Facelift: Stories

PammyJ, Do you have before & after pics posted? I always like to see the transformations.
I really don't realize what type of difference has occured with my appearance. My surgeon has the close up before pics. He will take the now pics when I return to him for my followup appointment sometime within a month, I did not take any, myself other than the normal snapshots that one accumulates in everyday life. I don't think that my after appearance is radically different from before. Comments that are ever said are simply "you sure look good". I think I must look refreshed but nobody realizes that I sought surgery.
My permanent home is in rural Montana. There is not the availability to plastic surgery near my home so I doubt that my local acquaintences would ever give a thought to anyone having undergone a procedure. Since I live 6 months in AZ it can be considerable time between encounters with some that are not around me on a continual basis.
I definately had aged skin before as I have lost 100 pounds & was in my mid 50's when that occured. My older skin did not have the elasticity to shrink down with the rest of me. So ~ I chose to give mother nature a bit of help. Now I feel like I might reflect a bit better the healthier 65 year old that I am. People who do not know me from before are surprised at my age when that topic is brought up.
I did not have a single issue when I was healing other than being sensitive to a peroxide diluted wash that the sugeons assisitant advised me to use after the final step of my arm reduction surgery. Doctor was not the one that gave me verbal instructions on that when I had my elbow area tended to several months after the upper & lower arms surgery. It caused swelling & inflamation which lasted just a couple of days until my doctor realized what had occured & had me change my care routine.
Having both upper & lower arm's excess skin removed is not done frequently but was needed for me as I had "bat wings" the entire length of both arms. The scars on my inner arms are still visable although much lighter. I don't "hide" them . I wear short sleeve tops for the first time in many, many years.
I don't think that I will consider further procedures to attend to other areas that could benefit from some attention. The anesthesia is very long lasting when I undergo surgery & has me staying in "LaLa land" a lot longer than should be. That causes me concern. Besides that ~ I guess I would be on a lengthy quest to try to correct all the areas that might benefit from a "refresher course". Most of those areas are concealed from view when I am fully dressed. I do not plan on "posing for PlayBoy" so I doubt it will ever matter. :-)

Hi Marty, and thank you for your comments! I totally understand the apprehension, let alone the investment, and fear of the unknown. Honestly, I don't recall the pain as being a big issue, but I would encourage you to take the pain medicine, especially at first. You should be up and about in a few days, but remember to "behave" and follow all instructions; do not do too much!!!! The anesthesia alone wears you down and the procedures your are electing are surgical, so please give yourself a break and take all the time you need to recover. I am not sure about the compresses, every doctor is different. Congratulations on taking the leap!! 58 is a great age to do this and the older you get, the more difficult it is to get clearance for this type of surgery as health issues may sneak up on you as you age. Oh! Don't feel shallow! People dye their hair all the time so what is the difference? I would like an update and/or pictures if you feel up to that. You will LUV this! Promise! All the best! Anne-Marie

Hi Anne Marie B
10th days after my surgery. I am blown away with how well things went. No pain (my biggest fear) discomfort, but not real pain, didn't have to take not even an Extra Strength Tylenol not to mention i didn't touch the prescription pain pills they had me get prior to surgery.
Swelling and bruising yes, but not as much as I was expecting.
This last Thursday I went for my week Post-Op appt. (by the way I had to drive 130 miles to the Dr's office and drove back home the same day by myself) and the Dr. was very please with how I looked in terms of overall condition I guess. He asked me if I mind to meet a patient that was in the next room over that just had her surgery the day before. Of course I agreed and let the lady look at my face and told there was light at the end of the tunnel!
I thank you for for your words of encouragement. Now is my turn to encourage others.

Thank you, Anne Marie ~ That is the way I look at it. In my area of the country (rural) a facelift is just read about in "movie gossip magazines" (lol). We are a "little bit country". I know that my results look much as I had looked a number of years ago. That is what I see in the mirror. Sure nice not to have "turkey neck" & deep forehead wrinkle grooves. I would do it again tomorrow! My surgeon is in Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ.

Hi! I was told not to do anything for 6 weeks!! I don't know how you found the energy to clean a house! I had bruising and inflammation and crusty skin from the laser treatment; I used Arnica Gel topically, (it felt so cool and soothing) and also took Arnica tablets, (very small white pills that melt under your tongue. Here is a link that discusses Arnica:
http://breakingmuscle.com/other-gear/product-review-arnicare-tablets-and-gel
Congratulations on losing 70 pounds! Are you kidding me? That takes a lot of discipline! Be proud of yourself and more power to you.

Great "Stage Name"...just love it. Do you mind sharing how much your procedures cost in Cancun. I realize that it's very difficult for ladies to leave their comfort zones and travel outside of the US for these procedures but I've been hearing for several years that Mexico and Brazil Plastic Surgeons offer very fine procedures/techniques at spectacular cost savings in US dollars. Thanks again for sharing your experience in Cancun. All the best, p. P.S. My full face and neck lift including Blephaplasty in San Antonio in 2000 cost $10,000 (my husband "negotiated" the fee with my plastic surgeon. I just had a mini face lift here in Asheville, NC, and paid $2900. That was three weeks ago and it
looks very, very good....it included neck and mid face...no eye work.

I got a very good deal down there and paid $10,500 for my 5 procedures & If I had stayed longer to do the breast lift I need & wanted it would have been $15,000. I thought that would have been way to much for my body to go through so I'll be going back in about a year, after I have paid all of this off and have what ever else I want done at that time.

Yes, he looked so suspicious that I almost panicked and had a "guilt without sin " moment,the kind you get anytime you go through security... Best regards!

Congratulations on your facelift! The redness took about 6 weeks to dissipate (almost) completely: I still had to use makeup to cover some areas and after 8 weeks, I didn't have to do that. I hope that you are resting while your body recovers because you had a lot done and the anesthesia alone takes its toll. Since I had laser resurfacing done while under a general anesthesia, I didn't feel a thing but I can tell you that afterwards, for 2 to 3 days, the area treated was "burning." I do like the laser results but I would not do anything for 6 months or more. Perhaps you will discover that you don't need it! I would love to see before and after pictures if and when you want to. Take great care of yourself, and enjoy your new looks! Best regards, Anne-Marie