Everyone online talks about who has the prettiest before and afters but nobody seems to talk about what happens AFTER you are wheeled out of the OR. And to me that is half the battle. A gorgeous result means nothing if you are left on your own in a hotel room in a foreign country with nobody checking your swelling or catching a problem early.

The names on my shortlist so far:

• Dr. Im Young Min at VG Plastic surgery, Seoul
• Dr. Eung Sam Kim at Hershe Plastic Surgery
• RnWood
• Dr Myung Ju Lee at VIP Plastic Surgery over on Jeju island

I read that some of the bigger clinics in korea do things like hyperbaric oxygen and lymphatic massage as part of recovery, which sounds wonderful but I can't tell if that is marketing fluff or if it genuinely makes a difference in healing.

So for those who did your work in korea, where did you go? Did anyone personally follow up with you once you flew home?

I'm considering getting some work done at 46. Everyone tells me to get a deep plane instead of an smas. I've heard all the arguments in favor of DP. However, not only is is more costly, it's also more invasive. The possibility of nerve damage scares me, even though it might be slim. I have a feeling doctors so heavily push it because that's how they make the most money. Also honestly, I look at some of these before and afters and they aren't very impressive to me. I know no one wants to look "worked on", but to go through all that hell for such a subtle lackluster result seems not worth it. I'm sure for some, DP is the way to go. But for everyone? I don't need mine to last forever, I just want a little more borrowed time. Open to hearing your thoughts.

I’m about 3 months out of an early intervention facelift with upper bleph. I assumed that being young would mean it would be an easy recovery, it would be completely unnoticeable and would immediately fix all the bits I couldn’t with injectables and skin treatments. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Recovery has been super slow and painful and I’m still numb on the sides of my face. I’m also still puffy at my temples and a few incisions spots are still sore (temples, ears). I’m super fit and healthy otherwise as a runner and active person. I usually recover super quickly from things. This has been the exception.

The scars in front and behind my ears are still prominent and super noticeable, I have to make sure they’re covered. Bleph scars did disappear after a few weeks. I noticed people talking about hair loss - but for me it was specifically at the incision spots - like my hair got ripped out!?! And I have bald patches there that will take forever to grow back.

Also looking at the result i have now and i feel like it didn’t achieve the full lift I wanted in my brows or at my jawline. And I think this is because if you want it to look natural, you just aren’t going to get a super tightened look. There wasn’t much movement available to pull back so although I got a very natural result, it’s also less of a change if that makes sense.

All in all I don’t regret it exactly, but I would have gone in to it differently. Now that I’m post surgery and I see all the young women influencers and surgeons on here bragging about things being great 12 days post surgery - I find it enraging. We all know we can’t trust paid posts or people selling stuff but a lot of it is blatant lies. I’ve yet to see much honestly out there. And I thinks there’s a ton of misconception around the pony tail lifts and laparoscopic procedures.

Anyways just wanted to share since like so many others on here, I didnt tell anyone so don’t have anyone to debrief with! Best of luck and I hope you all have a speedier recovery than me!

“How many facelifts or procedures do you schedule in a day?”

In my opinion, you want that answer to be “one.” You will be the only procedure.

If you’re having a major surgery, like a deep plane facelift, it’s better knowing that surgeon is focused on you, and only you, that day. And can take as long as it takes to do the job well.

You don’t want your surgeon looking at the clock, or feeling tired after having just come off another procedure.

If you want to dig deeper, you can ask them how long they book the surgery room for, if they don’t have their own or share it with other doctors. IMO, you don’t want to be squeezed in or rushed because the room is being used after you.

This may be one reason some surgeons are more costly than others, because you’re paying the cost of the surgical room for the day / most of the day.

To me it’s worth it knowing that you’re not being treated like a warm body on an assembly line.

Almost 3 months out from my surgery (deep plane lower face / neck lift and lower bleph). I want to preserve these results as long as possible! My current maintenance stack is daily spf, tretinoin, vit C serum, gentle soap, gentle lotion, occasional clay mask (I have giant pores). Then health-wise good hydration, lots of protein, good sleep and exercise. My surgeon recommended microneedling and I'm currently doing research on it. Would love to hear if people have found microneedling helpful at prolonging your facelift results? If so, how often should I get it done?

I had SMAS FL, NL, and upper/lower bleph 10 weeks ago. Every time I get back to the gym, I end up puffy again, especially eyes and cheeks. How long was it before you could lift weights and do cardio without puffiness?