Planning my FFS: help?!

[Rhonda Lynn]

I don't know what your budget is, but here are some things I see when I look at the 2nd to last photo.

The distance from the upper lip to the nose is long. An upper lip lift would shorten this and feminize your appearance.

An eyebrow lift would be helpful in opening up your eyes.

I agree that your nose could be narrowed to give you a more feminine look.

Lowering of your hairline would feminize your appearance.

If money were no object, I would narrow the jaw and reduce the chin a bit too, but it's probably at the bottom of the list.

[R R H]

That's remarkably close to what Dr Bart said Rhonda

I saw Dr Bart van der Ven this afternoon for an excellent consultation. He examined me carefully.

One of his most significant findings was that I am 'lucky to be one of the few with a type I forehead' so he proposes some shaving only of the forehead including orbital rims and NOT reconstruction. This follows an exchange I had with Dr Rossi's agent which was based on photos alone: I got the distinct impression that Dr Rossi's team will try to perform major forehead reconstruction on everyone who comes their way. Neither Dr Sutin (PAI) nor Dr Bart had any hesitation in saying the same thing: 'you don't need it.'

Dr Bart proposed a number of other actions which were detailed and, I have to say, about which I'm delighted. It includes a little shaving of my jaw and chin, some work on my nose and lip, hairline advance and, of course, a brow lift. They will also perform a separate 8-hour electrolyis under i-v pain relief. The work he proposes around my eyes and cheeks sounds terrific.

In a separate op 4 months later I will have a full face lift possibly with blepharoplasty.

I think my decision is made but I will sleep on it tonight

[R R H]

There's a fuller more up to date post on this here: https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,214760.msg1901920.html#msg1901920


Well I slept on the decision for a couple of nights and I have finally made it. Before I declare my hand, I consulted with:

1. Dr Rossi

2. Dr Bart van der Ven

3. Facial Team

4. Dr Sutin at Preecha Aesthetic Institute

I discounted Dr Zukowski for no massively strong reasons so those were 4 of the world's leading non-US FFS places.

After much thought, including nearly a whole day Monday scouring the internet for further reviews and comments, I came to the following conclusions:

1. Dr Rossi
Good quick responses from Amanda their agent. Whilst I liked a lot of their thoughts I get the impression Dr Rossi is basically a one-trick pony: it's forehead reconstruction or nothing. Since I don't have a so-called type III forehead, and am pretty dubious about this whole reconstruction malarkey, this turned out to be a sticking point beyond which we could not budge. They did back down when I told them the findings of both Dr Sutin and Dr Bart.

2. Dr Bart van der Ven
I had a good face-to-face consultation but this turned out to be a different viewpoint to others. Dr Bart doesn't think I need much work on my forehead except to lower my hairline. He thinks I don't have much brow bossing and am not type III so he proposed very little work there. However, to my slight surprise he did want to do a little jaw and chin shaving. No one else thought this was necessary in my case and when I said I'd rather focus on a full face lift to achieve the effect he steamrollered my viewpoint. I was also rather unhappy about his nose simulation. There was almost no difference at all in the before and after and he didn't seem to listen to what I was proposing. I was really quite underwhelmed by his before and after simulation. I also raised with him the issue of operations in a clinic not a hospital and what happens if something goes wrong? He was a bit casual in response on this which I really didn't like. Look at what happened to Kelly Maloney there: things can sometimes go wrong for whatever reason and when they do every second counts. Finally, I emailed them several times and received no reply. Sorry, Dr B, you're very nice but for those reasons I'm out.

3. Facial Team
Appalling at email replies. Simply appalling. Made me feel like I was on a conveyor belt. When I eventually got a response from them they completely agreed with Dr Sutin (see below). "looking at your photos and wanted to congratulate you have a feminine face. And we believe that with a facial feminization'd look great. For your case we suggest a lifting of the lower middle third to lift the soft tissues andcan rejuvenate and feminizarte the same time."
They also operate in a clinic, not a hospital. That's okay providing nothing goes wrong but 8 hours under GA is not a short operation. 
Anyway, lousy response timing from them has put me off.

4. Dr Sutin at PAI (Preecha Aesthetic Institute)
He palpated my face, simulating the different face lifts which were impressive. He clearly and unequivocally stated I don't need forehead work except an orbital rim shaving alone if I want (50:50 on that): nothing else was necessary except for lift work and hairline lowering. He was equally clear that the jaw and chin don't need shaving but that a FFL will be perfectly sufficient given my face shape. He offered two clear options on my nose which I liked: unlike Dr Bart he wasn't pushing a full rhinoplasty and conveyor belt nose job. He felt I could alternatively have tipplasty if I didn't want my nose in cast for 4 weeks etc.
I had my bilateral orchiectomy with PAI and they were superb. I really like Dr Sutin.
And the best FFS facial surgery I've ever seen (Warlockmaker) was performed by PAI. These Thais do really know their stuff in this field: they must still be considered the most aesthetically sophisticated and beautiful in the world, surely?
What I particularly like is that they tailor it to your needs. They're also brilliantly quick with email response.
So, for me, it's now a no brainer. I've booked the surgery with Dr Sutin at PAI in December, booked my flight, booked my hotel.

Oh, and PAI is half the cost of Dr Bart and they operate in a superb hospital (Piyvate).

Decision made.

[Rhonda Lynn]

Congratulations on making your decision, Rachel! I think you've done a fantastic job in your search of the various surgeons to find the one that is right for you.

[R R H]

Awww that's so sweet Rhonda. Thank you so much for your kind words