Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hey All,

I am super excited, nervous, and have a bit of anxiety all at the same time! My Birthday is today June 2 and my surgery is set for June 3!

I will be getting my FFS done in Beverly Hills, CA by a Triple Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. He has certification in the :

• American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstruction
• American Board of Otolaryngolgy
• American Board of Oral and Maxiofacial Surgery

So, some of my current thoughts going through my head now

• What if I come out looking worse?
• Will I look overdone?
• Will have hideous scarring?
• Will I survive recovery?
• What I survive the surgery?

Now for some positive thoughts:

• Grateful to be one of the girls to actually be in this position
• My support team i.e my family, friends, co-workers, peers (and everyone that is rooting for me)
• To share my story, transition, and my list of event that lead me up to this point of my transition
• I learned Photoshop, After Effects, Final Cut Pro just to demonstrate my awesome and amazing story to people out there that will look up to me( I will be making Youtube videos soon and posting it)
• receiving this amazing gift of FFS and BA
• thinking about being on the beach in Malibu in a bathing suit with boobies
• laughing with my head tilted back (and not leaning forward) just to hide my adam's apple
• wearing less make up i.e contouring, highlighting etc...
• having people that have my back and my best interests and me having theirs! i.e my family, friends, co-workers, employers, surgeon, advocates, lawyer
• Loosing weight prior to this surgery [lost 10lbs]

Okay  8) Now on to what I'm getting done:

• Hairline Lowering
• Brow Contouring
• Blepharoplasty (removing eyelid excess skin)
• Cheek implants
• Rhinoplasty
• buccal fat removal
• Chin Reduction
• Jaw Reduction
• Adam's apple shaving
• Breast Augumentation 450cc, sub muscle

Why did I choose Dr. Lee?
Simply, because i've seen his work done by other girls. I realize he doesn't have too many photos on his site or too many reviews about him. But, he does have more photos in his office. ( I don't think the prior patients wanted their photos on the internet)  But, his results are amazing.

He is well versed in Facial Plastic Surgery and also reconstruction. So, that should explain why he fully understands what he is doing. During our consultations he was very specific on Symmetry and Proportions and I totally agree. That makes a very attractive face.

During our first consultation, I felt Dr. Lee had a general interest in my well being. He evaluated me and gave me his pointers. I thought it over and I added more things that I wanted to do personally.

Off on a tangent rant, I went to a few other Surgeons' offices and they weren't so sharp. ( I listen, watch, and observe everything! If you or your offices is not what I like, I will not have you operating on my face!) For example, I went for a consultation in Beverly Hills and the doctor talked about his past clients and how he was the best, he developed some method, he's done this for 30+ years blah blah blah, but during at the end of the consult I was still not that impressed. I really followed my heart and intiution. I am so glad I did not choose him. His results (to me) were a bit, meh. IMO.

Also, Dr. Lee also made points to have surgery done I needed to do blood work, HIV, and HEP C test, labs, x-rays, and physical examination. I really respect a Dr. that has my best interest. I want a doctor to know what he's doing in preparation for surgery. I want him to know how thick my frontal and sinus are before going into surgery.  (and not just going w the flow during surgery) I need you to be sharp, articulate, meticulous, and on it, on your A game!

They gave me a ton of literature such as all the risks, complications, food suggestions, instructions: 2 weeks prior, one week prior, and day before and day after surgery.

I even went to the office a week before surgery and I was talking with the office staff (all women) just on what to expect and how I am having so many mixed emotions, feelings etc... They calmed me down and just talked me through it. They said I am AMAZING hands and he is truly one of the best.  The next thing you know it surgery will be over.

The staff members are amazing! They really are friendly, fun, down to earth, and they really don't mind trans patients. Feeling warmth is key for me! Esp. if you're taking my money. The staff got so much of my paperwork and have dealt with it diligently and patiently. They worked with me to get my leave of absence approved by my employers which was a breeze.

The team help coordinate my After Care Facility stay. Let me tell you guys, it takes a lot of planning to do surgery! I had/have so much paperwork, meds, doctor appointments ( with my PCP, therapist, surgeons office, lab, over the telephone).

Also, people that have been helping me through all of this such as my therapist, spoke extremely highly of Dr. Lee. Actually, a lot of people that I come across and I told them about Dr. Lee they were instantly impressed and spoke very highly of him.

Lastly, about Dr. Lee:

I do want to let the community know that he isn't the cheapest Dr., I respect that. I understand he is a surgeon with amazing talent, eye, bed-side manner, and he really stands behind his work. He's actually really pricey. He works along side Dr. Alter. (VERY WELL TALENTED SURGEON). Unfortunately, I will not discuss about his fees. I think that's a very personal thing. I don't want to offend anyone and personally it's my business. Each surgeon is going to quote a patient a different price.

I will try and post more after surgery! Yes, I will document and post this on Youtube. I'll have lots of time during my recovery.

Okay, finally finished! I am sitting here in my PJs and it's my Birthday! I need to conquer this day and then prep for surgery tomorrow. Much love to everyone who has my back. Love you much! <3 <3 

Miss Kaila
P.S. I leave you with photos of me prior to surgery
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi70.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi99%2FSwtasnprincess%2FIMG_0811_zpsx7r4aqfo.jpg&hash=98e9adcf32dd43663af72f14de3d7f8ed6c8c030)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi70.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi99%2FSwtasnprincess%2F00I0I_jMatlPRYQEu_600x450_zps4xqsuq1p.jpg&hash=c1b645135f89ea149711968989f395232b08c913)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi70.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi99%2FSwtasnprincess%2FIMG_20130715_164709-1_zpsik59ocsn.jpg&hash=d9588571387dbc4fd1a4b2d94a0561639d1e9ada)

Happy Birthday and good luck tomorrow. Beautiful pictures of you already even before the procedures. Hugs
Mariah

well I wish you the best of luck. I had FFS with Dr Lee in 2014 and revisions in 2015. My thoughts and review will be documented soon and it is not positive.

Anyway good luck, you have a beautiful face already so I would think that it would be easybfor him to make your face more beautiful.

Happy Birthday and Good Luck!!  Gorgeous pictures!

Hey! I wish you luck, we have surgery the same day :) Have a good nights rest and I hope for a speedy recovery. You'll look even more beautiful than you already do. And happy birthday :D

Happy birthday :)

try to imagine a positive outcome...
see yourself sipping on your favourite fruit juice...

wish you luck and a speedy recovery.


hugs

Happy Birthday! Best wishes for tomorrow! Lucky Girl!

Congratulations, and best wishes :)

Happy Birthday and best wishes for the procedures  :-*

L Katy

congrats & happy birthday!!

I'm alive but very groggy w all the medications. I'm very swollen and numb and a few bruises.

Quote from: samogal on June 06, 2015, 08:08:34 PM
I'm alive but very groggy w all the medications. I'm very swollen and numb and a few bruises.

Hopefully it will pass soon...
wish you a speedy recovery...


*hugs*

It's good to hear from you; take care :)

Take care of yourself, you'll feel a lot better soon!!

My left eye is still bruised. It seems like it's worse today.  However the right side seems to be ok w not a lot of swelling, bruising.

I'm still in aftercare and the nurses are saying I'm healing. I'm trying to stay hopeful. Also my lower left lip is still numb. Anyone with similar experiences?

It's weird I have the exact same thing: numbness on my lower left lip!!! Recently it's been tingling, which is a very good sign. I cross my fingers.

Also I speak without B and P as I can't fully make a pout.

Quote from: samogal on June 07, 2015, 01:45:19 PM
My left eye is still bruised. It seems like it's worse today.  However the right side seems to be ok w not a lot of swelling, bruising.

I'm still in aftercare and the nurses are saying I'm healing. I'm trying to stay hopeful. Also my lower left lip is still numb. Anyone with similar experiences?

For you it is still very early, so the feelingwill probably come back , give it time

For me I think I will be permanently numbed. I still have numbness in my lower right lip and chin even after a year ., surgery was done back in May 2014 with Harrison Lee , I still have small hopes the feeling will come back but not very confident. The nerve was severed in the jaw area

Quote from: shedevilcanada on June 08, 2015, 02:02:31 AM
For you it is still very early, so the feelingwill probably come back , give it time

For me I think I will be permanently numbed. I still have numbness in my lower right lip and chin even after a year ., surgery was done back in May 2014 with Harrison Lee , I still have small hopes the feeling will come back but not very confident. The nerve was severed in the jaw area

The numb area is quite tingly but def can't feel my gums on my left side. The left side of my bottom lip is also numb but tingly. If I really forced it I can feel it move and stuff. Let's just say it's numb but some slight tingly sensation. Hopefully it comes back.

Quote from: shedevilcanada on June 08, 2015, 02:02:31 AM
The nerve was severed in the jaw area

What??

How did you find out about this???
Did they tell you afterwards??
Is it a speculation or a fact based on say imagery?

If you don't know about never injuries, their classifications, etc, see http://nerve.wustl.edu/NerveInjury.pdf

I do confirm the information of this PDF as valid as I have these surgical nerve injuries on other parts of my body and it sucks - especially the "2nd degree" that we should have on the scalp - thus growing back at 1 inch per month.

I was told by my surgeon there had been no risk to my mental nerve as he had been quite away from them. In the chin, I though we all had "1st degree" nerve injury which recovers in weeks or months. Also, in my experience, usually tingling was a good sign!  It all made sense

I suddenly have a round of doubts!!!  A clean cut would be 5th degree, with much much worse outcomes.

Please tell us more.

Early and strong tingling is a good sign. I have far less tingle after 1 week that you do samogal after 2 days.

Now I'm not sure I will be falling back to sleep.

Quote from: charlotte15 on June 08, 2015, 03:13:08 AM
What??

How did you find out about this???
Did they tell you afterwards??
Is it a speculation or a fact based on say imagery?

The surgeon never admitted it, but he knew thats why my left jaw is much more prominent than the right side where the nerve was severed. He probably didnt want to take a chance and severed the nerve on the left side as well

Back home, I went to see a neurologist who did a Ct Scan and saw it was severed completely. My dentist who is a maxofacial surgeon also confirmed what my neurologist said.

You mean he willfully severed the nerve on the other side of your face????

That's like really really really bad. I have sensitive loss in other places (some recovered, some didn't) and I totally wanted to avoid that on my face - but my chin really needed to be fixed.

Now I'm freaked out about my lip. I never saw such reports of persistent sensation loss about DiMaggio (and I looked hard!) and he also told me he never had any complication like this so it all matched. I pray there's nothing hidden. I pray for more tingling. Tingling is a really good sign. Please tingle fairy, make me tingle some more on the lower lip !!

A surgeon caught lying with a CT scan is like the scenario I fear the most. It happened to me in the past. I should have sued this bastard ass off. I mean, I had xrays before, a scan after, something was obviously messed up badly in there, yet the surgeon refused to admit any wrongdoing. "it must have been this way before but we couldn't see on the xrays". I wanted to say "Are you fking blind??" I was too weak willed back then to do anything like suing.

A nerve severed and confirmed by imagery is really really really bad. Even nerve graft may or may not work depending on the scar tissue that may interfere. That's a microsurgery job and it's costly.

Shedevilcanada, I hope and pray for your recovery. I offer you my deepest sympathy. Sensation loss is one of the worst things ever.

BTW please don't let this slide. If he did say in writing that it was not severed while it was so obvious from the CT scan, that's at the minimum lying to a patient.

I dont think he willfully severed the nerve but he probably noticed it and thats probably why my jaw on the left side is not symetrical with the right side , he probably didnt want to hit the nerve on left side also. I brought him a panoramic xrays of my jaw before surgery but he didnt even looked at them. Now I have problems talking, pronouncing words and chewing.


If I can put a review here on this site,  I will post a full review of both surgeries 2014 and revision a month ago, and the post op care which was pretty much non existing and all the aggravation from day 1 when I first met him. It's sad that he has double standards for his patients. For the famous ones he probably takes good care of them but the others who are normal and live far away, its a different situation. The reviews will also be on other surgery sites.

Thank you Charlotte for your blessings and warm wishes

Quote from: charlotte15 on June 08, 2015, 10:34:16 AM
Now I'm freaked out about my lip. I saw such reports of persistent sensation loss about DiMaggio (and I looked hard!) and he also told me he never had any complication like this so it all matched. I pray there's nothing hidden. I pray for more tingling. Tingling is a really good sign. Please tingle fairy, make me tingle some more on the lower lip !!

You are 1 week after surgery, stop panicking. It's normal and expected to have temporary sensationloss in some places, much like it's expected to have swelling and bruising... it doesn't mean you have nerve damage. MdM has two neuro surgeons on his team for this exact reason.

Quote from: shedevilcanada on June 08, 2015, 11:24:47 AM
I dont think he willfully severed the nerve but he probably noticed it and thats probably why my jaw on the left side is not symetrical with the right side , he probably didnt want to hit the nerve on left side also. I brought him a panoramic xrays of my jaw before surgery but he didnt even looked at them. Now I have problems talking, pronouncing words and chewing.


If I can put a review here on this site,  I will post a full review of both surgeries 2014 and revision a month ago, and the post op care which was pretty much non existing and all the aggravation from day 1 when I first met him. It's sad that he has double standards for his patients. For the famous ones he probably takes good care of them but the others who are normal and live far away, its a different situation. The reviews will also be on other surgery sites.

Thank you Charlotte for your blessings and warm wishes

That is really unfortunate.  Is Dr. Lee trained as a craniofacial surgeon?   In Dr O's book he made some rather extensive comments about how essential it is to select an FFS surgeon who is both a well trained plastic surgeon and one who also had completed craniofacial training from a recognized training program.   Hope your longer term results improve, but nerve damage like you describe is a bit spooky.

If it is OK to ask,  why did you go back to Dr. Lee for a revision, with that kind of prior experience ?

God's speed.