Patient Stories

Laurie

• 33
• Female
• Neck lift and Liposuction of hips, thighs, and waist

My doctor took care in evaluating and educating me on the procedures I was interested in during my consultation. Both before and after my surgery, Dr. Schwartz was fantastic. He has an unbelievable human approach and made a tough recovery so much easier.

My reasons for surgery basically stemmed from being unhappy with my profile (neck lift) and being unhappy with parts of my body that never seemed to improve, regardless of the amount or type of exercise and regardless of my diet. I am only 4 weeks out of surgery and have several areas on my neck and body that are still very numb. But I feel new sensations every day and see changes in my appearance all the time. I am extremely happy with my choice in surgeons and am extremely happy with my results- and I still have more improvement to come (as I am not completely healed)!

I would recommend my doctor to anyone interested in improving their appearance. He is such an amazingly talented surgeon and a genuine, caring, human being, unlike any I've met before.

Sharon

• Consultant
• 49
• Female
• Neck, Mid-Face Lift and Browlift

I am a 49 year old woman who always took pride in her appearance, and was dedicated to a healthy eating and exercise routine but was not happy with the visible signs of aging of the face such as jowls, wrinkly neck, sagging cheeks and lines in the forehead. I had my eyes done a few years earlier so I decided on surgery to "fix" the rest. Exactly three weeks ago I underwent a five hour procedure to erase some of these "annoyances".

The first 24 hours are the worst because of the drainage tubes which need to be attended to. There is not really pain (with the exception of perhaps a sore throat due to the anesthesiology). I would suggest hiring a professional to be with you because it really is not a pleasant experience for the patient or an unqualified caregiver. The first week I was terribly bruised and completely exhausted mostly because I found it difficult to sleep in an elevated position. By day 12, the bruising was gone, I felt good and was out doing errands but since I was still visibly swollen, I didn't want to socialize yet. It feels like I'm wearing a mud mask and a wig. Washing the hair is weird because you can't feel anything and since the right side of my lip is numb and my jaw is tight, I don't want to eat in front of people yet.

Today is day 20, most of my face still feels numb, especially the forehead and scalp, but the swelling is not very obvious. I can't open my mouth wide enough to eat a sandwich but can take small bites of anything desired. However, I look great! I went to a party last night and wore my hair in an updo and with minimal makeup, the scars were non detectable. People commented how pretty and smooth my skin was. I understand that it could be 4 weeks until I would be fully satisfied with the results, but I can definitely say that a positive change has occurred and it is worth every day of slight discomfort I have just experienced.

My surgeon came with impressive credentials, and from what I see, I would recommend him in a heartbeat. My overall experience was one that I expected with the exception of the tight jaw. It could be a couple more weeks until I can take a BIG Bite of something, but in the meantime, I'll deal with. I know I made the right decision regarding this procedure!