Patient Reviews

"Submentoplasty with neck contouring - I am 35 years old and have despised my inherited “ski slope” neck line and general neck laxicity. I just sort of had the attitude of “it is what it is,” but after a series of particularly unflattering photos, I decided to do something about it. I met with Dr. Cuzalina as he was the surgeon who performed my breast reduction. I had a rare complication post-op, and he took excellent care of me. After discussion, he told me that neck liposuction, which I initially considered, wouldn’t give me the results I wanted. Because my condition was inherited, the major pocket of fat was below the platsyma muscle and couldn’t be accessed with the liposuction cannula. After a brief crisis of conscience in which I felt that I was being disloyal to my dad, I scheduled my procedure.Updated on 30 Oct 2018:The surgery went great, and I saw myself without bandages when I went to take a shower 24 hours post-op. I have a neck! I can’t believe it! It is amazing! The swelling is INTENSE, but not much bruising. The drain is particularly annoying. Not much in the way of pain. It’s just VERY tight!Updated on 4 Nov 2018:I am SO swollen and everything is super tight. I had my one week follow-up, and the doc says all is healing well and that the swelling is just normal lymphatic response. I have some symmetrical lower lip weakness that is causing my smile and speech to be abnormal. The doctor assured me that it will come back. It makes me feel like it draws more attention to my face, but that could just be me.Updated on 13 Nov 2018:My profile looks like I always dreamed it would! However, I don’t think I fully understood the impact to my jawline and speech. Liposuction really traumatizes your body! Healing is slow going, but it is happening. I am trying to focus on the end game, but it is a challenge. I feel like I smile and speak strangely and that people are staring. I hope that part returns to normal soon!Updated on 1 Dec 2018:The swelling continues to get better each day, but is still worse in my left side. I would say that my swelling is, at best, 70% of the way back to normal. My incision is closed and healing nicely. I still have a lot of tightness, and my movements don’t look completely natural. I am also still having issues with my speech and smile. I have a 6 week follow-up appointment on Monday and plan to address these issues. I am also hoping for some steroid injections to speed up the swelling in some particularly lumpy areas. It’s getting there, even if it is slow going.Updated on 16 Jul 2019:My face and neck continue to get better each month. However, my smile and speech are still not 100%. I have had multiple consultations with my doctor and am assured that it is temporary paralysis of the Marginal Mandibular Nerve. I am told that any improvement at all from the outset means that the nerve will fully recover, but can take a year or longer. Recovery has been quite a process for me. I and not the most patient of people, and have had some dark lows because the face in the mirror wasn’t mine. If you’re considering this surgery, keep the end game in mind and be prepared for a LONG recovery period. Having said all that, I look more like a much-improved version of myself each day, and am more and more pleased with my decision to have surgery."