Unrealistic Expectations of Level of Pain and Recovery Time

I had the Lifestyle lift procedure done in April 2008. My procedure included the neck and eyelid. The advertisements AND the information received in the "check it out" interview were misleading. The advts indicate there is a process to let you see the results you should expect with the procedure - I thought this meant computer enhanced photos or some technology-based process. The process was sitting in front of a regular mirror with a "technician" pulling the skin around the jaw. Next I was told there would be some discomfort and minor bruising and perhaps some swelling - also was told "some patients see a difference before leaving the office on the day of the procedure". I can only assume the "technician" had a sick sense of humor and that some patients preferred the "bandaged rabbit look" over their normal appearance.

My experience was that the procedure took longer - about 4 hours, the pain was worse than I expected - needles in the face and eye area and the smell of burned flesh. When I left the office, my head was wrapped in bandages from the top of my head to underneath the chin and around the circumference of my head just above the forehead. Afterward, there was significant bruising and swelling, and at least medium discomfort. When I went in to have the sutures removed from my eyes, the assistant didn't notice that the skin had not healed properly and eventually, I had to return to have additional sutures in the lids to aid in healing (more needles to eye area). Although I followed the after care instructions explicitly, I continued to have bruising and swelling for about 4 weeks after the procedure.

Five months after the procedure, I have not yet gotten full sensation back in my right ear and lower right face (I cannot tell without touching my earlobe if I have an earring in my right ear. When I pinch my right earlobe, the ear and right jawline tingle. The left side feels almost normal - still some very, very slight numbness along the left jawline.)

Looking back now, my experience seems about what one should experience with this type of procedure. My complaint is that this is NOT what I was led to believe. I love the results around my neck - now, my neck matches the rest of my body and I can wear necklaces again without thinking - does this draw attention to my neck. I am less enthusiastic about the eyelid procedure. I still have some slight pinkness around the lids and I can't tell too much difference in the before eye and 5 month after eye. The scars around the back of my ears are much more pronounced than I ever expected (hoping that continues to improve with time).

Knowing what I know now would I have the procedure? Definately yes to the neck, maybe not with the eyes.