What doctor to choose for my FFS? Pictures of me included. Please help.

[Donna Elvira]

Hi Donna!

What stops me is the word aggressive. Sounds more painful. Is it?

Diana

Hi Diana,
In this context "aggressive" means prepared to go beyond relatively superficial change. For example, using a genioplasty to  remove almost 1cm of height from a chin which was previously 7.5cm high (middle of lips to end of chin) is agressive. Shaving a couple of millimeters off the bottom of bottom of the chin is not.
Barring rare accidents, there is very real little pain involved in FFS, just a lot of discomfort due to post surgical swelling which can be very impressive. I, for example, tend to swell like a pumpkin but most of that disappears within a couple of weeks .
Hope that helps.
Donna

[sweetts2828]

I am ready for this surgery and at the same time, its crazy that i am going to do something like this with the possible risks! Its not like i get hit by a car and die. Its that i am putting myself at risk with this surgery. What if i am one of the few rare cases where something goes wrong?

I am happy and i am scared.

[Kiwi4Eva]

It's perfectly normal to be scared and apprehensive before surgery, but you need to look at the positives.  There are many...

Yes, something could go wrong, but it's unlikely it will.

The best thing you can do is take care of yourself (your health) prior to, and after surgery.

You can be hit by a car crossing the road, die suddenly from all manner of things.

But to expect something will go wrong, when you are going to be in the hands of skilled professionals, is not logical.

Be kind to yourself and enjoy the changes you are about to embark on.

P.S. I have had 10 hours of FFS and I came through it.  Some things you will notice straight away, others will take time, quite a long time, as much as a year.

Hugs 

[sweetts2828]

Kiwi, did you feel any pain? I had breast augmentation but didnt feel pain post op, just discomfort.

[Kiwi4Eva]

No, not pain.  Of course while I was in the hospital I must have as I had a morphine pump, and used it.  But after I became "aware" no...

Just discomfort.  And it takes a while to get around the deep bruising.

But I'll tell you something that was lovely...seeing the difference straight away.  The change in the shape of my forehead was immediate.  Curvy.

You'll be OK!

When are you going to have surgery (do you know how much you're having done) and where?

[sweetts2828]

I am planning to have surgery in January. If not, June the latest. I have to coordinate everything around business travel.

How long does it takes to be "presentable" to the public? Do you think 30 days is ok?

[Kiwi4Eva]

My avatar is 2 months post op from my FFS.

I was still quite swollen here, but looked "softer" than before.

I guess it depends on what you had done and by whom, their methods.  I had no black eyes, no external bruising, it was all internal (deep tissue) Sleeping was probably the most difficult thing...I mean finding a comfortable position for my face and not wanting to hurt the area's that were sore.

With make-up I am sure you could manage.  I am now approaching 8 months and can touch all regions of my face but at 4 months someone came up to me and grabbed my face (didn't realize what I had done) and it hurt like hell.

[Donna Elvira]

I am planning to have surgery in January. If not, June the latest. I have to coordinate everything around business travel.

How long does it takes to be "presentable" to the public? Do you think 30 days is ok?

Diana,
The answer to your question depends very much on what you have done and how you, as a person react.That being said, even supposing you do "the works" ie. forehead, nose, chin/jaw...you should be presentable after 30 days. You will almost certainly still bit a bit puffy though and don't expect to see final results for 4 to 6 months.
Hugs.
Donna

[Celia0428]

Hi Donna!

What stops me is the word aggressive. Sounds more painful. Is it?

Diana

Hi sweetts2828,
Aggressive surgery might be more painful than superficial surgery during the first few days, but it is by far less "painful" than having to live with a result that is not satisfactory from a surgeon who didn't go as deep with the change as he should.
From my own research I've learned that aggressiveness only makes a difference in the pain level at the jaw and chin areas. Forehead seems to be always more or less painless no matter how aggressive or invasive the bone work on it was.
I would recommend you to contact all the main FFS doctors, ask them all your questions and make your decision based on your own conclusions. Recommendations on what doctor to choose from forum members are very valuable, but sometimes can be confusing and contradictory, sometimes they might reflect preferences that aren't the same as ours.

[Sacha]

I would only do the front head.

Nose and chin are ok. Not specially masculine.

[Noah]

Diana,

Hi! I'm Diana too

I love Spiegel's work, and so he was my first choice. I had a consult with him and felt that he was definitely the surgeon for me as I liked his energy, too.

I know a few girls who've been to him, but they were mostly in their early 20's and quite pretty already. This is something I've heard again and again, that Spiegel is adept at perfecting those faces which are already within andro/fem range.

This is not to suggest you are not young and beautiful already! I think you are very pretty, and I love your look. In my opinion you're already totally passable and look cis female.

I think you could benefit from  some forehead and chin/jaw work and maybe a lip lift just for fun?

Anyway, I had my forehead reconstruction, scalp advancement, hairline recontouring, and brow lift with dr.spiegel yesterday morning! I'm writing this from my hospital bed

It was a total success and I have only seen the ridge area but it is incredible how he managed to reshape my face with this procedure.

I like Spiegel because he is committed to removing masculine qualities and maintaining a natural authentic look. I'm sure many surgeons do that, but something about him appeals to me in particular.

Spiegel has even great in person and made me feel cared for and well understood. He really is compassionate.

Anyway I hope my experience is helpful! I'm also sober! So we have a bit in common

You're a beautiful woman and I don't think you need "aggressive" work. You're well within female range. Just my opinion.

Feel free to PM me

Di

[Noah]

Also! My recovery has already been remarkable. Here is a photo immediately pre and post OP. you can't see the results so much but you can see them some. Especially that orbital change!

Before
http://i.imgur.com/Wr2s7Q5.jpg

After
http://i.imgur.com/v9DB2lg.jpg