Before and After Photo Gallery

How to get the most out of before and after photos

Before and after photos are the closest thing to a preview you can get. They show what a surgeon's work looks like on real people, and they are one of the best ways to decide whether a style matches what you want. But photos can also mislead if you don't look at them the right way. This gallery collects patient results from Dr. Justin Bellamy's practice in Palm Beach Gardens, and this page explains how to read them.

Keep one thing in mind as you browse: every face and body is different, and every patient heals differently. These images show what was possible for those patients. They are not a promise of what will happen for you.

What to look for, procedure by procedure

Each type of surgery has its own telltale details. Here is what to check in the categories you'll find in the gallery.

Rhinoplasty. Look at the profile first, then the front and the view from below. Notice the line from the bridge to the tip, how the tip sits and whether the nostrils look balanced. The best noses look like they belong on the face they're on, not like a standard shape. If you are specifically comparing techniques, our guide on open versus closed rhinoplasty explains what different approaches can and can't change..

Facelift and neck lift. Focus on the jawline, the cheeks and the angle under the chin. Then check the area in front of the ears and the hairline, where an overly tight or unnatural result tends to show up. A good result looks like a rested version of the same person. See the facelift and neck lift gallery and read about deep plane facelift versus SMAS before you compare.

Eyelids and brow. Look at the crease of the upper lid, the space between the brow and the lash line, and how open the eyes look overall. Subtle is good here.

Breast augmentation, lift and reduction. Compare shape, position and symmetry, and look at where the nipple sits in relation to the fold. Look at how natural the upper part of the breast looks and how the breast fits the body frame.

Tummy tuck and mommy makeover. Look at the waistline, the position of the scar, the shape of the navel and how the abdomen flows into the hips. Scars sit low, so pay attention to how they are placed.

Five things that make a photo trustworthy

1. Consistent conditions. The same lighting, distance, angle and posture in both images. A change in any of these can exaggerate or hide a result.
2. Enough time has passed. Early photos hide swelling. A rhinoplasty at six weeks and at one year can look quite different, and a facelift at two weeks looks nothing like it does at three months.
3. A range of patients. A gallery that shows many ages, body types and starting points is more honest than one that highlights only the most dramatic cases.
4. No obvious editing. Sharp contrasts in skin tone, blurred edges or inconsistent backgrounds can be red flags.
5. Patients like you. The most useful photos are of people who resemble you in age, skin type and anatomy.

Look for people who resemble you

A dramatic result on a person who doesn't share your starting point tells you very little. If you have a wide nose, thick skin or a specific body shape, look for cases that start where you do. If you cannot find any in the gallery, ask about it at your consultation. Not every case can be shown online, and the consultation is the place to explore what results have looked like for patients with similar features.

Timing: when is an "after" really an after?

Healing takes time, and it doesn't happen at the same speed for everything. Breast and body results usually look closer to final at around three to six months, though scars keep fading well beyond that. Facelift swelling settles over several months. A nose can keep changing for a year or more. When you view a photo, check when it was taken, and if it doesn't say, ask.

Beyond the gallery

Photos are a starting point, and no gallery replaces a conversation with the surgeon who would be operating on you. Use the images to build a list of questions, then take that list with you. To hear from real patients about the experience, from consultation through recovery, read the testimonials. To learn more about the surgeon behind the work, visit Dr. Bellamy's profile.

What "natural" actually means

Almost every patient says they want a natural result, and almost every surgeon says they deliver one. The word only becomes useful when you define it.

In a nose, natural usually means a profile and tip that fit the rest of the face, with no obvious "done" look such as an overly scooped bridge or a tip that's too small. In a face, it means rested, not tighter or younger than makes sense for your age. In breasts, it means a shape and size that suit your frame, with a gentle slope in the upper part. In the body, it means smooth transitions instead of hard edges, and proportions that flow.

When you browse, ask yourself which results look like a better version of the person and which look like a procedure. That instinct is worth trusting. It will also help you explain your taste at your consultation.

Scars in photos

Scars are part of surgery, and photos show them differently depending on when they were taken. Early after surgery they tend to look pink or red. Over months they usually flatten and fade, and a year or more may pass before they mature fully. Their final appearance depends partly on your own skin and how well you follow care instructions.

Look at where the incisions are placed as much as how they look. In a facelift, scars are designed to hide in and around the ear and hairline. In a tummy tuck, they sit low, under underwear and swimwear. In a breast lift, the pattern depends on the amount of lift required. Photos taken at different stages of healing aren't directly comparable, so check the timing.

What photos can't show

A photo is a single frame. It can't show how the result looks in motion, how the tissue feels or how the nose functions when you breathe. It can't show what recovery was like, or how supported the patient felt along the way. Those things matter as much as the outcome, and the best sources for them are patient testimonials and your own conversations with the surgeon and the team.

Photos also can't show how a result will age. Faces and bodies keep changing after surgery, and a good procedure gives you a better starting point, not a permanent one.

Take your own "before" photos

Whether or not you go ahead with surgery, it helps to take your own photos before your consultation. Stand in even lighting against a plain wall, and take the same angles each time: front, both sides and, for the nose, from below. Wear something simple that shows the area you're interested in.

These photos help you describe what you see, and they give you a baseline to compare with as you heal. If you do have surgery, keep taking them at the same intervals so you can see the progress. It is easy to lose sight of how much you've changed when you look in the mirror every day.

Bring good reference photos

Reference photos work best when they are honest. Choose images of people with a similar starting point to yours, and be careful with heavily filtered or edited pictures, since they show something surgery can't deliver. Pick a few you love and explain what you like about each, whether it's the profile of a nose, the line of a jaw or the shape of a waist. Include a couple you don't like, too. They often say more.

What happens after you've picked a few favorites

Bring them to your consultation. Show Dr. Bellamy the photos you like, and the ones you don't, and tell him what draws you to each. It's one of the fastest ways to communicate your taste, and it lets him tell you honestly whether that result is realistic for you and what he'd do differently.

To start, request a consultation or call (561) 705-0044. The office is at 2865 PGA Boulevard, Suite 100-A, in Palm Beach Gardens, serving patients from West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Boca Raton and other parts of Florida and the country.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these photos of real patients?

Yes. The gallery shows results from real patients. Results vary from person to person, so treat the photos as examples of what is possible instead of a guarantee.

Will my results look like the ones in the gallery?

Possibly similar, but not identical. Your anatomy, skin, healing and goals are your own, and those shape what is achievable. Choose photos of patients who resemble you and use your consultation to talk about what is realistic in your case.

How long after surgery are the "after" photos taken?

It varies by procedure and by patient. Some results settle in a few months and others, like rhinoplasty, keep refining for a year or more. If a photo's timing matters to you, ask about it at your consultation.

How do I tell whether before and after photos are trustworthy?

Check that lighting, angle and distance match between the images, that enough time has passed to show healed results, and that the gallery includes a range of patients instead of only the best cases. Be careful with photos that look heavily edited or whose backgrounds and colors change between shots.

What should I look for in nose job before and after photos?

Compare the profile, the front and the view from below. Check that the tip and nostrils look balanced, that the bridge has a natural line and that the nose suits the face. Look for photos at least several months out, since early ones show swelling.

What should I look for in deep plane facelift photos?

Focus on the jawline and cheeks, then check the area in front of the ears and the hairline. A good result looks rested and natural instead of pulled. Compare photos taken from the same angle and after swelling has settled. Our deep plane facelift versus SMAS guide explains the differences.

Can I see more photos in person?

Your consultation is the best time to ask which additional examples can be shown for the procedure you have in mind. Bring your own reference photos, and Dr. Bellamy will discuss what is realistic.

Do you have before and after photos for Lipo 360 or chin implants?

These procedures are described on their own pages, Lipo 360 and chin implant. Ask at your consultation what examples are available so you can see results relevant to you.

How do I book a consultation after browsing?

Use the contact page or call (561) 705-0044. It helps to bring a few favorite photos, a short list of concerns and any questions you have about recovery and timing.