When I was around 37 years old and terribly embarrassed by the puffy bags under my eyes, a plastic surgery nurse told me that Dr. Bryant Toth was the ""up and coming star"" among San Francisco plastic surgeons. Based upon her recommendation, I had Dr. Toth perform the eye surgery and was totally delighted with the results. As I approached 50, I once again felt that I appeared to be much older than I was, so I returned to Dr. Toth, this time for a face lift. The results were beautiful and totally natural looking. Indeed, over the years I have had so many laughs when, after listening to friends say that they can always spot a face lift, I would confide that I too had had a face lift. The looks and remarks are always the same: ""But you have always looked like yourself. You have never looked as though you had a lift."" I would explain that a good face lift is not one that you can spot. It's one that leaves the person looking like him or her self, with several years of aging removed. I loved that face lift so much that I never thought I would ever want any other plastic surgery done. However, four days ago, at age 64, I returned to Dr. Toth's office once again. This time, he did a face lift, neck lift, upper eyelid surgery, and fat injections into my cheeks. The pain and bruising have been minimal. My cheeks are swollen but I was told today, after the stitches were removed, that most of the swelling will be gone in about a week. The vertical folds that had developed alongside my nose and mouth and the wrinkles that had formed on my cheeks are gone. Am I happy? You bet I am. Do I expect my friends will ask me if I have had a face lift? Absolutely not. Will this be my last visit to Dr. Toth? Surely. But ask me again when I am 80.
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