For those who've had FFS: All done in one surg, or multiple surgeries?

[ainsley]

My surgeon is doing a 2-phased approach, currently.  I get the feeling he may do 2 surgeries and an in-office procedure (lip).  He wants to wait and see how the nose, brow lift and bossing, forehead, and hairline turns out before making the decision for further routes of FFS.

[Ellement_of_Freedom]

I guess it depends on the amount of procedures you are opting to have. My surgeon said no to pinning my ears back as he said what I was having done (type 3 forehead reconstruction, brow lift, rhino, chin and jaw) would take enough time in the operating room as is. That alone took him 8 hours.

[Alexa Ares]

My surgeon is doing a 2-phased approach, currently.  I get the feeling he may do 2 surgeries and an in-office procedure (lip).  He wants to wait and see how the nose, brow lift and bossing, forehead, and hairline turns out before making the decision for further routes of FFS.

Your surgeon appears to be a bit cautious however that's a good thing. I'm lined up for nose, brow, hairline work and I'M keen to see how I look before doing anything else. Botox to the jaw has slimmed it down and getting rid of facial hair has made my lips come out more.... I will be keen to avoid jaw and cheekbone work if I can as ultimately I'm realistic about what I can afford, recover from and what is going to look nice for me....and will fit my personality and life.

[Kendra]

Two flights, one surgery.  First flight was for in-person eval - with a decision this important I wanted more than Skype.  Second trip was for entire set of procedures.  I prefer minimizing the number of times with anesthesia.

[JenSCDC]

I had my FFS with Spiegel all in one go. It took him about 7 hours to do:
*hairline advancement
*forehead recontour and brow ridge reduction
*brow lift
*rhinoplasty
*cheek implants
*lip lift
*jaw and chin recontour
*tracheal shave

I wanted to get everything done at once because I was holding off on transitioning until I had FFS.

[Karen_A]

I had "the works" Forehead (Type 1), Jaw/Chin, Nose, Scalp Advance and treacheal shave all done at once by Dr. O. in 1999... That as before he was doing lip lifts IIRC.

Certainly cheaper that way... but the first 3 days after FFS were the most miserable of my life!

- karen

[Dani]

I had 3 separate procedures, initial FFS, then a revision and additional work and finally a hair transplant.

My surgeon felt it is better to under correct first and then go back and revise rather than do too much all at once.

[Ellement_of_Freedom]

Certainly cheaper that way... but the first 3 days after FFS were the most miserable of my life!

You can say that again.. I had nose packing for that time and it was misery.

[ainsley]

Your surgeon appears to be a bit cautious however that's a good thing. I'm lined up for nose, brow, hairline work and I'M keen to see how I look before doing anything else. Botox to the jaw has slimmed it down and getting rid of facial hair has made my lips come out more.... I will be keen to avoid jaw and cheekbone work if I can as ultimately I'm realistic about what I can afford, recover from and what is going to look nice for me....and will fit my personality and life.

Yep, my surgeon mentioned that he wanted to see how my face turned out after the first part before committing to the jaw work.  I am skeptical that we can avoid the masseter & angle of the jawbone reduction, so I hope he and I don't butt heads on that one later.

... but the first 3 days after FFS were the most miserable of my life!

You can say that again.. I had nose packing for that time and it was misery.

Yep, I had a septoplasty in '13 where he fractured the turbinates on one side and put stints in with packing.  I was miserable for a week.  I am having a septo-rhino with this one tomorrow, so hopefully without the turbinate work it will be less miserable.  He said no packing, so we'll see...he also said I will have drains in my forehead/scalp.  That sounds just fabulous!  lol...all I can do is laugh at this point...

[Ellement_of_Freedom]

Yep, my surgeon mentioned that he wanted to see how my face turned out after the first part before committing to the jaw work.  I am skeptical that we can avoid the masseter & angle of the jawbone reduction, so I hope he and I don't butt heads on that one later.

Yep, I had a septoplasty in '13 where he fractured the turbinates on one side and put stints in with packing.  I was miserable for a week.  I am having a septo-rhino with this one tomorrow, so hopefully without the turbinate work it will be less miserable.  He said no packing, so we'll see...he also said I will have drains in my forehead/scalp.  That sounds just fabulous!  lol...all I can do is laugh at this point...

The drains aren't nearly as bad as the packing. Mine were removed the day after surgery and just hurt a little bit when the nurse kind of yanked each of them out. Nose packing is prolonged...misery. Could barely sleep because of it.

Good luck!

[ainsley]

The drains aren't nearly as bad as the packing. Mine were removed the day after surgery and just hurt a little bit when the nurse kind of yanked each of them out. Nose packing is prolonged...misery. Could barely sleep because of it.

Good luck!

Thanks, and that is good to know.  He did say my drains would likely come out after 24 hours. :fingersCrossed:

[ainsley]

Just an FYI:  My drains were taken out on the morning the day after surgery.  It just felt like pressure and pulling because most of the area where they were is numb.  My eyes have not swollen shut,  but they are close. 
So, he plans to do my lip in office with a local.  I have seen other surgeons do that, too.  Then he wants to look at time to do the angles of the mandible and masseters.  It would seem I am in for 3 phased approach. 
But, I am pretty happy thus far with the nose, hairline, brow and bossing.

[Alexa Ares]

Yep, my surgeon mentioned that he wanted to see how my face turned out after the first part before committing to the jaw work.  I am skeptical that we can avoid the masseter & angle of the jawbone reduction, so I hope he and I don't butt heads on that one later.

Botox can do alot for the masseter so I would look into that first. Jaw work is a complex one, however I do recognise that some of us have alot more bone than others and maybe want a more feminine look.
I'm personally looking to appear androgynous for various reasons. Your surgeon sounds a good one though as those who are cautious are better in my view.. You can always do more years later. But if they botch you it's a big issue!

[tarabel]

I had full FFS in one sitting, which lasted 7.5 hours.  The doctor was jokingly complaining to me the day after that he had a sore back due to the length of surgery.

I wanted a 'one and done' approach to surgery, mainly due to not doubling up on time off work and time to reaching my final full face result.  I know that I was lucky in being able to afford to do this.