My Consultation Day – 2/29/24
“My neck and jawline have always been a point of insecurity for me. I finally started to search for what procedures were out there and who might be best to do it when I found Dr. Capraro online. His office came highly recommended and seemed like a good fit. My first consultation was a great experience. I felt very pampered and was immediately at ease. Every single one of the staff members was so nice and friendly and answered any questions I had along the way.
During my first appointment, Dr. Capraro went over all my options and what procedures he thought would be best. He seemed genuinely excited to help me become my best self. Together we agreed that the most fitting choice of procedure was a neck lift with liposuction. I was really excited about the operation, but also all the pre-and post-care Dr. Capraro’s team planned for me. It made me feel like choosing them was really the right decision for me.”
Leading Up to the Procedure – 3/11/24
“As I got closer to my procedure, I began to meet with the nurse staff. I was led into an office in their beautiful Rose Medical location. We went over every detail, from my medications to my aftercare. I was able to ask questions along the way and they provided me with a lot of information in my take-home packet as well. I felt very prepared to move forward. I did think of a few questions after the appointment but was able to easily call the office and have a nurse answer my questions right away. I then had my first IV treatment to prepare for surgery. I stayed in their comfortable IV room in a La-Z-Boy recliner as I got my treatment. I felt very prepared for my surgery and any next steps!”
Initial Recovery – 3/19/24
“During the first few days following surgery, I was very tired and just wanted to let my body heal. I am very grateful to have had my sister’s help because it would have been difficult for me to keep track of all the medications alone. I was most swollen during the first four days of recovery. I couldn’t quite stand up straight for almost a week and a half due to the tightness of the swelling in my neck.
Despite the pain being slightly more severe than I had thought, it was manageable once I got on a consistent schedule with my pain medications. Once the swelling went down, the pain did increase some, so I’m grateful for the pain medication options that were provided to me.
Additionally, I was much less mobile than I thought I would be. All I really wanted to do was sleep. I generally tried to just listen to my body. I got up to pace the apartment and stretch every once in a while, but that was about all the movement I felt like I wanted or needed. Showers were a bit difficult with the stitches still in, but it was necessary to ensure they were clean. I felt as though the levels of pain and numbness were different on a day-to-day basis and like everything was waking up and slowly reconnecting.
Before my surgery, I had lined out some comfort movies and TV shows that I had been meaning to get to. I was not very hungry at first, so I ate a lot of soft, easy-to-eat foods like yogurt, Jello, pudding, and soups. I made the mistake of eating a large deli sandwich five days into recovery and regretted it. My jaw got tired very quickly, and my soreness really started to kick in afterward. My head wrap was my saving grace for swelling and soreness!”
Long Term Recovery – 3/20/24
“Now, about 4 weeks post-surgery, my swelling is significantly down and almost gone. There are only a few spots that are still tender to the touch. The nurse who has helped me along the way recommended that I could softly jade, roll, and massage those areas, and that has really helped.
My scars usually feel tight, especially first thing in the morning, but I understand that that is part of the healing process and love that they are already going away. The most difficult thing, besides all the different and new pains that arose, was sleeping on my back. I recommend getting a small neck pillow, as the GCPS team suggests because it helps me remain still while sleeping.
I am still sore, and it can be difficult to talk or smile for long periods of time. I do a lot of both at work, so the pain was most difficult to manage around weeks two and three when I had to return. If I could, I would have taken at least three weeks of leave.
Overall, the GCPS team has made this such a great and easy experience. I felt comfortable asking any questions whenever I needed to. Within the first week, I FaceTimed the team twice to make sure that everything was looking as it should. My nurse, Livie, was so nice and talked me through every step.
My neck had been a huge insecurity for me, so when I went back to work, even though my cheeks were still a little swollen, I immediately noticed that I felt more comfortable talking to people. Now that I have had this procedure done, many of my friends tell me how amazing my results are and what surgeries they want to get. I told them in response that I am hugely pro-plastic surgery but recommend really knowing what you want. I am very happy with my choice. However, I do not want to downplay the pain and discomfort that goes along with a major surgery like mine. It is nothing that isn’t manageable, but I did not expect the discomfort that goes along with this. Procedures like mine require a lot of patience, and because I knew how much I wanted it, I do not regret it at all. Dr. Capraro promised to do the best job possible for me, and he did! Personally, it was one of my best decisions. I love my results so far and can’t wait to be fully healed!”