked for a lift if I could have some painkillers because it was so excruciating, they told me to take some Tylenol. When I got home, I realised that I didn’t have instructions for how to use the eye cream when I should start. I also asked on the chats regarding painkillers that have with me if I could take then and have had no response (It’s an overnight clinic which is why I expected to have a response from the English translator told me she was there until 8 am). I think that part is the most disappointing.
I will be going back to the hospital at 2:30 pm tomorrow for my follow up with my doctor. I will be pushing for pain medication because I have absolutely not slept and there is no way to sleep with this level of pain. At this stage, I am regretting my decision, but let’s see how I feel tomorrow.
PS I understand there are typos, why does my eyes are swollen shut and the next one isn’t far from it
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OMG @asukagirl - You poor thing! Which clinic did you have your surgery done at? I hope you're able to get some rest tonight. It sounds like you're there by yourself. 🙁 I've had breast augmentations and lipo on my abs and flank all at the same time, which was not very painful. I've had facial liposuction and a sliding genioplasty many years ago and I was in quite a bit of discomfort, but I'd imagine adding everything else on top of that. Yikes! I was quite nauseous, and I always throw up after anesthesia, which makes the pain even worse. It will get better soon! The first day is always the worst. Wishing you a speedy, beautiful recovery. 🤗
@asukagirl OmG 😱. I don’t think you should be in so much pain. Which clinic is this? Why is their post op process so bad? 😡
@asukagirl how are you feeling today? And I believe you’ve had your followup appointment by now. What did the doctor say about your pain level? I’ve never had facelift but like @SDUSATravel mentioned, I also agree, you probably shouldn’t be in that much pain. Soreness is one thing but pain to the point of unbearable is a different story. @SDUSATravel I believe she went to Braun according to one of her previous posts. She can correct me if I’m wrong.
@asukagirl the loxoprofen is stronger than ibuprofen but not as strong as diclofenac (voltarol). For facelifts the first 24 hours is excruciating as the anaesthetic wears off. The clinic should have given you loxoprofen to take in your hotel. Do they not think that peeling off one’s facial skin is not painful? For facelifts, I would ensure the doctor gives you either diclofenac to take home or tramadol (stronger than codeine). The pain subsides on day 2 and yes you can take tylenol then. This is my concern with major surgery in Korea. They only give you tylenol as a take home painkiller! I can’t imagine bone contouring surgery, facelifts, body liposuction and no take home painkillers stronger than simple tylenol! Why do they treat foreigners like this?
Oh and did they prescribe you oral prednisolone as your face will swell up enormously on days 2/3 and will stretch the skin many cms. What is their revision policy? Will they tighten for free if it sags at 4-6 months?
Put an ice pack on your face or open your windows at night to keep your face cold to minimise swelling. The face will look good for the first 2-3 months due to tissue swelling but the final result will become evident by 6 months when the face has completely deswelled.
Oh and did they prescribe you oral prednisolone as your face will swell up enormously on days 2/3 and will stretch the skin many cms. What is their revision policy? Will they tighten for free if it sags at 4-6 months?
Put an ice pack on your face or open your windows at night to keep your face cold to minimise swelling. The face will look good for the first 2-3 months due to tissue swelling but the final result will become evident by 6 months when the face has completely deswelled.
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Apologies it’s been awhile, but when you read this you’ll understand why I couldn’t update.
Day 2.
I did not sleep after the surgery I was way too uncomfortable and was bleeding from the drains, something I hadn’t realised would happen as I was not made aware beforehand that they would be drains. Even though I’ve had breast augmentation in 2020 I do not remember having drains, if I did then they would’ve been removed at the hospital as I was in hospital for two days after surgery for that. If you’re like me and unfamiliar with drains then get acquainted before your surgery. At the end of this journey, I am going to post both questions. You need to ask your Korean consultant/doctor and also a checklist of what you need to have at home/hotel. The second photo I have attached shows how the drains come out of the back of my head. There is no cover for them and they are positioned facing outwards so it’s understandably, uncomfortable. I was icing my face throughout the night however my left eye closed completely and the rest of my face swelled. The first photo I have attached is from 10am Saturday morning just before the right eye closed fully. Fortunately I realised this was imminent and got a taxi to the clinic a few hours earlier than my appointment time. By the time I got to the clinic I was completely blind due to my eyes being swollen. I was able to be seen. I want to say in the first 30 minutes of arriving to the clinic by my surgeon, but as I couldn’t see so I can’t give a definitive timeframe. He had to administer 10 shots five for each eye to deswell them which it did somewhat. This was absolutely excruciating painful as it’s administered directly into the eyelid and there is not numbing cream. I asked for pain medication and was given Tylenol. I went home again tried to sleep, but it was so uncomfortable and in pain, that I did not sleep on Saturday either.
Day 3.
Sunday, I did not do too much except stay in my room with the curtains closed. The pain is a solid 11 out of 10. The drains kept bleeding and keep me awake. I’m literally counting the hours down until Monday when they will come out.
Day 2.
I did not sleep after the surgery I was way too uncomfortable and was bleeding from the drains, something I hadn’t realised would happen as I was not made aware beforehand that they would be drains. Even though I’ve had breast augmentation in 2020 I do not remember having drains, if I did then they would’ve been removed at the hospital as I was in hospital for two days after surgery for that. If you’re like me and unfamiliar with drains then get acquainted before your surgery. At the end of this journey, I am going to post both questions. You need to ask your Korean consultant/doctor and also a checklist of what you need to have at home/hotel. The second photo I have attached shows how the drains come out of the back of my head. There is no cover for them and they are positioned facing outwards so it’s understandably, uncomfortable. I was icing my face throughout the night however my left eye closed completely and the rest of my face swelled. The first photo I have attached is from 10am Saturday morning just before the right eye closed fully. Fortunately I realised this was imminent and got a taxi to the clinic a few hours earlier than my appointment time. By the time I got to the clinic I was completely blind due to my eyes being swollen. I was able to be seen. I want to say in the first 30 minutes of arriving to the clinic by my surgeon, but as I couldn’t see so I can’t give a definitive timeframe. He had to administer 10 shots five for each eye to deswell them which it did somewhat. This was absolutely excruciating painful as it’s administered directly into the eyelid and there is not numbing cream. I asked for pain medication and was given Tylenol. I went home again tried to sleep, but it was so uncomfortable and in pain, that I did not sleep on Saturday either.
Day 3.
Sunday, I did not do too much except stay in my room with the curtains closed. The pain is a solid 11 out of 10. The drains kept bleeding and keep me awake. I’m literally counting the hours down until Monday when they will come out.
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Thank you for the advice. They did not prescribe any steroids unfortunately and I am still very swollen. I kept icing it though and even though it’s freezing temperatures I am European and used to sleeping with the window open so hopefully that helps a little bit.
Their revision policy is 12 months. However, I do not have a copy of any paperwork yet. I was a bit jetlagged and didn’t realise until I woke up and was looking for it. They did everything digitally though so I’m assuming that they will email me a copy (trying not to check my emails).
I’m so sorry that this is happening to you. Did the doctors say why you are swelling and suffering so much?
from what I can tell I bled a lot during my surgery. I also had three surgeries instead of just one. I understand the reluctance to administer opioids however I’m not American, I’m used to having lower levels of painkillers but I feel like at least codeine should’ve been prescribed. There is a huge language barrier here. While I enjoy my consultants personality at the end of the day they’re not the doctor and you are left wondering if everything is being translated correctly. I still have a fair bit to go so let’s see how the coming days go.