The Big Reveal - A Patient’s Diary: Part Three

In my last blog I documented my experience of checking in at Ocean Clinic Marbella to undergo four separate procedures (rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, abdominal lipo and fat grafting to my face and lips). Now find out how my recovery went and what I thought when the bandages came off!

The Recovery

I had been surprised at how little pain I’d experienced post-op in the clinic. I’d felt amazingly good, all things considered, but when I got home I started to feel much groggier. It took me a while to realise that was because I no longer had the IV in my hand delivering magic fluid!

For the first couple of days I didn’t want to do much more than watch TV or flick through a magazine as I was pretty low on energy. The most challenging aspect was trying to be a mum to my highly energetic three-year-old son, but my husband was great and did everything he could to help. 

On my worst day, when all the bruising had come out

Thankfully I didn’t have any problems sleeping and by the weekend (I had my surgery on a Wednesday) I was feeling a lot better. I could breathe through my nose again, my eyes had stopped weeping and my energy levels had returned to normal. I even stopped taking my painkillers on the Sunday because I no longer needed them. And by Monday I was back working again (I work from home so I was able to take less time off than most people).

Although I felt better, I didn’t look great. Since leaving the brilliant ice mask behind at the clinic, my bruising had fully developed. I didn’t really want to leave the house, but I did venture out to walk the dogs in the privacy of the mountains.

A few days later I also braved the outside world to go to the hairdressers and get my hair washed. I couldn’t have a bath or shower because of the nose cast and stomach bandages so I was feeling rather grimy.  Dry shampoo, face wipes and wet wipes are a must for anyone undergoing this type of surgery! Oh, and lots and lots of lip balm if you’re having your lips done. Mine felt dry and numb for a good couple of weeks.

One week after my surgery I was able to return to the clinic for my stomach bandages to be removed and have a lymphatic drainage massage with Ocean Clinic’s lovely massage therapist Ana Rodriguez.

The purpose of the lymphatic massage is to help reduce swelling by moving waste fluids from the damaged areas. Ana gave me some special ‘trousers’ to wear that inflated and deflated to place gentle pressure on my legs. Meanwhile, she lightly massaged by stomach and face, periodically pressing on the lymph nodes in my collarbone to encourage the fluids to flush through my lymphatic system.

Afterwards I went to see Dr. Kaye who removed the stitches from under my eyes. He was pleased with how everything was healing and agreed I could come in a day early to have my nose cast removed (I really wanted it off before the weekend).

When I got home I was able to take a lovely long bath and then examine my tummy. I’d had fat removed from my lower abdomen and at the waist. It was still swollen but I could already see it looked flatter and smoother. Only two tiny incisions had been made; one in my belly button and one lower down below the line of my underwear, so there was no visible scarring. I was still a bit bruised and tender and my tummy felt kind of hard in places, but Ana had told me this would soften again gradually.

It was so exciting to see everything taking shape and getting better with each passing day, and I couldn’t wait until Friday to get a first look at my new nose!

The Reveal

After nine days with no make-up, it felt great to put on some mascara again. I was still pretty bruised under my eyes so I did the best I could to cover it, and packed some dark glasses to hide them later.

Unfortunately my husband was away for the ‘big reveal’, so I drove myself to the clinic and took my friend with me for moral support.

Removing the cast took only a few minutes. It was slightly uncomfortable as the nose was still very tender. Dr. Kaye said I had to be extra careful not to knock it for the next week and that it wouldn’t be fully set until six weeks.

Soon I was able to take a look in the mirror. Although I was still bruised and swollen I could see my nose was smaller and more refined. The dorsal hump was gone, replaced with a perfectly straight profile and the tip had been reshaped too.

Although it was a relief to finally get the cast off, it almost felt like I was still wearing it and the tip of my nose was curiously numb – something Dr. Kaye said could take up to six months to return to normal.

I went to put on my sunglasses as I was leaving the clinic to cover the purple circles beneath my eyes, but Dr. Kaye said I should avoid wearing them until my nose was fully set. He also reminded me to wear high factor sunscreen to protect my skin, which would be hypersensitive for a little while.

I was, however, allowed to wear make-up to cover my bruises, so I nipped into the loo and slathered some on! Then my friend and I went to have a glass of wine to celebrate my new look.

With make-up and without!

One Week Later

Over the next week my bruising continued to subside and I kept applying my creams and taking my supplements to help the process. My nose was more swollen than it was immediately after I’d had the cast removed, because the pressure of the cast keeps it from swelling. My lips were also enlarged, because around 40% of transplanted fat is reabsorbed over the first three week.

However, with the help of some good make-up I was able to get back to normal life and didn’t feel too self-conscious. I returned to Ocean Clinic for another lymphatic drainage session, and this time Ana used a HF radiofrequency machine on my stomach to help soften up the firmer bits.

I was a bit concerned about the swelling under my eyes, but Ana reassured me that it usually takes four weeks for that to subside. I actually noticed a significant reduction in swelling after the facial massage, and I was booked in for another a week later, so I felt reassured about the after-care process.

Side profile before and after (one week after cast removal)

Two Weeks Later

It’s now two weeks since I had my cast removed (23 days since surgery) and nearly all my bruising has gone. I still look pretty dark under the eyes and they tend to be more swollen in the morning. My nose continues to take shape and my tummy and waist look great (I just need some bikini weather now!).

My lips have settled down and I’ve been getting lots of compliments on them, and the fat I’ve had in my cheeks and marionette lines make me look younger and not so gaunt in the face.

Friends say the changes to my nose are subtle, but to me it’s a big difference. My husband says my whole face is ‘softened’. I know it will be a little while longer until I can see the end result of the surgery – healing takes time and cannot be rushed – and it’s great knowing it’s going to get a little bit more refined each day. I feel a little like a butterfly taking shape in a cocoon!

Overall, I’m so pleased I had the surgery. I’ve found it a really interesting experience and have been so well cared for throughout by the team at Ocean Clinic. Now I’m really looking forward to a big night out in a couple of months when I can let my new look take flight!

Well on the road to recovery!

If you’re considering having cosmetic surgery, contact Ocean Clinic to book a free consultation to discuss your new look.

Customers Vote Ocean Clinic Marbella Tops For Customer Service

Ocean Clinic has received an award for excellent customer service following glowing feedback from customers...

The accolade, awarded by healthcare search engine WhatClinic.com, is based on pateint ratings and comments made over a 12 month period.

Clients were asked to rate Ocean Clinic Marbella based on how well the clinic treated them, how quickly they were contacted and seen, and how happy they were with the treatment.

Head Surgeon at Ocean Clinic Dr. Kai Kaye said: “We pride ourselves on the service we offer to our customers, from their initial contact with the clinic right through to their treatment and aftercare.

“Not only do we have one of the very best clinical teams on the Costa del Sol, we also have state-of-the-art medical facilities and luxury patient bedrooms, to ensure clients are as well cared for as possible.

“This award is proof that our investment in our clinic and people is paying off.”

WhatClinic.com CEO Caelen King congratulated Ocean Clinic Marbella and said: “This is the 7th year we have run these awards. Every year, the standard goes up and up - and I’m delighted to recognise those clinics that are putting the needs of the patient first, every single day.

“It’s the customer who selects our awards winners, by their clinic ratings and the feedback they leave about service and experience. We believe that empowering the patient with accurate information is the future of a successful healthcare market.”

To find out more about the exclusive facilities at Ocean Clinic Marbella click here.

On the Operating Table - A Patient’s Diary: Part Two

In my last blog I described the run-up to my four-procedure surgery (rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, lipo and fat grafting) at Ocean Clinic Marbella. Now find out what happened when I woke up post-op…

Immediately Post-Op

The first thing I’m aware of is being woken by a nurse and finding myself in a bed in the recovery room. I can’t actually remember who it was (it’s all too hazy), but she helped me into a dressing gown and then into a wheelchair. She pushed me back to my room and helped me into bed before hooking me up to a drip.

The anesthetist had warned me that I might feel a bit nauseous and cold when I work up, but I didn’t. I just felt tired and like I had sinus pressure on my face – my nose was in a splint and my nostrils were packed.

The morning after surgery

My husband arrived shortly afterwards and became a bit emotional when he saw me all bandaged up, but I reassured him I was okay. He took a picture to share with my close friends who were also concerned about me.

Nurse Marina brought me a nice cup of sweet tea and a cup of creamy soup – both served with a straw! My lips, which I’d had fat injected into, felt very blown up and a bit numb so I had some difficulty trying to grasp the straw and only managed about half the soup before I felt too exhausted to continue.

“Sorry darling, but I need to sleep now,” I told my husband, who promised to come back again later.

Marina attached a special cooling eye mask to my face, which has iced water continuously pumped through it and helps to minimise bruising and swelling. I wore it while I slept, propped up on pillows to prevent blood rushing to my head.

Later, I felt well enough to get up and have a little potter around my room (wheeling my drip with me). Of course, I wanted to have a look in the mirror! I didn’t look as bad as I expected. I could see tiny little stiches under my bottom eyelids but the bruising and swelling was minimal. 

My room

 I was starting to feel hungry so I tucked into the chocolate bar that I’d bought with me. I had to pause every few mouthfuls to take a breath through my mouth because my nose was blocked, but I managed to finish it and felt much better once the sugar hit my bloodstream.

Then Marina came by with a menu for dinner and I chose a starter of ratatouille and egg, and main of pork fillet and fries. My friend had told me the post-op food at Ocean Clinic was great and I was worried I wouldn’t be able to really enjoy it, but when it came I ate a surprising amount (it was delicious).

Soon, I felt so good that I was sitting up watching a film and when my husband came I stood and chatted animatedly until we got a call from our babysitter saying our son had woken and was crying for Mummy.  He’s only three and a half but I’d told him Mummy was going to hospital for an operation to prepare him for seeing me beaten and bruised. What made it slightly easier was that our puppy had been to the vets a few days earlier to be neutered so he understood the concept of going to hospital. He did want to know if I’d also “had an operation on my willy”!

I spoke to him to let him know I was okay, but my husband left early to go and be with him. My next visitors were Dr. Kaye and Dr. Kästner. They were very pleased with how my surgery had gone and Dr Kaye told me he had given me a “nice, cute nose”. He also informed me that he had removed 250 mls of fat from my tummy and found a good home for 50 mls of it in my face.

Marina popped in to see how I was doing and attend to my IV.  I was just letting her get on with it and I didn’t realise she was taking some blood. When I saw it in the tube I screamed and we both jumped back with shock! I started to feel faint so she told me to lie down on the sofa and raise my legs and I had soon gotten over it.

Marina encouraged me to put my ice mask back on. I’d removed it because I couldn’t see through it, but I knew what a difference it could make to the healing process so I laid down on the sofa and she reaffixed it. She put on my audio book for me, topped up the meds in my drip and fetched me a tablet to help me sleep.

I found sleeping on the sofa more comfortable as I could prop my pillows up in the corner and I soon drifted off. I woke sometime later (about 4.30 am) and could feel something dripping down my hand. It took me a while to realise it was blood from my IV and I was all tangled up with the tube from the ice mask and the tube from the drip so I reached for the telephone that had been left by my side to call for help.  

Marina rushed to help me, got me a fresh duvet and mopped up where I’d made a mess. Thankfully, I didn’t panic at the sight of the blood this time, which may have something to do with the relaxing tablet I’d taken.

I got back to sleep again and in the morning I had a delicious breakfast of toast and jam with tea – I knew all the sugar wouldn’t be good for my newly slim-line figure, but it was just what I needed at the time.

I spent another couple of hours lying with my ice mask on, listening to my audio book – it did stop me going crazy with boredom! Dr. Kaye came by to check me over and discharged me, and by 10.30 am I was dressed, packed and ready to go home.

I thanked everybody for taking such good care of me and was escorted out – there is a back way so you don’t need to go through and scare people waiting in reception! I did still have to face a few people on the street as I waited for my husband to pull up in the car and I wished I’d bought some dark glasses, but soon I was on my way home, where my recovery would begin in earnest…

Find out how I got on recovering at home in Part Three – and what I thought when the bandages came off! In the meantime, if you’re considering having treatment yourself, contact Ocean Clinic to book a free consultation.

Behind the Scenes at Ocean Clinic Marbella - A Patient’s Diary: Part One

Have you ever noticed people entering through Ocean Clinic’s discreet glass door (next to Holland & Barratt on Marbella’s main high street) and wondered what goes on inside?

I went under the knife recently and, to offer you a glimpse behind the scenes, I’m writing a diary about my experience. Published in three parts, it will chart everything from my pre-op appointment and surgery, through to my recovery and ‘big reveal’.

I had a total of four procedures, performed together, including rhinoplasty, lower blepharoplasty (eye bag surgery), abdominal liposuction and facial fat grafting, performed by head surgeon Dr. Kaye and his team in January 2016.

Me 'before'

Pre-Op Appointment

This was the part I was actually dreading the most because I knew I’d have to have a blood test. I know that sounds ridiculous when I was undergoing such extensive surgery, but there’s something about the red stuff that just makes me go weak at the knees.

I needn’t have worried, however, because Alexandra, the nurse, was brilliant. I told her I didn’t like blood and she told me to just lie back and close my eyes.

“That’s it,” she said shortly.  It was all done and I hadn’t even noticed.

Alexandra also did an ECG test to check my heart, which involved placing some sticky sensors on my body, and didn’t hurt one bit.

My pre-op appointment also included a meeting with the lovely Dr. Sonja Kästner, Ocean Clinic’s new resident. She ran though a health questionnaire, which included questions about my medical history, height and weight, allergies and medications, and psychological state of mind (why I was having the surgery).

I was given written information about each procedure which I had to read – this took quite a long time because I was having so many! The documents set out the treatments and their risks. It was quite off putting to read about possible complications, but Dr. Kästner said although it was rare for things to go wrong, it was important to be fully informed.

The final thing we had to do was take my ‘before’ photos, so I could see the results post surgery.

So that was it; I was all ready to go. Clinic manager Vanessa gave me prescriptions for post op medications, told me to return at 8.45 am the following Wednesday and reminded me not to eat or drink after midnight the night before.

Having successfully got through the pre-op, my nerves about the pending surgery had largely dissipated and now I was mostly just excited and counting down the days!

Day of Surgery

I had feared that I would be too nervous to sleep the night before my operation, but I actually slept well. I was lucky that I knew several people who had already been treated by Dr. Kaye and seen the amazing results, so my confidence in him was very high and this allowed me to relax.

The most unpleasant thing about the morning of the surgery was not being able to have my morning cup of tea, which wakes me up and gets me going, but I was soon out the door and on the road.

I had packed a small case with loose pyjamas (button-up, so I wouldn’t have to put the top over my head), a fluffy fleece, socks and slippers, my laptop loaded with a few movies, a magazine, my phone (upon which I had downloaded an audio book), a chocolate bar and all my medications and supplements.

I had been taking vitamin C, zinc and bromelin in preparation and also acyclovir tablets as I’m prone to cold sores, which can be activated by facial trauma. Read more about preparing your body for surgery here.

When I arrived at the clinic, I was taken up in the lift and shown to my room. It was very comfortable and modern – more like a hotel - with an en suite bathroom, flat screen TV and large sofa for visitors. It was nice and warm too, so I didn’t mind getting undressed and putting on the surgical gown, slippers and hair net I had been given.

Ready for surgery

Soon Dr. Kaye and Dr Kästner came to see me and we went over what I wanted to achieve. Dr. Kaye drew on my face and stomach with a marker pen and explained what would be done.

He asked me to smile so he could see the areas on my face lacking volume, where he would transplant some of the fat taken from my tummy – this included my lips and cheeks, and he would also put some in my marionette lines around my mouth to fill them out.

My nurse during my stay was going to be Marina, who really helped put me at ease and led me down to theatre. It was cold in the operating theatre and initially I didn’t like the idea of lying down on the table, until I was told it was heated. I was also covered with a blanket, so I was nice and cosy.

Besides the pre-op blood test, I was also anxious about having the IV put in my hand, but anesthetist. Dr. Escudero was totally charming and succeeded in distracting me with easy chatter.  

“You’ll start to feel a bit dizzy in a minute,” he said.  I did, and then I was gone.

Don’t miss Part Two to find out what happened when I woke up! In the meantime, if you’re considering having treatment yourself, contact Ocean Clinic to book a free consultation.