Going to Dr Z in Mid May

[VickyMI]

NCAmazon - thank you so nmuch for your posting of you procedure an followup.  I almost choose Dr. Z for my Trach Shave in March but went to Dr. Spiegel solely becasue Dr. Zs style turned my off and I went to Boston.

On the phon in January Dr. Z tried to sell me on a lower face lift and said I would not be happy with just a Trach shave so it seemed to me he was after the extra $$.  Now that I am 2 months post Op I see no reason for a loer facelift.  Anyway I will see him next week at Be-All and discuss phase 2 (Chin and Jaw work).  I think someone should take him aside and tell him how much business he is losing due to his "style" not his work.

[mementomori]

i like dr zukowskis aesthetic results , how agressive he is with noses etc, but i think i need quite significant forehead reduction like by about 8mms so basicly a type 3 forehead , im just worried the edoscopic burring wouldnt be enough for that

[dejan160]

NCAmazon - thank you so nmuch for your posting of you procedure an followup.  I almost choose Dr. Z for my Trach Shave in March but went to Dr. Spiegel solely becasue Dr. Zs style turned my off and I went to Boston.

On the phon in January Dr. Z tried to sell me on a lower face lift and said I would not be happy with just a Trach shave so it seemed to me he was after the extra $$.  Now that I am 2 months post Op I see no reason for a loer facelift.  Anyway I will see him next week at Be-All and discuss phase 2 (Chin and Jaw work).  I think someone should take him aside and tell him how much business he is losing due to his "style" not his work.

Dr Z has bad attitude. He talks too much and he advises patients what other surgeries they need. The truth is that if you take his advice you will be happy with the work done. I took all of his advices and i can't be happier with the outcome. I don't think it is about the extra cash it is about him being a perfectionist and he knows his job. Maybe after the jaw and chin work you will need a facelift as well. It all depends on your skin elasticity and on the amount of burring done.

[NCAmazon]

NCAmazon - thank you so nmuch for your posting of you procedure an followup.  I almost choose Dr. Z for my Trach Shave in March but went to Dr. Spiegel solely becasue Dr. Zs style turned my off and I went to Boston.

On the phon in January Dr. Z tried to sell me on a lower face lift and said I would not be happy with just a Trach shave so it seemed to me he was after the extra $$.  Now that I am 2 months post Op I see no reason for a loer facelift.  Anyway I will see him next week at Be-All and discuss phase 2 (Chin and Jaw work).  I think someone should take him aside and tell him how much business he is losing due to his "style" not his work.

Don't get me wrong Dr. Z is a good skilled man and knows what he's doing.  Even though he's a bit disconnected in the way he talks to people He does give extra help. I called him on a Sunday on his cell a week after the procedure and he was there to answer questions.  It seems like he's always in a rush when talking but his work is good.

He does suggest a lot and gives the pitch, but when you say no he says cool and moves on no big deal.  But hey its a biz.  I don't know how other docs are in terms of personally connecting with patients.   I'm happy so far. But I chose no lower face work becuase I don't want that long recovery pain risk etc.


Now I look back and laugh but right after my procedure Dr. Z came up to my wheelchair while I was bandaged up and said "How does it feel to get hit by a truck with a big Z on it" he said laughing as I was in my post op pain.

Or when he does his first massage he squeezes your nose hard and says "you gotta take the pain".   

His surgical suite is not exactly fancy or state of the art and is fairly basic .

[mementomori]

Don't get me wrong Dr. Z is a good skilled man and knows what he's doing.  Even though he's a bit disconnected in the way he talks to people He does give extra help. I called him on a Sunday on his cell a week after the procedure and he was there to answer questions.  It seems like he's always in a rush when talking but his work is good.

He does suggest a lot and gives the pitch, but when you say no he says cool and moves on no big deal.  But hey its a biz.  I don't know how other docs are in terms of personally connecting with patients.   I'm happy so far. But I chose no lower face work becuase I don't want that long recovery pain risk etc.


Now I look back and laugh but right after my procedure Dr. Z came up to my wheelchair while I was bandaged up and said "How does it feel to get hit by a truck with a big Z on it" he said laughing as I was in my post op pain.

Or when he does his first massage he squeezes your nose hard and says "you gotta take the pain".   

His surgical suite is not exactly fancy or state of the art and is fairly basic .

what is the nose massage for ? ive never heard of anyone needing to masage their nose after rhinoplasty before

[Jeneva]

Dr Z recommends nose massages after rhinoplasty.  I don't know if it is just because he wants to make absolutely sure it heals well or if it is because he is so aggressive, but he is very keen on massaging everything after surgery.

[mementomori]

Dr Z recommends nose massages after rhinoplasty.  I don't know if it is just because he wants to make absolutely sure it heals well or if it is because he is so aggressive, but he is very keen on massaging everything after surgery.

do you know if he can get good reduction in a type 3 forehead ? i like all his other results in other areas of the fave but im just not sure about the forehead yet . i need to see some pictures i think of people who had quite a bit of forehead projection beforehand

[Jeneva]

You are welcome to check out my pictures in the Z thread I had in December.  But I'm not sure if you'd say I had a very prominent forehead before.

[mementomori]

You are welcome to check out my pictures in the Z thread I had in December.  But I'm not sure if you'd say I had a very prominent forehead before.

haah i didnt think i did either but all these surgeons are telling me i have a type 3 forehead o.O . examing my photos more though i  tend to agree with them although i dont have that ' ridge " area that runs all the way across the area and through the top of my nose and to the other side. the actual overall projection of my forehead is probably more of a problem

[MiaOhMya!]

I have spoken with Dr. Z a few times, and I've not yet experienced this "bad Zukowski" about whom I hear so much. I'm really curious why. I read so many stories about him before we first spoke that I went into my phone consult ready for some disagreement, yet he turned out to be not at all as I expected. I am beginning to think its just an issue of perception. Were he the way I'd heard described I would absolutely tell him about it, without hesitation.

We've not met in person, but I imagine that first meeting will encompass the usual akwardness of meeting a stranger, especially one with whom you must convey deeply personal information. He does try to keep things light, which is normal considering that I am a stranger to him as well, but he has not said a single thing I've considered pushy, arrogant, or tactless. That's my experience to date...

[mementomori]

I have spoken with Dr. Z a few times, and I've not yet experienced this "bad Zukowski" about whom I hear so much. I'm really curious why. I read so many stories about him before we first spoke that I went into my phone consult ready for some disagreement, yet he turned out to be not at all as I expected. I am beginning to think its just an issue of perception. Were he the way I'd heard described I would absolutely tell him about it, without hesitation.

We've not met in person, but I imagine that first meeting will encompass the usual akwardness of meeting a stranger, especially one with whom you must convey deeply personal information. He does try to keep things light, which is normal considering that I am a stranger to him as well, but he has not said a single thing I've considered pushy, arrogant, or tactless. That's my experience to date...

yea i found him pleasent on the phone

[Raneth]

Here are my before and after forehead shots after going to Dr Z. I think I've posted them before, but just in case I haven't:


the lower half of my face is still quite swollen in this photo, so try to ignore that!

[mementomori]

Here are my before and after forehead shots after going to Dr Z. I think I've posted them before, but just in case I haven't:


the lower half of my face is still quite swollen in this photo, so try to ignore that!

oh wow you really didnt have a prominant forehead  at all , but just that subtle change really made your overall much more female

[NCAmazon]

I'm getting the vibe that girls have this type or that type of forehead paranoia is something created by the the T Community and the surgeons themselves.  It seemd a bit scary too me that someone would actually have their forehead bone removed then reshaped and put back in with a metal plate.

Dr Z puts a minimimal incision relatively and shavaes down bone and elevates the temples. It seems to work for the most part even among the most masculine of T girls I've seen at his office. 

But I guess the debate goes on.

[NCAmazon]

Just an update currently 20 days out from surgery.  Most of the bruising and major swelling has come down.  I see good changes especially in the nose. I liked how Dr Z. has an aggressive style.

But one thing that puzzles me is that at work most people notice a slight difference so far but no one comes and says "Wow you look so different"  or "Something is different about you".     

One person that sees me everyday said "hmm it looks like you changed your hair style" ( I got forehead reduction and hairline lowering).   

Is it common that people who see you often don't pickup on the changes??  Do I still have a long way to go before a more final product? 

Some people that pay close atttention that I'm friends with say "the top of your nose looks slimmer". 

I only told some close co workers that I was going for nose work but nothing else.  I present as male at work, but use hair extensions etc when I go in girl mode. 

[Jamie D]

I am glad to hear you are healing well.

[VickyMI]

If you are iterested in a forehead reshape (brow).  Dr. Spiegel performs the best method among all the major surgeons in the U.S.  The way he does it is hard to explain but if you are serious about having this procedure as part of your FFS you should really consider talking to him.  He does not use a metal plate but uses the exiting forehead bone you have and shaves it down on the side lifts and resets it in the forehead.  Like I said hard to explain but I have seen Dr. Z, O, Beck and Metzler versions and Spiegel has the best method.  Cant vouch for all the other FFS procedures you may need but this one he has the best method.

[JenJen2011]

Is it common that people who see you often don't pickup on the changes??  Do I still have a long way to go before a more final product?

I think it is very common. The same thing happened to me. Family and friends know something has changed but do not know what exactly until you point it out to them or show before and after photos. At work, everyone asked me what I got done. The only person who could see the changes immediately is my partner because we live together and he see's me every day.

Yes, you still have ways to go before the final product. Give it at least 6 months. That's when you'll get a good idea of what you'll look like. Your face will go through a lot of changes during the first 6 months.

[MiaOhMya!]

Hey Jen jen, Jeneva, Amazon...well anyone who has undergone FFS...I have a question for ya...

With my own FFS ten days away now I'm starting to get pretty anxious, more than anything just about the pain those first few days. I've been through some very painful things in my life, but not  this sort of thing. Could you specifically let me know what degree of pain you all experienced? Is it a constant pain, or more the occasional "OUCH okay yeah now I'm hurting gimme a pill?!?" Were you able to sleep?

The Zukowski FFS DVD kit, while very informative, was also effing scary and put me off a bit. You shoulda heard me and my bf watching it...you'd have thought we were wathching "wildest police videos" because we were "OHHH!" "AHH!!" "OUCH!" "OMG THAT HAD TO ******* HURT!". Many expletives! 

[JenJen2011]

Could you specifically let me know what degree of pain you all experienced? Is it a constant pain, or more the occasional "OUCH okay yeah now I'm hurting gimme a pill?!?" Were you able to sleep?

If it's still up, go check out my FFS diary in the blog section of Susan's. My experience is there. In short, everyone's experience is different. For me, it was something that I could never prepare for. I went through hell and back. I experienced a lot of pain and discomfort even with the meds. I even fainted twice. It is important to rest as much as you can and to have someone be there to help you, preferably an experienced nurse.

Sleeping was difficult and very uncomfortable. You have to stay on your back and at a 45 degree angle for a few weeks. Sometimes I had so much pain I coudn't sleep. I woke up during the middle of the night many times due to the pain.

I know it sounds scary but things will get better as time goes on. You just have to be very patient. I wish you luck with your surgery. May you have a speedy and painless recovery!