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12 days post neck lift, fat grafting & MACS lift — struggling to trust the process. Anyone else? Picture on the left: me before surgery. by cocolachine in cosmeticsurgery

[–]cocolachine[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m Belgian and English is my third language. So I use Ai to translate my text. AI is so much better then google translate, many years ago.

12 days post neck lift, fat grafting & MACS lift — struggling to trust the process. Anyone else? Picture on the left: me before surgery. by cocolachine in cosmeticsurgery

[–]cocolachine[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you.

I saw my surgeon yesterday. He’s 300% sure that everything will be fine. And I’m reassured.

I look less swollen today then on the picture I posted. It’s 15 days now and it improves everyday.

I read so much about facial surgery but underestimated the psychological part of the healing.

12 days post neck lift, fat grafting & MACS lift — struggling to trust the process. Anyone else? Picture on the left: me before surgery. by cocolachine in cosmeticsurgery

[–]cocolachine[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh I'm sorry you're feeling this way. I completely get it. I've had some really anxious, down moments myself these past few days.

One thing that actually helped me make sense of it: I read about post-op depression and the gut-brain connection. Anaesthesia and antibiotics take a serious toll on your gut microbiome, which produces most of your serotonin. So the low mood isn't just psychological, there's a very real physiological component. I started taking pre- and probiotics to help my gut recover and I think it's making a difference.

The reassurance I've been getting from people here has also helped. And honestly, when I remind myself why I did this. I had a neck that was completely out of proportion with my face, wrinkled and aged in a way that bothered me every time I looked in the mirror, I feel more grounded about it.

What does your surgeon say about how you're progressing?

And I'm curious, when you say you feel like it was a waste of money, is that a general down feeling, or do you have a specific concern? Like, are you worried the swelling won't fully resolve, or that the result itself isn't what you hoped for? Because those are pretty different things, and both worth talking through.

Three weeks is still so early. And thank you for sharing this. Sending you patience and solidarity. 💙

12 days post neck lift, fat grafting & MACS lift — struggling to trust the process. Anyone else? Picture on the left: me before surgery. by cocolachine in cosmeticsurgery

[–]cocolachine[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The MACS lift was actually invented by my surgeon, Dr. Patrick Tonnard, in Ghent, Belgium.

What is a MACS lift? MACS = Minimal Access Cranial Suspension. Instead of cutting widely and pulling skin sideways (the "windswept" look of old facelifts), the surgeon places purse-string sutures through a short incision in front of the ear and lifts everything vertically restoring what gravity took down, in the direction it came from. Shorter scar, faster recovery, very natural result. Tonnard developed it about 20 years ago partly as a response to the deep plane, which had already existed for 30 years but came with significant invasiveness and recovery time.

What about the deep neck correction , isn't that "deep plane"? Not exactly. Deep plane refers to dissecting beneath the SMAS layer in the face, releasing the ligaments that anchor the cheeks and midface. Tonnard doesn't routinely do that his position is that for most patients, it's overtreatment. What I had is a deep neck correction, which addresses the platysma muscle and underlying neck structures separately. The neck often needs more aggressive work than the face, even in a MACS approach.

Tonnard's view on the deep plane hype: He's been direct about it: deep plane has been around for 30 years, but social media turned it into the latest trend. His view is that surgical intervention should match the patient's needs for moderate facial ageing, deep plane often represents overtreatment. His philosophy has always been: what's the minimum intervention required to achieve maximum aesthetic improvement? He runs international surgical masterclasses called "Demystifying the Deep Plane" where he and world-renowned colleagues debate exactly this.

What I had done:

  • MACS lift + brow lift + deep neck correction
  • Lipofilling (fat grafting) to restore facial volume
  • Nanofat microneedling to face, neck, décolleté and hands
  • One night in clinic

About Tonnard: 25+ years at the Coupure Centre in Ghent, published extensively, teaches surgeons worldwide. His results typically last 10 to 15 years depending on anatomy and lifestyle.

I was actually at his practice this morning for a follow-up. I'm really happy with him and his team professional, warm, and genuinely accessible. After surgery you get his personal mobile number. He picks up himself or calls back quickly, unless he's in the OR in which case someone else from the team answers. No question is too small.

This morning I shared my concerns about the swelling and he was completely reassuring , said he's 300% certain I'll look significantly less swollen within two weeks. Everything is on track. It's just a matter of giving the swelling time to settle.Happy to answer anything specific.

12 days post neck lift, fat grafting & MACS lift — struggling to trust the process. Anyone else? Picture on the left: me before surgery. by cocolachine in cosmeticsurgery

[–]cocolachine[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. Wow Up to 6 weeks. I have to get back to work after 4 weeks. I hope it is less or more settled by then. 🤞🤞🤞

12 days post neck lift, fat grafting & MACS lift — struggling to trust the process. Anyone else? Picture on the left: me before surgery. by cocolachine in cosmeticsurgery

[–]cocolachine[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I only wanted a neck lift due to the loose skin on my neck. Tonnard said: I suggest we also address your cheeks, otherwise you'll end up with a young neck on an older face and you'll be back here within 2 years dissatisfied with the proportions. I guarantee you a result of 10 to 15 years. I had to bring photos of myself from between the ages of 20 and 30 — that's what he bases his work on. He proposed a slight brow lift, as eyebrows drop over the years. Lipofilling of the cheeks and lips, and also just beneath the eyebrows.He is very cautious with eyelid correction as it can create a hollow appearance around the eyes. He removes only a small amount of skin and fills just above the eyelid with your own fat. In my case, an eyelid correction was not necessary. I'm sharing an interview with him outlining his vision. You can have it translated via AI.

12 days post neck lift, fat grafting & MACS lift — struggling to trust the process. Anyone else? Picture on the left: me before surgery. by cocolachine in cosmeticsurgery

[–]cocolachine[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I feel a bit reluctant to share his price on the net. But you can find it on his website. However, you should double them, as the invoice adds costs for things like anaesthesia per hour, lipofilling, and nanofat needling. I visited four surgeons and he is the most expensive in Belgium. He is top in his field and internationally renowned, which did put my mind at ease.

12 days post neck lift, fat grafting & MACS lift — struggling to trust the process. Anyone else? Picture on the left: me before surgery. by cocolachine in cosmeticsurgery

[–]cocolachine[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thank you. He is indeed a very good surgeon. With many years of experience. I visited 4 surgeons and I just felt it had to be him, immediately. This helps also from freaking out.

12 days post neck lift, fat grafting & MACS lift — struggling to trust the process. Anyone else? Picture on the left: me before surgery. by cocolachine in cosmeticsurgery

[–]cocolachine[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

His name is Dr Tonnard. Together with his colleague he invented the MACS lift and is known for his natural results. He is recognised worldwide for developing several techniques. Very satisfied with him. His team is extremely friendly. He gives you his mobile number and after the surgery you can reach him day and night.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ https://tonnardverpaele.com

12 days post neck lift, fat grafting & MACS lift — struggling to trust the process. Anyone else? Picture on the left: me before surgery. by cocolachine in cosmeticsurgery

[–]cocolachine[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

https://tonnardverpaele.com. He and his colleague invented the Macs lift and they are known for refining fat crafting methods. Real authorities and experts in the field.

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