Vlif Facelift with Dr. Shim and Noselab with Dr. Kang

[faceme123]

Other plastic surgeon commented Kybella will give you a sunkened look or your FL had resulted in a sunkened look?

My intention with kybella is not to over dissolve but to “flatten” surface. I’m still mulling over if I should go ahead

 

[dori]

I am in my late 50s, and have been wanting to do a facelift for a while. I am Korean, living in the US. After searching for several months both on PF and KKT, I decided to go with Dr. Shim at Vlif for my facelift. The reason I selected him was his suturing skills and the fact that Vlif only does facelifts. They also include neck lifts with facelifts. They do more facelifts than other clinics that do other surgeries along with facelifts. I wanted to get my rhinoplasty done as well on this trip. I had a deviated septum that I wanted to correct and didn't want the scars to show. I found Dr. Kang at Noselab, who does closed, dolly style rhinoplasty and he is a well known ENT.

Dr. Shim at Vlif​

After talking to Bella, the online consultant, via WhatsApp for a couple of months, I decided to put down a 10% deposit for my face lift. This was not an easy decision since I didn't get a good feeling at the beginning with Bella. When I was negotiating the price, she said their price is set and everyone gets the same price. She told me I'm welcome to go elsewhere if I didn't like their price. I end up getting a 30% discount for letting them use my photos. Writing this review was not part of my discount, but I wanted to share my honest experience. Since I was only going to be in SK for 2.5 weeks and I was going to two different clinics for my face and nose, I needed to make sure I could get the surgery dates I wanted. I arrived in SK on Jun 18, and my consultation and surgery was on the same day on Jun 21. I was told by Bella that they didn't have an opening for a consultation before the surgery date. This was on May 2, which was over a month and half before my surgery date.

Two days before surgery: I got my blood work and x-ray done at a lab that Vlif recommended.

Day of Surgery: They had at least two different English speaking consultants (Bella and I can't remember the name of the other consultant) who were very nice and helpful. I met Dr. Shim for the first time just before the surgery, and right away I felt at ease. He was very caring, kind and listened to what I had to say and answered me honestly about what he can and cannot do. He told me he would do his best to get me the result I was looking for. They took several before photos, washed my face, Dr. Shim marked my face, and I was ready for my surgery. I was put to sleep sedation for the surgery. I woke up with with my face bandaged up, numb and groggy, but no pain. Within 30 minutes or so, I was ready to return to the hotel in a taxi with my goodie bag (Vit. K lotion, sunscreen, scar cream and ice pack for eyes). I was not in pain at all the first night or the next two days before my post op appointment, but felt tight around my face and neck. I had a headband on my face and draining tubes behind my ears that ran to two bottles that hung around my neck. Dr. Shim also gave me skin booster shots all over my face complementary. I was told to ice my face as often as I can. I also took both the Opti-Recovery (Bromeliad) and Boiron Arnica Montana.

Two days post op: I went back to the clinic to get my draining tubes removed, hair washed, de-swelling IV shot and red-light therapy. After the nurse removed the draining tubes, Dr. Shim came in and sutured behind my ears where the tubes were. I really appreciated that he didn't put staples on it. They took more photos after removing the draining tubes. At this point, my bruises were minimal, behind the ears and couple lines on the neck. I was really surprised at how little bruising I had. I did noticed that I had a dent on one side of my face by the ear, but was told it would go away.

Six days post op: I got another de-swelling IV shot, red-light therapy, and photos done. I did not see Dr. Shim at this appointment. I'm starting to see dark purple bruises on my neck and under one eye. I felt very swollen especially if I went outside for a couple of hours where it was in the 80s and 90s degrees. I walked around the Starfield Coex mall adjacent to my hotel a lot to get my circulation going and to help the swelling.

Seven days post op: Got my stitches removed, and they put silicone tape around my ears. Got all the treatments done as well as photos. I definitely saw the v-shape on the bottom part of my face, but also saw the diagonal lines by my lips to under the cheeks. I was told these lines will go away after a few months. These lines were from pulling up the muscles under the skin.

Eleven days post op: I saw Dr. Shim for the last time for him to checkout my healing and to answer any questions I had before heading back home. I am happy with my result even with the dent and diagonal lines as long as they go away. They took more photos.

It has been three months since my surgery on Jun 21, and I still have the dent on one side, but not as noticeable and still have the diagonal lines on my face, but that is getting a little better. The side of my face is still numb and I hope that it will get better in time. I did noticed that I have a tiny bit of jowl. I sent my photo to Bella to show it to Dr. Shim, and she said that it will go away eventually. I sure hope so!

Dr. Kang at Noselab​

I exchanged messages directly with Dr. Kang on WhatsApp a couple of months prior to making an in person consultation.

Consultation day, Jun 19: Since they didn't have an English speaking consultant, I hired a translator. I can speak some Korean, but not fluent enough to understand all the medical terms. Dr. Kang answered all my questions, and was honest about my expectations. I showed him some photos of what I wanted my nose to look like. He told me that the height of my bridge is determined by how much my nose tip skin can stretch. He said he can go as high as 90% of the max that my skin can stretch. I had my chest x-ray taken to see if he could use my own cartilage for the tip, and blood work. We decided to go with silicone for the bridge and my rib cartilage for the tip. Even though my bridge skin is thin, he assured me silicon will not be obvious. He also said, he'll fix my deviated septum.

Surgery day: I had my rhinoplasty five days after my facelift. My face was still very swollen, but Dr. Kang was so nice and offered me a de-swelling shot during my surgery. One thing that I noticed in SK is that they tie down your arms and legs during surgery. I don't know that they do this in US. I've never heard of it. Dr. Kang talked to me before they put me to sleep sedation and made sure he answered any questions I might have. I woke up in a recovery room with my nostrils stuffed with cotton, cast and bandages on my nose, but no pain. After about 30 minutes, I was able to return to my hotel. I honestly didn't feel bad where he took out part of my cartilage. I felt really sore the first night, so I took a pain killer, but that was it. I was able to move around normally after the first night. I didn't have to take any more pain killers.

Two days post op: They took out the cotton stuffed in my nostrils. This was the only uncomfortable experience during the entire rhinoplasty. You have gauze under your nose to catch the nose drip that needs to be changed every few hours. I felt so liberated when they took out the cotton stuffed in my nose. I had my hair washed, and did oxygen tank therapy.

Seven days post op: I saw Dr. Kang, and he told me everything went well. I asked him about the height of the silicon and he said since he shaved it to fit my nose, he wasn't exactly sure, but around 2-3mm. Bandages replaced, oxygen tank and red-light therapy.

Nine days post op: My last appointment before heading back home. I didn't have my translator with me anymore, so Dr. Kang's office was so kind to hire a translator for me at no charge. The nurse removed my stitches, cast, and got my last oxygen tank and red-light therapy. I am very happy with my result! I can feel and see my bridge skin pulling up, and was told it could take up to 6 months for all the swelling to go down.

I highly recommend Dr. Kang and his staff to anyone who is looking to get a dolly style nose. He is a very skilled ENT. I had zero pain the entire recovery. He also answered my questions pretty quickly weeks after the surgery.

 

[faceme123]

I have not done Kybella on my perioral mounds. I’ve consulted with a ps here in US and he didn’t recommend it. Another girl got fg to fix her perioral mounds and she’s happy with her results, so it could be that I just need fg also? I do notice that I now have more dunked in look below my cheeks. Probably need some fg done in this area as well.

I’m surprise even after facelift it didn’t give you a nice v lift

 

[Lunar2]

It kind of did at first, but after three months it went away.