How to go from 50+ to looking 20+ with plastic surgery rejuvenation.

[MissOrange]

While Korea still requires a 2 week quarantine for foreigners, I have been researching more uk surgeons. It seems they all train first in the MACS facelift which uses deep loop sutures to hold up the smas and very few venture into deep plane FL. The longevity of the MACS then is dependent on the longevity of the sutures and if permanent sutures are used there may be a risk of suture extrusion or reaction. But I found one in Hull Dr Vasu Karri with a background in head and neck so is not afraid of the facial nerve. He does deep plane, uses nonpermanent pds sutures and relies on scar tissue formation after the sutures dissolve and for £7,200! And he follows Dr Jacono's 60 degree FL vector! Best price and follows $120k Dr Jacono’s technique!

He is extremely honest and patient focussed and told this 50+ yo she didn't need his £7200 FL but rather his £2200 facial fat graft! Wow she looks fab after 52 ccs of fat graft! Fillers have their limitations and one cannot fill a face with 52 mls of synthetic fillers.

Dr Karri also insists on hiding his FL scars so ladies can wear their hair up without tell signs of a FL! 30% of his FLs are revision FLs from other surgeons and revising their scars too. I’m sold! But I have to wait until I am 60+ as I still don’t need it as fat has restored my youth and facial volume.

It really puts me off to see some U.K. surgeons use staples to close their facelifts. In training, we would use staples to close quickly to save time but never on the face for fear of leaving tram scars. I recall in A&E closing a laceration with fine sutures to reduce scarring and as I was taking too long, the attending said just staple the wound! But then when it came to staple removal, I saw awful tram scars from the holes left from the staples. I thought I would have to fly to Korea for a no scar FL but maybe I have found someone who doesn’t mind taking time to embroider?

 

[MissOrange]

You look absolutely gorgeous here!! Thanks for adding the info about Seo’s new clinic Machimpyo.

in the US, Dr Eshima in SF is often cited as the best but he is v expensive, keeps a low profile (his website doesn’t have before and after, just contact info) although you can see them in his office; (EDIT: I just saw that he retired.) He uses GA at a hospital in the area. I’ve never gone to him but I’ve often heard his name whispered about among socialites and ladies of a certain age. (Not a shill and have no affiliation. I’m a bit too young to think about FL at 35). my main interest in ptosis correction (imho Koreans do Asian eyes really brilliantly—you can customize your eye shape!), getting upper eye fillers for my direly sunken upper lids (I haven’t worn much eye makeup throughout 2020 because I can’t figure out how to work with my new eye shape and ofc all the makeup counters were closed!), some brow Botox/lift. Possibly temple (not cheek) fillers for that lovely youthful high cheekbone curve. And of course a revision rhino, or just some filler to top up an irregularity in the bridge! I noticed Koreans prefer fat grafts while US prefer fillers like Belotero - but stories like Han Ye Seul getting a lipoma from what seems like a forehead fat graft make me nervous. At least fillers can be dissolved....

I think Bray’s work is excellent, & the ladies who have gone to him are happy to talk on RealSelf—some even offered to meet up with me when I was in London because photos don’t do work justice, you know? They’re very open about complications and possible scarring too. He uses local anaesthesia.

Some Korean clinics do great work on native Koreans (who often go in groups and get surgery together for a better rate) but ignore foreigners unless they whip out a camera and film their journey. I’ve noticed that the best results on foreigners come that way if they know you are recording every step of the way (get a friend or nurse to film you when you’re recovering). Btw I would not rec a thread lift for anyone with thin (eg caucasian) skin, for the same reasons PDO eye lifts (the Fox eye trend) were a brief flash - they don’t hold up after a few months, & thin skin takes to sagging.

thanks again for such excellent info, MissOrange!
ETA: did you tint or microblade your brows? They’re beautiful and suit you well. I also noticed you started wearing light lip glosses and colors which draw attention to the eyes and away from the lower face (although tbh I don’t see a real cause for concern there...) The colors really look youthful and compliment your beauty

Hi @sanarae, I forgot to answer your extra questions. I had my eyebrows tattooed at Tracie Giles in London years ago with one top up. It has lasted forever! I specifically asked for a light colour to soften the face and also a lighter brow tattoo colour looks more natural when you do not wear makeup. If I apply full makeup, then I use a brow pencil to thicken the brows to balance the eye makeup. As for the lips, as we have to wear masks everywhere, I tend to not bother with lipstick and just apply carmex lip balm daily. After lip lift one needs to apply lip balm or Vaseline daily for dry parched lips or maybe because I cannot reach drinking 1.5-2 litres a day so am chronically dehydrated?

 

[sanarae]

Hi @sanarae, I forgot to answer your extra questions. I had my eyebrows tattooed at Tracie Giles in London years ago with one top up. It has lasted forever! I specifically asked for a light colour to soften the face and also a lighter brow tattoo colour looks more natural when you do not wear makeup. If I apply full makeup, then I use a brow pencil to thicken the brows to balance the eye makeup. As for the lips, as we have to wear masks everywhere, I tend to not bother with lipstick and just apply carmex lip balm daily. After lip lift one needs to apply lip balm or Vaseline daily for dry parched lips or maybe because I cannot reach drinking 1.5-2 litres a day so am chronically dehydrated?

Do you like ice tea or eg cucumber water @MissOrange ? It is hard to reach that level of water so I sympathize; I’m always carrying a water bottle around to force myself to drink lol. Also I’ve got into celery juice cos Nam Vo drinks it & it is really not bad! Juicing can be highly sugary if one adds fruit, but celery I’ve found oddly palatable? Can’t be bad for one nonetheless. Also thanks for the info on the brow tint! It looks so pretty on you!!! i have dark brows and hair, & the brows don’t match my Virgin hair but am determined to keep them as full as possible. PS, i was told by my trauma medic friend that aquaphor is best for dry lips (the tub kind not the one marketed for lip). Your bullhorn lip lift is super gorgeous —I’ve only seen in the US by Dr Talei & yours turned out nicer. Maybe I should go to the UK after visiting relatives in Korea for PS! I have a job offer there

 

[dinoca]

Is fat graft in nasolabial folds permanent? Does the fat migrate?

 

[sanarae]

double post! Sorry!!!
But yes once travel is less restricted (I live in California for now; I plan to go to Korea first) I will be stopping by Heathrow on the way to see family & friends next. If anyone wants to meet up I am a friendly, polite courteous person altho you can see the lack of work in 2020. it would be nice to have a coffee or tea or cocktail whatever suits, I’ve already been promised a tasting menu from an old schoolmate at a exclusive sashimi place lol. (I’m still angling for that one place with only 6 seats at a time lol. I love sashimi & think it’s got lots of omegas and is healthy if safely prepared.) same in Korea if anyone wants to be PS buddies since I have family there, but
My Korean is poor, I can help get discounts. Travel is so uncertain Internationally at the moment so I can’t say a definitive time. But I will def be checking out Dr Seo’s new clinic and a few which cater to locals - my cousin had her nose done there.

 

[sanarae]

Also Korean food is traditionally very salty (& tasty) but salt affects the surgeon’s ability to see your facial structure , & healing. So as odd as it sounds I was rec’d in the US to buy protein (helps healing) like unsalted tuna, fish, poultry etc & purée it (you can get a bullet mixer cheap or bring yr own they’re tiny). It feels strange but really if you’ve ever had a beef or salmon tartare those are way worse in terms of texture. I’ve been told that and sinecch (arnica) are great for post procedure. I’ve eaten unsalted puréed chicken and it’s odd at first but you have to remind yourself, it is for healing. Pumpkin soups is traditional & I think ok since most clinics give it. They wash your hair for you too. They did for my cousin

 

[MissOrange]

I have been wondering why in me and other ladies the face seems to sag on one day and look fine the next. I used to think it was totally weight related and that it was good to gain 3-5 lbs but then the cheeks would get full and heavy and weigh down and create nasolabial lines. Hydration guidelines say we should be drinking 1.5-2 litres of fluids a day yet few achieve this. In the cold, fat cells seem to shrink and expand in the heat but then if it is too hot, the face becomes more dehydrated and sags. Eating salty foods increases one’s thirst so one can drink up to 2 litres. Eating carbs may help us retain fluid. Eating a fatty diet can help feed the fat cells. All this did my head in until I decided I needed to look good for an interview and instead of my morning bran, ate a buttery croissant for breakfast and forced myself to drink 1.5 litres a day. This worked without the need to gain weight. Here is my selfie from 2 days ago. I am pretty impressed as the weight is only 100.8 lbs yet the face looks taut. No wonder ladies look good when they wake up from general anaesthetic as the anaesthetist usually gives a litre of fluid through the iv during an operation. I guess I need to shelve my research on facelifts for now and revisit when I am 60. It looks like I shall have reached age 55 without the need for a facelift.

 

[MissOrange]

Also Korean food is traditionally very salty (& tasty) but salt affects the surgeon’s ability to see your facial structure , & healing. So as odd as it sounds I was rec’d in the US to buy protein (helps healing) like unsalted tuna, fish, poultry etc & purée it (you can get a bullet mixer cheap or bring yr own they’re tiny). It feels strange but really if you’ve ever had a beef or salmon tartare those are way worse in terms of texture. I’ve been told that and sinecch (arnica) are great for post procedure. I’ve eaten unsalted puréed chicken and it’s odd at first but you have to remind yourself, it is for healing. Pumpkin soups is traditional & I think ok since most clinics give it. They wash your hair for you too. They did for my cousin

@sanarae salty Korean foods may be encouraging ladies to drink more fluids! No wonder Korean ladies have great complexions!

 

[MissOrange]

Wow folks! I just learned that the extended deep plane facelift is the most technically difficult but best facelift in the world and that Dr Dongman Park at Bio clinic in Seoul does this “extended“ deep plane facelift which ventures further into tiger territory where the facial nerve branches sit! No U.K. surgeon does the extended deep plane! Dr Bray only does the regular deep plane for £26k so does not dissect down to the 2 ligaments holding down the nasolabial fold as there is more risk of damaging the facial nerve branches, but super experienced Dr Park does for $15-£20k! Here is the best explanation of the difference in facelifts given on Instagram...https://www.instagram.com/tv/COsaNJxAeQb/?igshid=189rnr2xu7edm&fbclid=IwAR3UCorVgBfbGm55lcTC84BTqZ4nOGiuNmA4eJ-Tyby9k0D_tIuzMsSlfsE

 

[sanarae]

@MissOrange your profile is basically perfection
(Also I meant I was cautioned by some US docs to avoid salt before a procedure such as a rhino for up to a week — also some said after — so that they could better see the bone structure eg of the nose to operate more precisely in patients with thin skin, sans the swelling salt may produce. (International PS guidelines and practices vary so wildly! Sorry for any misunderstanding!)

 

[MissOrange]

Now that we know the different types of facelifts, we can better understand when a surgeon says he does the plication smas facelift which is folding over the excess smas layer and suturing across it. Not everyone can afford $120k or £26k for a deep plane FL or £12k-£14k for a smas facelift so do look around. Dr Bert Oelbrandt charges €4K euro for smas plication facelift. Dr Karri charges £7500 for a deep plane FL. His price has gone up from £7200 to £7500. I got an email with this price. I have posted a b&a from Dr O’s Instagram. He gives £40 consults or £60 for multiple surgery consults on Wimpole Street (probably zoom until travel is allowed). Some U.K. surgeons charge up to £300 for a consult! It may be worth getting a cheaper second opinion as all the consults add up. In Korea, all consults are free!

 

[MissOrange]

Is fat graft in nasolabial folds permanent? Does the fat migrate?

Hi @dinoca, the fears with fat graft are migration and reabsorption. As we move our mouths a lot when we eat, drink or speak, the fat cells are likely to reabsorb somewhat. But if you can keep your weight 3-5 lbs more than your surgery weight for 4-6 months, it gives the best chance for the fat cells to survive. Once they have taken, then it is a matter of +++ daily hydration and eating healthy fats to expand the fat cells. If your diet is low in fat, then the fat cells will shrink and look like they have gone when they may just be waiting to be fed fat!

As fat is heavy it can drop over time which is why finding the best fat transfer surgeon is key so he knows how much to inject in fine layers and where, ie in an ideal diamond face shape. It is a skill to avoid the fat cells clumping and forming lipomas.

 

[MissOrange]

Yesterday I saw plastics and burns consultant surgeon Mr Declan Collins for a second adcortyl steroid injection to my 7 months old hypertrophic periareolar scars. I am pleased to say the first injection in March flattened half of the then 5 months old scars so am looking forward to this second dose flattening the rest. He also does laser treatment for scars but I am scared off lasers for life. For anyone with surgical or traumatic keloids or hypertrophic scars, it may be worth seeing a board certified plastic surgeon specialist in scars instead of picking a laser doc from Instagram like I did to my detriment. Mr Collins sees patients at the London Scar Clinic. https://www.152harleystreet.com/specialist/declan-collins/. He gets my recommendation for treating hypertrophic scars effectively!

 

[MissOrange]

When we talk about good days and bad days what do we mean when talking about our face? Here is a side by side of a good day April 18, 2019 vs a bad day April 6, 2019. What happened? On April 6 it was a cold morning and I had not drunk water or eaten yet and was on a vegan salad diet for lunch all week to reduce my lipoprotein A and cholesterol. On April 18 I enjoyed sunny Brighton, ate a fatty Korean lunch, basked in a sauna, drank lots of water and weighed a lb more than on April 6.

So before you rush into booking a facelift check your weight, fluid intake and diet. It is not surprising that our faces have fat cells that need feeding and watering especially when after the menopause the number of fat cells have reduced or fat graft cells shrunken from a vegan diet non existent in fat. Do the water challenge and drink at least 1.5 litres a day of water. If your face plumps up you definitely do not need a facelift but are sagging from dehydration. Add a meal with healthy fats and see what happens.

 

[alicia K]

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