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extreme pain post op, no answers

By kaytee1 on 13 Oct 2011

Hi everyone, I am 8 days post op on smas lower face and neck lift. I also had my upper lids done. Though my surgery went well, I had some complications-- a hematoma in the neck that has been removed, lots of swelling and severe bruising. My doc says it is the worse bruising he has seen but should not effect the outcome, which he is very optomistic will be great. Swelling and bruising get better everyday and my eyes already look great. Problem is the past few days I have developed severe pain at the jaw joint that radiates into the ear and cheek area. No sign of infection or new swelling. I am taking 800 mgs of motrin 3 times a day plus one or two vicoden and still the pain persists.  Everything I have read says necklift pain is minimal but this is not the case for me. I am not the sort of person that usually has a lot of pain and have done fraxel (and if you have ever done that you know how it hurts) and even had my lips done with no local anesthesia. My doc has been great with daily contact, has seen me 3 times post op,  but has no idea what is causing the pain, except that possibly the nerves are already regenerating. The pain is an ache like a migraine, not a sharp pain  It does not hurt to touch.. I can't sleep or function and really am desperate to get out of pain. Anyone else experience this? Monday I go in to have staples removed and a steroid shot but that seems so far away to be suffering like this. I just want to sleep.  

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kaytee1 15 Oct 2011
I really wish someone would answer this, even say something if you don't know. The pain is so bad I am not sure what to do. The pain seems to happen worse after a shower. I wouldn't wash my hair but have to because there is blood in it every morning (also on sheets, pillow, shirt, etc). Today is day 10 and pretty much a nightmare.
margoms 19 Oct 2011
So sorry to hear what you are going through. This does not seem to be a typical reaction after this type of surgery. If I were you I would seek a second medical opinion. Good luck to you. Please post again and let us know what happens.
kaytee1 19 Oct 2011
thank you for responding. I have since seen my doctor three times and have been drained. I have had multiple hematomas on both sides of my face. Today's drainage was minimal so hopefully I am getting better. I am also on antibiotics and steroids. I am wearing a compression garment and have strict limitations not to do anything. I'm on day 14. It has been extremely tough to go through this.
kaytee1 25 Oct 2011
just wanted to update it has been another week and the improvement is huge. A lot of the swelling is down and most of the bruising (except under my eyes). I am still wearing a compression garment all the time but soon will only be wearing it at night. I am very happy with the results so far just didn't expect the complications and recovery to be so hard.
MJW9143 2 Nov 2011
I am glad to hear that you are doing much better. Remember each person responds differently to this type of surgery. When I planned to have my facelift & eyes done the doctor told me to stop taking any aspirin type product, just use tylenol if needed and also no Vitamin E. By doing that he said there would be less bruising & bleeding and less the chance of hematomas. He was correct. I do want to mention that the healing process takes time...I mean a lot of time...You may have to have followup surgery in months to come, which is nothing compared to the original surgery. I had my surgery done in March 2011 with 2 followup surgeries for what didn't take orginally. I am now seeing a difference and love the outcome. I now can see the difference and am happy so far with the results. So just hang in there and stay close to your doctor with any questions you may have. Good luck and keep us updated.
kaytee1 2 Nov 2011
MJW I did stop all motrin, vit e, fish oil, etc. 2 weeks prior to the surgery as I had an instruction sheet. My doc does not know why I had so much bleeding. I started taking motrin again at his instructions a week after surgery but maybe it was too soon.

I can't imagine going through 2 more surgeries. This has been a nightmare I would not do again even though I do look better. My neck does not look good under my chin now and I don't know if it's another issue or what. I'm just fed up with the whole thing.
MJW9143 2 Nov 2011
Kaytee
I wasn't happy with my neck at first either. Please give you neck a chance to heal. The followup surgeries were minor. I too didn't like under my chin.I had a little pouch of loose skin I wanted gone and I didn't like my temples and the fat transfer to my checcks didn't take well. He corrected both in a little over a couple of hours by just numbing the areas that needed retouching. The second surgery wsa for another fat transfer to the cheeks, as I guess my face didn't like the first procedure. I felt no pain during and after. Could have gone back to work the very next day. This whole facelift process takes a long time to heal. Remember your just had the surgery about a month ago and you need to give it a whole lot more time. If you read on this blog a lot of the doctor's say it can take a year to feel and look better. That statement is very true. I know I've felt depressed a few times but then the next day I looked better and better each day that followed, which made me feel better. So all I can say is please give your body sometime to heal. It will!!
kaytee1 2 Nov 2011
thanks for the encouragement...I really need it. Everyone says I look great but I think after there has been complications you no longer trust the procedure and every little thing is "oh no! not again!!" My doc assures me the worse is over but I'm not kidding this was waaaay harder than I thought it would be. If you read all the recovery the majority say 2 weeks. I had no idea how involved the actual surgery was. Mine took 4.5 hours. I do look at least 10, maybe 15 years younger at this point though. Then there's the whole guilt thing about putting your body through this for vanity's sake (even though mine was a confidence issue).
MJW9143 3 Nov 2011
Trust me I have gone through the exact same feelings as you have. My orginal surgery took 6 hours with the eyes and face lift. I have had my ups and downs as you are experiencing now. You will have more to come. Just keep in mind how much better you look and "your mind" will let you feel better in time to come. Your body had a shoke to it when you had this surgery. It is not minor surgery, so it just takes time. Good luck and keep in touch by letting us know how you are doing!
kaytee1 6 Nov 2011
31 days post op and feeling great! still have issues under my chin and neck but doc says it is normal. And, like you he wants to do some minor procedures. The best news he is doing it FREE.
MJW9143 6 Nov 2011
Yes that is good news. After all the 1000's you paid him, he should do all the followup procedures for free. Mine has! Be patient on when those procedures will be done. I had to wait 3 months because my doctor wanted more healing done so there would be less scaring for the followup procedures. Glad you are feeling great after all you have felt and been through.
kaytee1 8 Nov 2011
almost another week has gone by (week 5) and I still have bruises and bumpy neck. Also still have pain on one side. Did you have lumpy skin under your chin> I still have dark bruising there too. The other procedures I'm not so sure about as I would love to go through a few months with no bruises!
MJW9143 8 Nov 2011
The pain you are having on one side. Is it true pain constantly or is it occasionally discomfort? The reason I ask is I had it often but not constant feeling where I massaged it and it felt better. I did have what I call a "pouch" of loose skin under my chin more so on one side which I was not pleased with. That's when he tried to correct it by doing more surgery under the chin, which really didn't help so he did it again but under the earlobe where you can't see the incision. It looks much better. By all means don't do the followup procedures until your body has healed from the first one. I did not bruise much at all. Most of the bruising that occured was gone in about 10 days. For some reason your body must bruise easier. Do you take medicine daily like coumadin or any aspirin product? That could make your bruising take longer to heal. But I definitely would ask my doctor why I still have the pain and bruising 5 weeks out. Let me know what he says and good luck. Stay in touch.
kaytee1 8 Nov 2011
The pain is in the jaw area after I workout or do any activity. It goes up to the temple and into the ear. It is pretty bad for about an hour and then goes away. If I put the compression garment back on it goes away so I suppose it is swelling pushing on a nerve. When I had one of the hematomas as soon as the doc drained the pain went away.

The doc doesn't know why I have pain. He said the bruising and lumps were normal. He did shoot my neck with steroids a few weeks ago. Mainly he just wants me to stop scrutinizing the surgery and let the healing continue. It would have been easier had I not had the complications. The whole thing was traumatic and I can't seem to get that across to him as I bought into the "two week recovery" thing.
kaytee1 6 Dec 2011
9 weeks tomorrow and I'm happy to say the pain is pretty much gone but the bruising is still here-- under the eyes like it is draining through the tear troughs and still badly bruised under the chin and neck. I have to wear a scarf in public. Under the chin is very bumply too. It looks likes someone tried to strangle me! I wonder if this is normal. So tired of it.
FSRB (RealFriend) 9 Dec 2011
Kaytee...
Do you feel you had volume loss with Fraxel? Did the lift correct any of the texture?
Thanks!
kaytee1 11 Dec 2011
I had volume loss around the temple area from fraxel. Also have some pitting on one side of the temple area. I would not recommend Fraxel to anyone because though there are people that have great results, there are also many who dont.

When I initially got the fraxel I was hoping it could do things only a lift could. I had saggy skin, not necessarily wrinkles. A strict skin care regimen (Retin A, vitamin c serum, moisturizer, retinols and sun screen) have been great for texture, making my skin smooth and evening out pigment. If you are in your 50's, it is not easy looking great;) I easily can pass now for late 30's but it is expensive, somewhat self absorbing, time consuming but worth it to maintain beautiful skin.
kaytee1 24 Dec 2011
Almost WEEK 12 and I STILL have bruising under my neck and chin. Also there is a lot of wrinkling under the chin. I have to wear makeup in public to cover the under eye stains as well. I don't know what to do, get a second opinion or what. My doc is not so friendly anymore as he just says "it takes time" but right after surgery he said I would love it at 12 weeks and all the bruising would be gone.

As for the actual face I can't complain. I have had three people not recognize me at all. I could see in their eyes then suddenly they would and think it was my hair or weight loss. The results are pretty dramatic.
kaytee1 14 Jan 2012
Week 15 and STILL have dark bruising under my chin. The skin is all bunched up looking and some long bumps and wrinkles. You can't see them unless you are looking under my chin but still I keep my head tipped down to hide it. I wear MAC foundation to cover the bruising. One side of my face (the hematoma side) is having issues with a fat pocket in the neck. It looks like some sort of procedure (maybe lipo)is going to have to happen which I am NOT looking forward to. The eyestains are still there but lighter. I can't go out in public without makeup and in darker light they really show up. Some people like evening light to look better but I look better in daylight!

As far as the over all results though my face looks amazing and I get comments almost every day from people I know thinking I lost weight or got a new haircut. I guess I could just deal with the not so perfect neck results but I paid a lot of money for this and will probably never be able to afford it again so want it right.

Is anyone reading this?
MJW9143 19 Jan 2012
Kaytee don't give up! Go back, a zillion times if you have to, to your doctor until you get it right. You put out to much money to not have it done correctly to your satisfaction. I am having an issue with my neck also. On one side there is to much loose skin that needs to be tightened. Also the fat transfer to my cheeks didn't take. So something will need to be done there. I am not asking to look like I am 30 again, but I am asking what needs to be corrected be taken care of. I've invested to much time and money to not be satisfied. So hang in there and don't give up. I'm not!
kazhawky 19 Jan 2012
Hi. I am reading!! How are you doing now? I am five weeks post op..had haematoma and have heavy bruising still..horrible.
MJW9143 19 Jan 2012
Kaz give it a little more time. Bruising will go away eventually. Some people bruise differently than others. If you take aspirin daily you bruise even more than not. It does get better!
kazhawky 19 Jan 2012
Hi
Thanks for that..going back to work tomorrow after five hellish weeks. I really am worried about the bruising on cheek and neck. PS says this is normal after bad hematoma but hard to trust what they say. Is it normal to feel so tight as well?? Movement of neck bit limited. All so scary. X
kazhawky 19 Jan 2012
Hi kaytee
Just to let you know, I have same pain in my face jaw and ears that you had. Been told it is just jaw muscles where they have all been moved and sewn..yuck! Hoping mine will settle soon..did your pain go? My bruising on cheek and neck is terrible after five weeks..so hard to cover with makeup. Can still see shadow after. Otherwise I am happy with shape of face after..just need all this to settle. Had infection in suture lines also so scars not great at the moment. Its going to be a long recovery! X
kaytee1 20 Jan 2012
I'm 16 weeks post op and still have the bruising. One side is pretty much healed with no tightness and the other is painful and tingly. I still can't talk on the phone. My face looks fantastic though! lol

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