Norma’s Story
I am a 68 year old female that always believed in aging gracefully. Over the last few years, I suddenly began to feel that the way my face was aging did not reflect the way I felt as a person. I am active woman with a fairly busy social life, and so it was getting to the point that I did not always feel great about the way I looked. I discussed the possibility of undergoing facial rejuvenation surgery with my family, but they were not too keen on the idea. In any case, I began to research surgeons and I remembered that one of my friends always raved about her surgeon, Andres Bustillo. At some point I developed the courage seek a consultation with Dr. Bustillo.
My consultation with Dr. Bustillo was fantastic. He first explained to me the changes that take place throughout the face and then spent some time examining my eyes and face. He then explained in detail what the surgery could improve as well as the limitations. His approach is conservative and natural and it was certainly what I was looking for. I went home that day and really thought about having the surgery. I discussed it with my family and surprisingly, they were all very supportive. I decided to go through with Dr. Bustillo’s recommendation to have a deep plane facelift, upper and lower eyelid surgery and fat transfer.
I received a call from Dr. Bustillo the night before surgery. He has a very calm demeanor and his words were very comforting. He assured me that he would do his best and that he would take care of me as family. The day finally arrived and suddenly I found myself in the office lying down in the pre-operative bed. Dennise, the nurse was extremely nice. She even applied local anesthetic before starting the IV. I met the anesthesiologist who was very nice and reassuring. It certainly helped that he worked at Baptist Hospital, the best one in Miami.
Recovery after surgery was not too bad. I arrived home and was in some discomfort, but no pain. I was seen the next day by Dr. Bustillo who removed the bandage. I will never forget, he gave me a mirror and said “take a look at the neck.” While my face was a bit swollen, all I could do was to look at my new neck. I was amazing. The sagging skin and “turkey neck” were gone. The first week went by very slow and as the swelling increased, as expected, I began to feel a bit “ blue.” I Began to wonder whether I should have done this. I expressed this to Dr. Bustillo on my next visit and he explained that this is common and he reassured me that I would look just like myself after the swelling decreased. He brought in a patient to the room that had underwent the same procedure three weeks ago and she told me to be patient and that she had also looked the way i was looking. I went home feeling much better. By the second week, I could already see the light at the end of the tunnel. I was looking like myself again and albeit a much improved one.
My first outing to a restaurant came at the second week. I was a bit self conscious, but after interacting with several people, I realized it was just in my head. Over the next several weeks, I began to feel much better about how I looked. I began socializing and the most amazing thing was that no one had an idea that I had work done! ! I was constantly told that “ I looked great” and that “ I looked so rested “ but no one picked up on the fact that I had surgery. One day while getting my hair done, my hairdresser ( they notice everything, don’t they? ) said to me “ I know you had a facelift “ and then told me that the incisions were among the best he had seen.
My only regret is not doing this earlier. But I’m very happy to have found Dr. Bustillo.
Procedure: Facelift
Procedure details: 68 year old female underwent a deep plane facelift with fat transfer and upper and lower blepharoplasty.
Before and After Photos
Each patient is unique and individual results may vary.
Nina’s Story
Since I was in my early teenage years, I always wanted to change the shape of my nose. I never thought my nose was horrible nor was my self-esteem affected, but I always thought that it could be better. I finally had the courage to bring to my family. They were very supportive and mentioned that I could do it when I turned seventeen. About a year ago, I began to do my research to find a surgeon that would do my surgery. I searched and read about different surgeons. Dr. Bustillo’s name would always come up when I asked others whom they would recommend for rhinoplasty, so I decided to consult with him.
The consultation with Dr. Bustillo was great. He is very down to earth and has a gentle bedside manner. His approach to the consultation was very different from others. He examined my nose very thoroughly both inside and out. He then explained the things that he thought should be improved. The amazing thing is that everything he mentioned there the exact same things that I was looking to improve, which confirmed we were both on the same page.
He also mentioned that there were a couple of things that made the surgery more difficult and made it clear that no result is perfect. He guaranteed that the result would be natural, and with a significant improvement but that at the same time, it would likely have a small flaw here and there. Next, he explained the entire process from the beginning to the end. We reviewed patients before and after pictures of previous rhinoplasties and then went over my pictures and the proposed image.
I arrived that morning of surgery somewhat anxious but excited. The nurse was very sweet and knowing that I was afraid of needles used a cream to numb my arm before placing the IV. I met again with Dr. Bustillo and he reviewed what he was going to do to my nose. A bit later I met the anesthesiologist who was very nice and comforting. Before I knew it I was in the recovery room with cold compresses over my nose. The first night was much easier than what I expected, as I had no pain at all, but it was a bit uncomfortable because I was stuffy and congested. The next day we returned to the office where the girls cleaned my nose and suctioned it, clearing most of the congestion.
We returned to the office on the fifth day after the surgery for the big reveal! The girls removed the cast and Dr. Bustillo came in to see the nose. Everyone, including my family, saw the nose before me and they all kept on saying how nice it looked. After a big gasp, I held the mirror to my face. I could not stop looking at it in every direction and angle. I loved it.
Over the next few weeks the nose swelled, as I was told would happen. Even with the swelling I loved it. It is really after the first few months that the nose begins to take shape. I can honestly say that this was one of the best decisions I have made. I love my new nose and feel that it’s perfect for me.
Procedure: Rhinoplasty
Procedure details: 18 y/o female underwent rhinoplasty. The goals were to straighten the nose and the define the nasal tip on the front view and reduce the nasal hump and support the tip on profile. She underwent an open rhinoplasty with: septoplasty, hump reduction, caudal septal extension graft, and dome sutures.
Before and After Photos
Each patient is unique and individual results may vary.
Livia’s Story
I am 61 years old and I recently had a facelift with Dr. Bustillo. Over the last several years I began to notice my neck getting worse. In the past I always thought of “aging gracefully” but I seriously began to consider having plastic surgery when my neck began to bother me. I was lucky to have been referred to Dr. Bustillo by a close friend of mine.
Although I consulted with Dr. Bustillo several times before my surgery, I knew from the first time that I met with him that I wanted him to be my surgeon. He has excellent bedside manners, is soft spoken, and above all very honest. He explained to me the way the face ages so that I understood what was happening to face and neck. He then showed me the results I could expect and also explained to me what I should not expect. I really liked the fact that he was sincere and certainly not selling himself. We went over different patient cases where he was able to show me the improvements they had as well where the incisions would be placed.
Having seen several acquaintances with very visible scars, this was something that concerned me. Dr. Bustillo showed me pictures of many facelifts were the scars were not visible, He assured me that the scars would be imperceptible.
After contemplating the surgery for some time, I finally decided to have the facelift done. I was surprised to get a comforting call from Dr. Bustillo the night before the surgery to check upon on me. The morning of the surgery, I met the anesthesiologists and the nurse, Both were very comforting. Dr. Bustillo marked my face and then made my hair in some funky way with rubber bands and I was in and out of the operating room before I knew it. The first night was fairly uncomfortable, but not painful. I saw Dr. Bustillo the next day when he removed the bandage. I could immediately see my new neck and it looked amazing. My cheeks, though, were a bit swollen. I think Dr. Bustillo saw the look in my eyes when I saw them and he immediately explained that this was normal and that they would look just fine when the swelling went down. At that point I remembered reading about this in the manual I was given, which reassured me. Over the next two weeks, as the swelling went down, I really began to see my results. I felt rejuvenated, but very happy that I still looked like myself. Many that know me well could not tell I had surgery. I just kept getting compliments about how well and rested I looked. Interestingly enough, I also felt better about myself. I would gladly do it over again in a heartbeat, and only with Dr. Bustillo.
Procedure: Facelift
Procedure details: 61 year old female underwent a facelift.
Martha’s Story
I started contemplating having something done a few years ago when I noticed that the skin around my neck had started to loosen. It was then that I started researching local physicians to perform my facelift. After meeting with Dr. Bustillo, I immediately knew that I wanted him to do my surgery. The care was exceptional. I was surprised to get a call from him the night before surgery to make sure I was calm and relaxed. He reassured me that everything would go well and it sure did. My recovery was only minimally uncomfortable the first night. By the end of the second week, I was almost back to normal. The staff at Dr. Bustillo’s office is superb and attentive to all of your needs. I am very happy with how natural and refreshed I look. I am very grateful for Dr. Bustillo’s expertise and will always recommend him.
Procedure: Facelift
