FITFILE - SUCCESS STORY
JUST DOING IT - MAKEOVER OR TRANSFORMATION?
Those of you who are regular MS. FITNESS readers may have already heard about my “makeover evolution”, a process in which I transformed myself from fitness dabbler to fitness devotee and underwent plastic surgery to enhance my appearance. My success story began at the first FITCAMP weekend. It was there that I finally realized how important working out and staying fit is to both my physical and psychological health.
I was inspired and motivated by my fellow participants - women who were truly determined to achieve their fitness goals , willing and eager to do everything with these goals in mind. I was particularly fortunate in meeting Deborah DePiano, an aesthetician who provides personal skin care treatments. When I confided in Deborah about wanting to do something to look better but not knowing what needed to be done, she was very supportive. She patiently answered my long list of questions about the pros and cons of cosmetic surgery. Deborah also encouraged me to arrange for an individual consultation with a prominent Plastic Surgen, whom she described as being ”the absolute best”.
At the consultation, I explained that I wanted to look better while still looking like me. I also discussed my ambivalent feelings about cosmetic surgery and stressed that I wasn’t sure I was ready. I was curious when he told me he could perform several procedures which would make a significant difference in my overall appearance. After reviewing the “before” and ”after” pictures of hundreds of patients whose natural beauty he had substantially enhanced, I decided that I was indeed ready and that he would be my surgeon.
I had my eyes lifted, nose revised, chin enhanced and face contoured for a fuller, more youthful look. The almost instant and very dramatic improvement amazed me as well as my friends who insisted I looked softer, more approachable and even more vivacious.
Pleased with the results of my “transformation”, the positive reactions from others that it evoked and the enhanced self-confidence I experienced, my next goal was to get my body as fit and toned as possible. I was determined to get rid of the fatty pockets that stubbornly clung to my hips and thighs despite my careful eating and conscientious exercise patterns. I attended every FITCAMP scheduled, rollerblading, lifting and boxing until every muscle in my body was truly burning. Back home I worked out with a trainer several times weekly, doing a weight routine plus aerobics for cardiovascular benefits and yoga for flexibility.
When I realized that my fat pockets were not going to budge without some outside assistance, I consulted with the surgen to see if he had any more magic tricks up his sleeve. He recommended microliposuction, a procedure in which fat cells are suctioned from strategic locations with a vacuum-type device. When he told me that he could perform the procedure, literally sculpting and contouring my various body parts, in the office with minimal discomfort to me, it sounded almost too good to be true.
I decided to go for it and was astounded by the results - slimmer, trimmer contours and the kind of shape I had never believed would be mine. An unexpected plus was that I was finally able to stop obsessing about my weight, adopting a saner and healthier approach to eating and exercise. In addition to my improved muscular tone and greater endurance, I found that my energy level was higher. In fact, although I had always viewed anyone past forty as being “over the hill”, I was feeling younger than I had several years earlier.
But nothing stays the same forever, does it? About a year and half after I began my “makeover”, I realized that notwithstanding my wholehearted efforts (and my prayers) , the effects of gravity and time are insurmountable. This really hit home one day when a good friend asked me worriedly how I felt, insisting that I looked tired when in reality I felt absolutely fine. Examining my face in the magnifying glass of the mirror (no use fooling myself), I realized that my friend was being truthful rather than catty (as I had hoped). Although I did not feel tired, I looked as if I were.
Peering closely at my reflection with a critical eye, I noticed for the first time the sagging skinfolds adorning my neck which made me look double or perhaps even triple chinned. I also detected the uninvited appearance of “jowls” which is the word for the loose skin (that had once been firm and smooth) dangling from what used to be my chin and jaw lines. I was compelled to admit, albeit reluctantly, that I was beginning to look “droopy”.
Back I marched to see the surgen for advice on how best to rid my face of its “old and tired” look and make the droop disappear. He responded by explaining the effects of the aging process which progresses in a “stair-step” manner, remaining stable for a long time and then suddenly taking a turn for the worse.. While facial wrinkling caused by normal facial activity and expression (such as smiling, frowning, talking and squinting) begins the day we are born, it becomes increasingly apparent with age as the muscles weaken and stretch and the face loses its original contours. At about the time we finish puberty, our skin elasticity begins to diminish, and the skin gradually becomes thinner and drier. When combined with the forces of gravity, the eventual dissolution of the tissue-cushioning fat (which is what gives the young face its fullness) result in the sagging skin, the loose muscle tissue and the dreaded “droop” that we have come to associate with the aging face.
After discussing several alternatives with me, he recommended the facelift option (also known as rhytidectomy) as the best method to remove and tighten the loose skin of my face . Wanting me to be aware of the risks involved, he explained that the facelift can be either the easiest or the most difficult procedure to perform. If overdone, there is an artificial look whereas if underdone, the skin begins to sag and the soft tissues fall rapidly. Minimizing scars and ensuring that they don't become visible due to tension is an additional challenge. He reassured me that the facelift surgery would result in my looking “rested and relaxed” rather than tight and unnatural and that the stitches would leave no scars..
Because the solid angle once that had once characterized the line connecting my chin and my neck had practically disappeared and the area underneath my jaw had become slack (all part of the infamous facial descent pattern), the doctor also suggested a neck-lift . This procedure involves lifting and tightening the platysma muscle which is the "neck cord" running down from the face, the neck and into the area of the collarbone. The surgery also removes excess fat from the chin and neck area using the liposuction technique. While once reserved for the true "turkey gobbler" neck, he told me that the neck-lift has now become an almost standard part of the facelift. When performed without additional revisions it is known as the mini-lift and is particularly popular in the “thirty-something” crowd.
The doctor reminded me that a facelift would not necessarily make me look years younger, advising me not to expect perfection since tissues heal unpredictably and body parts don't always do what we want them to do following plastic surgery. Because the facelift alone does not improve the wrinkling around the lips or the forehead, he would also inject fat (using the fat cells he removed from my chin and neck) into my lips, “laugh lines” and forehead furrows.
The actual surgery took approximately three and a half hours. He made the incisions along the natural crease in front of my ears, in the groove behind them, and behind my chin. After removing the excess fat and muscle and repositioning the remaining fat and tissue over my facial contours, he pulled tightly to eliminate the previously sagging areas. He sutured the incisions, sealed the blood vessels with an electrical device, and inserted suction drains (which looked like giant plastic earrings dangling from my temples). When done, he wrapped my face and neck with padded bandages styled like a helmet, framing the face without covering it.
I had expected my recovery to be long and uncomfortable and was not looking forward to it. I was thrilled to discover that I was wrong. The turban-like bandages were removed the following day and replaced with dressings that were less flamboyant. The stitches were practically invisible, hidden as they were in the natural creases in front and in back of the ears. Although my face was somewhat swollen (kind of like the early stage of the mumps) it did not look horrendous. I was easily able to camouflage the black and blue bruises on my neck (which would soon turn purple and yellow) with professional concealer and makeup.
Friends and acquaintances sometimes ask me wryly what I’m planning “to do next”. My response is generally a non-committal “who knows?” as there are undoubtedly an untold number of self-improvement methods just waiting to be discovered. And I know that I will learn something from each method I choose to try whether it be a new fitness routine, an innovative cosmetic procedure or a revised nutritional plan. I am also aware that my confidence will be enhanced by my very willingness to take the risk inherent in trying the untried, the satisfaction of making something good even better and the fun in “just doing it”.
Back to Deborah says
JUST DOING IT - MAKEOVER OR TRANSFORMATION?
Those of you who are regular MS. FITNESS readers may have already heard about my “makeover evolution”, a process in which I transformed myself from fitness dabbler to fitness devotee and underwent plastic surgery to enhance my appearance. My success story began at the first FITCAMP weekend. It was there that I finally realized how important working out and staying fit is to both my physical and psychological health.
I was inspired and motivated by my fellow participants - women who were truly determined to achieve their fitness goals , willing and eager to do everything with these goals in mind. I was particularly fortunate in meeting Deborah DePiano, an aesthetician who provides personal skin care treatments. When I confided in Deborah about wanting to do something to look better but not knowing what needed to be done, she was very supportive. She patiently answered my long list of questions about the pros and cons of cosmetic surgery. Deborah also encouraged me to arrange for an individual consultation with a prominent Plastic Surgen, whom she described as being ”the absolute best”.
At the consultation, I explained that I wanted to look better while still looking like me. I also discussed my ambivalent feelings about cosmetic surgery and stressed that I wasn’t sure I was ready. I was curious when he told me he could perform several procedures which would make a significant difference in my overall appearance. After reviewing the “before” and ”after” pictures of hundreds of patients whose natural beauty he had substantially enhanced, I decided that I was indeed ready and that he would be my surgeon.
I had my eyes lifted, nose revised, chin enhanced and face contoured for a fuller, more youthful look. The almost instant and very dramatic improvement amazed me as well as my friends who insisted I looked softer, more approachable and even more vivacious.
Pleased with the results of my “transformation”, the positive reactions from others that it evoked and the enhanced self-confidence I experienced, my next goal was to get my body as fit and toned as possible. I was determined to get rid of the fatty pockets that stubbornly clung to my hips and thighs despite my careful eating and conscientious exercise patterns. I attended every FITCAMP scheduled, rollerblading, lifting and boxing until every muscle in my body was truly burning. Back home I worked out with a trainer several times weekly, doing a weight routine plus aerobics for cardiovascular benefits and yoga for flexibility.
When I realized that my fat pockets were not going to budge without some outside assistance, I consulted with the surgen to see if he had any more magic tricks up his sleeve. He recommended microliposuction, a procedure in which fat cells are suctioned from strategic locations with a vacuum-type device. When he told me that he could perform the procedure, literally sculpting and contouring my various body parts, in the office with minimal discomfort to me, it sounded almost too good to be true.
I decided to go for it and was astounded by the results - slimmer, trimmer contours and the kind of shape I had never believed would be mine. An unexpected plus was that I was finally able to stop obsessing about my weight, adopting a saner and healthier approach to eating and exercise. In addition to my improved muscular tone and greater endurance, I found that my energy level was higher. In fact, although I had always viewed anyone past forty as being “over the hill”, I was feeling younger than I had several years earlier.
But nothing stays the same forever, does it? About a year and half after I began my “makeover”, I realized that notwithstanding my wholehearted efforts (and my prayers) , the effects of gravity and time are insurmountable. This really hit home one day when a good friend asked me worriedly how I felt, insisting that I looked tired when in reality I felt absolutely fine. Examining my face in the magnifying glass of the mirror (no use fooling myself), I realized that my friend was being truthful rather than catty (as I had hoped). Although I did not feel tired, I looked as if I were.
Peering closely at my reflection with a critical eye, I noticed for the first time the sagging skinfolds adorning my neck which made me look double or perhaps even triple chinned. I also detected the uninvited appearance of “jowls” which is the word for the loose skin (that had once been firm and smooth) dangling from what used to be my chin and jaw lines. I was compelled to admit, albeit reluctantly, that I was beginning to look “droopy”.
Back I marched to see the surgen for advice on how best to rid my face of its “old and tired” look and make the droop disappear. He responded by explaining the effects of the aging process which progresses in a “stair-step” manner, remaining stable for a long time and then suddenly taking a turn for the worse.. While facial wrinkling caused by normal facial activity and expression (such as smiling, frowning, talking and squinting) begins the day we are born, it becomes increasingly apparent with age as the muscles weaken and stretch and the face loses its original contours. At about the time we finish puberty, our skin elasticity begins to diminish, and the skin gradually becomes thinner and drier. When combined with the forces of gravity, the eventual dissolution of the tissue-cushioning fat (which is what gives the young face its fullness) result in the sagging skin, the loose muscle tissue and the dreaded “droop” that we have come to associate with the aging face.
After discussing several alternatives with me, he recommended the facelift option (also known as rhytidectomy) as the best method to remove and tighten the loose skin of my face . Wanting me to be aware of the risks involved, he explained that the facelift can be either the easiest or the most difficult procedure to perform. If overdone, there is an artificial look whereas if underdone, the skin begins to sag and the soft tissues fall rapidly. Minimizing scars and ensuring that they don't become visible due to tension is an additional challenge. He reassured me that the facelift surgery would result in my looking “rested and relaxed” rather than tight and unnatural and that the stitches would leave no scars..
Because the solid angle once that had once characterized the line connecting my chin and my neck had practically disappeared and the area underneath my jaw had become slack (all part of the infamous facial descent pattern), the doctor also suggested a neck-lift . This procedure involves lifting and tightening the platysma muscle which is the "neck cord" running down from the face, the neck and into the area of the collarbone. The surgery also removes excess fat from the chin and neck area using the liposuction technique. While once reserved for the true "turkey gobbler" neck, he told me that the neck-lift has now become an almost standard part of the facelift. When performed without additional revisions it is known as the mini-lift and is particularly popular in the “thirty-something” crowd.
The doctor reminded me that a facelift would not necessarily make me look years younger, advising me not to expect perfection since tissues heal unpredictably and body parts don't always do what we want them to do following plastic surgery. Because the facelift alone does not improve the wrinkling around the lips or the forehead, he would also inject fat (using the fat cells he removed from my chin and neck) into my lips, “laugh lines” and forehead furrows.
The actual surgery took approximately three and a half hours. He made the incisions along the natural crease in front of my ears, in the groove behind them, and behind my chin. After removing the excess fat and muscle and repositioning the remaining fat and tissue over my facial contours, he pulled tightly to eliminate the previously sagging areas. He sutured the incisions, sealed the blood vessels with an electrical device, and inserted suction drains (which looked like giant plastic earrings dangling from my temples). When done, he wrapped my face and neck with padded bandages styled like a helmet, framing the face without covering it.
I had expected my recovery to be long and uncomfortable and was not looking forward to it. I was thrilled to discover that I was wrong. The turban-like bandages were removed the following day and replaced with dressings that were less flamboyant. The stitches were practically invisible, hidden as they were in the natural creases in front and in back of the ears. Although my face was somewhat swollen (kind of like the early stage of the mumps) it did not look horrendous. I was easily able to camouflage the black and blue bruises on my neck (which would soon turn purple and yellow) with professional concealer and makeup.
Friends and acquaintances sometimes ask me wryly what I’m planning “to do next”. My response is generally a non-committal “who knows?” as there are undoubtedly an untold number of self-improvement methods just waiting to be discovered. And I know that I will learn something from each method I choose to try whether it be a new fitness routine, an innovative cosmetic procedure or a revised nutritional plan. I am also aware that my confidence will be enhanced by my very willingness to take the risk inherent in trying the untried, the satisfaction of making something good even better and the fun in “just doing it”.
Back to Deborah says
