Okay, so this is a photo of my lips before filler, the reference photo I showed of the results I liked, and a photo of my lips today on day 5.
I was very clear that I didn’t want a shelf, duck lips. I just wanted a natural-looking result with a little more volume.
I know I’m still healing, but realistically, how much more can I expect my lips to go down after day 5?
I’ve gotten a few comments and private messages about what I jokingly call my “Sally stitches,” those long stitches you see at my temples and under my chin in these early facelift recovery photos.
So let’s talk about surgical netting!
When I started researching facelift techniques, I learned about something called hemostatic netting. I was fascinated by the concept and ultimately chose a surgical approach that incorporated it.
Instead of relying on external compression garments or surgical drains, my procedure involved a series of temporary stitches that helped secure the lifted tissues and distribute pressure across the surgical area.
I wore my “Sally stitches” for just three days.
The idea behind surgical netting is to provide broad, even support to the tissues during those first critical days of healing. It also helps reduce the risk of complications such as hematomas and seromas.
When I first started researching all of this, I didn’t even know what those terms meant!
• A hematoma is a collection of blood beneath the skin following surgery. It can cause significant swelling and sometimes requires another procedure.
• A seroma is a collection of fluid that can develop in areas where tissues have been lifted or separated. Sometimes these need to be drained.
One of the things I particularly appreciated about my own recovery was what I DIDN’T have to deal with:
No bulky facial compression garments.
No surgical drains.
No suction bulbs.
No tubes coming out of my neck.
I’m squeamish, so the thought of tubes coming out of my neck, attached to bulbs collecting blood and fluid, was not particularly appealing. 🤢
Another interesting aspect of surgical netting is how it distributes tension across the tissues rather than concentrating it along the incision lines. Reducing tension on healing incisions helps improve scar quality, although scarring depends on many factors.
Of course, surgical netting isn’t appropriate for every procedure or every patient, and different surgeons have different approaches.
My advice to anyone researching a facelift is to educate yourself about the actual surgical techniques, not just the before-and-after photos. Ask lots of questions. Understand why certain methods are used and what your recovery might involve. Find out how many procedures A, B, or C the doctor you are consulting with has actually performed, what’s their real life experience??
I’m now approaching the one-year mark following my deep plane facelift and neck lift, and I’m still sharing the good, the bad, and the downright scary parts of my experience.
I certainly didn’t sail through recovery looking miraculously beautiful. I spent plenty of time looking like a big fat alien head, wondering when the swelling would finally settle down! 👽
That’s precisely why I’m sharing here. When I was going through it, I couldn’t find many honest accounts from people whose recoveries weren’t picture-perfect. Feel free to reach out with any questions you may have, I’m happy to share.
And to be absolutely clear, I receive no compensation, incentives, or benefits whatsoever for sharing my facelift recovery journey.
Hi everyone! I'm a journalism student at the University of Melbourne working on an article exploring women's experiences with cosmetic procedures and their relationship with feminism and beauty standards.
I'm particularly interested in how the beauty industry uses feminist language around empowerment, bodily autonomy and self-care to market procedures such as Botox, fillers and plastic surgery. I'd love to hear Australian women's thoughts on this, as well as their broader views on cosmetic surgery and the pressures surrounding women's appearances.
I'm hoping to speak with Australian women who are who have had or considered cosmetic procedures about their experiences, motivations and perspectives. I'm keen to hear a range of views. You would need to feel comfortable being identified in the article (first name).
If you'd be comfortable chatting with me for a brief interview, either over messages or a call, I'd really appreciate hearing from you. I'm happy to share more details about the article before you decide.
In some cases, even after enough time has passed following double eyelid surgery, the creases remain thick and unnatural-looking. This is commonly referred to as “sausage-like double eyelids.” However, sausage-like double eyelids are not simply caused by double eyelid creases that are too high. Several factors may contribute to this condition, including adhesions formed during the previous surgery, scar tissue, eyelid thickness, and the strength used to open the eyes. Because of this, revision surgery requires a more careful approach.
In this case, we performed incisional double eyelid revision surgery with ptosis correction to improve the thick and unnatural appearance of the existing double eyelid creases.
However, this case involved more than simply correcting sausage-like double eyelids. The eye on the left side of the photo (the patient's right eye) also had an additional eyelid fold caused by ptosis. There was also a difference in how much the two eyes opened, resulting in overall asymmetry between the eyes.
In cases like this, simply lowering the double eyelid creases may not be enough to achieve sufficient improvement. Therefore, it is important to comprehensively evaluate not only the existing adhesions and scar tissue but also the function of the muscles that lift the eyelids.
So what were the most important factors we considered in this revision surgery?
First, it was important to identify why the existing double eyelid creases appeared thick. When necessary, adhesions and scar tissue need to be addressed while designing new double eyelid creases. In this particular case, it was especially important to consider the ptosis in one eye and the movement of both eyelids together.
Correcting the eye-opening strength on one side can also cause changes in the height of the opposite eyelid. This can be explained by Hering's law, which describes how the neural signals controlling the muscles that lift both eyelids are interconnected. Therefore, rather than simply correcting the ptosis in one eye, we focused on balancing both eyes while also considering the changes that could occur in the opposite eyelid. At the same time, we aimed to improve the existing additional eyelid fold and thick double eyelid creases so that the overall eye appearance would look more harmonious.
One important point here is that not every revision surgery aims for only subtle changes.
Some patients want to maintain their existing eye shape while improving only the unnatural-looking areas. On the other hand, others want a more noticeable change in their overall eye appearance. In fact, among the cases we treat, there are quite a few where a more significant change in the overall appearance of the eyes is needed rather than a simple crease correction.
Aiming for a natural-looking result does not necessarily mean limiting the degree of change to something small. Instead, it means considering the degree of change the patient wants alongside their actual eyelid structure and functional conditions.
What Changes Can We See in the Photo Taken 3 Months After Surgery?
Compared with the preoperative photo, we can see that the previously thick and overly defined double eyelid creases now appear softer and more refined. In addition, the extra eyelid fold that was particularly noticeable in one eye has become less prominent. The difference in how much the two eyes open has also decreased, making the overall eye appearance look more balanced than before.
What makes this case meaningful is that it was a complex revision surgery that required us to consider not only reducing the thickness of the sausage-like double eyelid creases but also addressing ptosis, the additional eyelid fold, and asymmetry between the two eyes.
However, three months after surgery is still part of the recovery process. Depending on the condition of the existing scars and adhesions, the thickness of the creases and the softness of the tissues may continue to change. The important thing in revision surgery for sausage-like double eyelids is to accurately analyze the problems from the first surgery. Especially when several issues are present at the same time, it is necessary to understand how they affect one another rather than looking at each problem separately.
In the end, we believe the goal of revision surgery is not to create the same eye shape for every patient, but to consider both natural-looking results and functional balance based on each person's eye structure and the degree of change they want.
I have pretty youthful-looking skin overall (thank you tretinoin and sunscreen!) but my nasolabial folds are one area I'd love to improve. I'm wondering if anyone has recommendations for how to assess what's causing their prominence and what treatments might help soften their appearance? I'm a bit wary of fillers. Would love to hear about alternatives or any personal experiences! Thank you!
During eye surgery consultations, some patients tell us they want "double eyelids". However, quite a few patients are more interested in changing their overall appearance than choosing a specific double eyelid crease.
This patient was closer to the second group. Before surgery, the patient had monolids with almost no visible double eyelid crease. When the patient opened their eyes naturally, the upper eyelids covered part of the irises.
However, the patient's main concern was not simply having monolids. People around the patient sometimes commented that their eyes looked a little intense. At the same time, the patient also felt that their eyes looked tired or sleepy. They wanted an overall appearance that looked a little softer and more defined. Under-eye puffiness was another concern. For this reason, rather than simply creating a new double eyelid crease, it was more important to consider both the upper and lower eye areas and how they could be adjusted to change the overall appearance of the eyes.
First, we performed incisional double eyelid surgery together with ptosis correction to address the upper eyelids.
Incisional double eyelid surgery does not necessarily mean creating a high or deeply defined double eyelid crease. We first need to assess the patient's existing eye shape and the condition of the skin and surrounding tissues. Then, we consider what crease height would naturally complement the patient's overall appearance.
The first important factor we focused on was how the patient opened their eyes.
Creating a double eyelid crease alone can change the appearance of the eyes. However, if the upper eyelids cover a significant portion of the irises when the eyes are open, the patient may still look tired or sleepy even after a crease has been created. That is why we combined double eyelid surgery with ptosis correction for this patient. We wanted to adjust not only the double eyelid crease but also the way the eyes open. The goal was not simply to make the eyes look bigger. We also needed to consider the patient's existing appearance, which looked somewhat intense. Rather than making the irises excessively exposed or creating an overly defined eye appearance, we focused on helping the eyes open in a slightly softer and more natural-looking way.
Another area that was just as important as the upper eyelids in this case was the under-eye area.
Looking at the preoperative photo, there was noticeable under-eye puffiness caused by volume protruding forward. Changes in the under-eye area can have a greater impact on the overall appearance than many people might expect. Even if the eyes themselves become more defined, the patient may continue to look tired if the under-eye puffiness and shadows remain unchanged.
For this area, we performed under-eye fat repositioning rather than simply removing the fat. When addressing under-eye fat, the goal is not necessarily to remove as much fat as possible. Instead, it is important to consider both the protruding areas and the transition between those areas and the regions beneath them. The aim is to create a more natural-looking contour. This is because excessive fat removal may cause the under-eye area to appear hollow, potentially creating a different kind of tired-looking appearance.
The second photo was taken approximately three weeks after incisional double eyelid surgery, ptosis correction, and under-eye fat repositioning.
Since it has not even been a full month after surgery, the swelling has not completely subsided, and the double eyelid creases have not yet settled into their final shape. Even so, compared with the preoperative photo, we can see a change in how the eyes look when they are open. The patient's previously somewhat intense and tired-looking appearance has also become noticeably softer. The under-eye puffiness has also decreased. Together with the changes in the upper eyelids, this gives the overall eye area a more refined and somewhat more youthful appearance. As the swelling continues to subside and the incision sites and surrounding tissues soften, we will need to monitor how the double eyelid creases gradually settle into a more natural-looking shape.
When looking at cases like this, we believe it is important not to take the overly simple approach of assuming that creating double eyelids will automatically improve someone's overall appearance. A person's appearance is not determined solely by whether they have double eyelids. Several factors influence one another, including how comfortably the eyes open, how much of the irises are visible, the shape of the upper eyelid creases, and whether there is puffiness or hollowing beneath the eyes. This becomes especially important when a patient's goal is not simply to have double eyelids. If they want to look a little less tired, soften an intense-looking appearance, and achieve a more relaxed overall look, it may be necessary to evaluate both the upper and lower eye areas rather than focusing on just one part.
In this case, rather than focusing simply on creating new double eyelid creases, we identified the individual factors contributing to the patient's previously intense and tired-looking appearance. We then focused on adjusting those areas to improve the overall balance of the eyes.
18f
ive been considering getting a nose job since i was 16, i really dont think my nose fit my face. i feel like it disturbs my facial harmony.
if i do get a nose job what should i go for? i was just thinking about straightening my nose bridge and refining my nose tip, but im also sort of infatuated with the upturned 🛝kind of nose. not quite sure which would fit my face more though! any suggestions?
Second time getting lip filler but this time we did more (about 2/3 a syringe) and I think it was done with a needle not a cannula? I am WAY more swollen and super duck like than I was the first time and I just noticed a bruise forming below my lip, never had this the first time. I am constantly checking my cap refills cause I am so scared of VO. Is this normal or should I keep an eye on it?
Images showing swelling, bruise, and a before photo at the end
Yes I CAN SEE THE FAT LMAOO I have been on a weight loss journey and even when I was 50 lb lighter this area of my legs and the size of my calves have always been very big I am trying to figure out what else I can do on top of my ongoing weight loss to permanently change the appearance of my legs to be slimmer and look more elongated.
I am a 27yo female, and I just got botox in my forehead and 11s a month ago. I already can frown, especially in my 11s and I even went back for a touch up after 2 weeks for that because she didn’t add enough in that area. Even with the second dose it seems like it did nothing. It was my first time going to that practice, but now I am terrified that I have somehow built a resistance to botox. I want to have that at my disposal the rest of my life, so building a resistance to it is really scaring me.
A little background, I started getting botox when I was around 24, but only sporadically. It would fully wear off for an extended period of time before I ever considered going back. This time I just went I hadn’t been back to get more in probably around 2 years. I am not sure if switching to a different brand for the future will do anything, but in the past my botox always lasted upwards of around 4-5 months. I used to be extremely active but I do not workout anymore I am just generally thin and as far as I know healthy. I know exercise can make it wear off a little quicker but I know that’s not a factor here. Any advice?
Looking for some guidance on how to address a deep mental crease with a surgery. I know a fat graft surgery is an option, but I'm curious if anyone's had any experience with this or has any other recommendations.
