My First Experience With Plastic Surgery

It was all because of Instagram!

A friend of mine tagged me in a contest for an IPL Photofacial (approximate value: $400) on a local lifestyle influencer’s post, and I won. 

I appreciate the purpose behind the partnership between this influencer and a local, female facial plastic surgeon – to promote local, female businesses and inspire women…and I benefited from it! This began my first experience with plastic surgery.

I was greeted warmly, and escorted into a comfortable treatment room. An assistant and a fellow blogger, with whom I credit the pictures in this post), slathered numbing cream on my face (note: my lips and eye area were numb for most of the day, something I didn’t expect). We chatted while the numbing took effect, and after about 20 minutes, I met the doctor. 

Her bio is impressive and genuine. She’s turned her passion of art into surgical expertise. In addition, she is one of the nation’s few experts in facial feminization surgery, helping hundreds of transgender patients. In fact, these surgeries make up about 50 percent of her practice.

She explained the procedure, and what to expect (“it will feel like rubber bands snapping your face” – a very accurate description). Taken from her site, IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light, is more commonly referred to as a Photofacial. There are many different causes of brown spots or vascular imperfections appearing on the face, neck, chest, and hands which prevent you from looking your best. Pulses of light erase broken blood vessels and pigmented lesions on the surface of the skin without damaging the surrounding tissue.

IPL also helps with collagen production, so fine lines and wrinkles will improve as well (yes please!).

According to The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), some of the most requested procedures were considered “facial rejuvenation,” specifically eyelid procedures to look less tired (a rising trend by 73 percent) and non-surgical procedures growing by 72 percent (of which includes my procedure). BOTOX® (made by Allergan), Dysport® (made by Galderma) and Xeomin® (made by Merz), remain the most popular minimally invasive procedures for both women and men, followed by fillers and skin treatments.

Next, the doctor used a device to measure the melanin in the skin. This is to better understand how I’ll react to a treatment and determine what setting is best for me to improve my outcome while minimizing risk of complications. She mentioned I’m the perfect candidate for this procedure due to all my freckles and melanoma.

Then, she covered my eyes with goggles and went to work. She pressed the laser onto my face and zapped light onto it. She repeated this process all over my face.

She answered all my questions, and in total, the procedure took less than 20 minutes.

I asked about Botox, which many of my friends are doing, and learned it can take up to 2 weeks for it to take full effect (she also uses Dysport). In a recent blog post, the doctor wrote about procedures that are perfect to have in the winter months, with little to no recovery time. It’s best to have a Photofacial during a time you’re less likely to be in the sun. 

I was given an explanation of what to expect – the freckles will flake off within 1-3 weeks, and took home travel sizes of PCAskin Active Broad Spectrum SPF 45, Anti-Redness Serum, and C E Ferulic. Immediately, my freckles looked VERY dark (like an intense day at the beach). I could wash my face and put on makeup as is my normal routine…and WEAR SUNSCREEN.

A little over a week later, the majority of my freckles have “fallen” off, and my skin looks and feels smooth and glowing.  I deem this experience both a treat and a success.

I’ve asked for quotes on additional IPL treatments (a 50 percent discount is given for the fourth treatment) and Botox for my forehead ($180), “11s” ($250) and crow’s feet ($225). I don’t plan on doing it immediately, but it’s nice to know it’s safe and available. In other words, I would definitely go back and do it (and other procedures) again.

Thank you to Tina Sustaeta, Lulu Archer, and Dr. Sarah Saxon and her #saxysquad.