POSTED UNDER Facelift Reviews
FACE - Lower Facelift, Browlift, Lower Eyes and Laser Resurfacing - Folsom, CA
UPDATED FROM k_sac
1 month post
Incisions Around Ear
WORTH IT$17,000
Some were concerned about incisions. Here are more photos of incisions at 7.5 weeks just taken on my iPhone. The facelift incision goes from top of the opening of the ear, around the back of ear and back up to the bottom of the opening of the ear (both ears). One incision under my chin. All other incisions are in the hairline, including the browlift.
k_sac's provider
ORIGINAL POST
I turn 60 in about two weeks. I have been...
I turn 60 in about two weeks. I have been planning for face procedures for a couple of years. This is my 60th birthday present to myself. I wanted to look in the mirror and see the face I once knew. I took two weeks off from work. Because I have dry eye syndrome, I elected not to have my upper eyes done at this time.
The first thing I noticed was a pounding headache from the brow lift, but this was to be expected. My eyes were swollen shut for 4 days, so I had to make arrangements for someone to stay with me longer than expected, because I was completely blind. I realized it was a good decision to hold off on the upper eyes, not just because of dry eye syndrome. Materials said arrange to have someone stay for 24 hours. Dr. Kaufman said this kind of swelling was unusual and I believe him. Incisions were all either around the ear or in the hairline. I experienced extreme tightness and numbness under the chin in front of and behind the ears. Honestly, it felt like someone was choking me with a rope. There is no escaping this discomfort, but the pain meds did help. By the looks of my picture the day after surgery, I look like a burn victim that must have been in excruciating pain. However, I never really noticed the discomfort of my skewered skin. The special balm and cold water vinegar solutions helped a great deal with that.
What was most difficult for me was the fact that my skin, muscles and nerves are all adjusting to new locations and that takes time. Often, I would start to feel better and think it was time to get off the pain meds and I would be good for a day or so, then the headaches, dull aches and numbness would start to get to me again. For me, it was closer to five weeks before I could get off the pain meds completely. At about four weeks, I started massaging the numb parts of my face. I could feel tingling and the next morning, my feeling would improve. The materials said that there could be some numbness that is permanent, but I am hoping not.
Seven weeks since procedure, still slight swelling under eyes, not noticeable. Soreness is gone and tightness is also growing less. I feel that even if I have some numbness that once the tightness is completely gone, I won't notice the small patch of slight numbness near the front of my ears.
The first thing I noticed was a pounding headache from the brow lift, but this was to be expected. My eyes were swollen shut for 4 days, so I had to make arrangements for someone to stay with me longer than expected, because I was completely blind. I realized it was a good decision to hold off on the upper eyes, not just because of dry eye syndrome. Materials said arrange to have someone stay for 24 hours. Dr. Kaufman said this kind of swelling was unusual and I believe him. Incisions were all either around the ear or in the hairline. I experienced extreme tightness and numbness under the chin in front of and behind the ears. Honestly, it felt like someone was choking me with a rope. There is no escaping this discomfort, but the pain meds did help. By the looks of my picture the day after surgery, I look like a burn victim that must have been in excruciating pain. However, I never really noticed the discomfort of my skewered skin. The special balm and cold water vinegar solutions helped a great deal with that.
What was most difficult for me was the fact that my skin, muscles and nerves are all adjusting to new locations and that takes time. Often, I would start to feel better and think it was time to get off the pain meds and I would be good for a day or so, then the headaches, dull aches and numbness would start to get to me again. For me, it was closer to five weeks before I could get off the pain meds completely. At about four weeks, I started massaging the numb parts of my face. I could feel tingling and the next morning, my feeling would improve. The materials said that there could be some numbness that is permanent, but I am hoping not.
Seven weeks since procedure, still slight swelling under eyes, not noticeable. Soreness is gone and tightness is also growing less. I feel that even if I have some numbness that once the tightness is completely gone, I won't notice the small patch of slight numbness near the front of my ears.
Replies (13)
You are so cute and pretty! My gosh, you look so young!!! The first picture is frightening,that's for sure, but wow, incredible! you look fantastic and you are only a month in!!
You look really good! The eye swelling must have been a little scary, but the results are fantastic.
K_sac you're looking swell! Hope you continue to heal well and positively and you can simply enjoy your 'second bite of the cherry'. Where did your surgeon put the incisions? Can you see them? Will you be able to wear your hair up and away from your face. Would love to have a FL but placement of incisions is a big issue for me. Thanks for sharing!
Placement of incisions is a BIG concern of mine as well. I have long hair like k_sac and would be heartbroken if I felt too self-conscious to wear my hair up after surgery thanks to tell-tale scars. There is always going to be a risk regardless of how skilled the surgeon is since we all heal differently...yet, I still want the most discrete incisions possible to improve my odds of a successful outcome.
I'm wearing my hair up right now! :)
k_sac, you look really, really good. We are about the same time out, but I just had a FL. We are healing at the same rate. To those of you with long hair, like me, I was very pleased with the incisions. My doctor bevels the incisions and does not pull on the skin. He also curves into the hairline in the front. I am a pony tail girl like you, plus my hair is white and I thought for sure that they would be noticable. I just have a very faint line in the front hidden in my hair.
Wow, what a transformation! You look wonderful and must be so pleased with your results. Is that a phenol peel you received? Gosh, you are a brave woman to have so many procedures done at once. The peel alone would scare the pants off me, lol. :)
Yes, the peel or laser on the skin looks so painful and looks like it would never heal, but then you see how she looks now and it's amazing!! Makes me almost tempted. ....almost...
Ah, I just re-read the review title and see that she had laser resurfacing and not a deep phenol peel. I can safely say I will never be tempted to try this, lol...no matter how great the potential outcome might be. Apart from concerns that my skin would not tolerate the laser well (VERY sensitive skin here), I know I would panic too much during the recovery of a procedure like this. It was probably a blessing in disguise that she couldn't open her eyes for the first 4 days. Hats off to k_sac for getting through it all and looking so great in the end.
I figured that many other women had been through it before me, so I would more than likely survive, so no need to freak. I am not a panic type of person. My biggest concern was my dry eye symdrome, so the doctor and I elected not to do the procedure on my upper eyes at this point in time. The excessive swelling was a surprise though.
I literally jumped out of my chair when I saw your day 1 and day 5 pictures -- shudder to think what days 2, 3 & 4 looked like (eek!). Your eyes looked really frightening and had I experienced the same severe swelling I know it would have freaked me out. I honestly don't know a lot of people who wouldn't react the same way so you definitely have a strong fortitude for these types of procedures. I had Lasik eye surgery 2 yrs ago and though I didn't end up with dry eye as a side effect, my eyes have never felt quite the same lubrication wise. Having lived through one horrendous episode of dry eye (prior to Lasik) I cannot imagine living with this problem all the time. It truly is uncomfortable so I understand why you didn't have upper bleph surgery. It looks as if your PS decided to use a laser treatment on your eyes in the hopes of achieving the effects of an eye lift non-surgically. What exactly did he use, Fraxel or Thermage or something else?
Like the other ladies have said, you look amazing! I truly appreciate your sharing on RealSelf. This is going to help so many on the face lift journey.
Replies (16)