Facelift: Stories

I went to PS to see about having a tummy tuck and face lift. Decided to have the face lift done first because my grandson is getting married in May and I want to be the best looking grandma there LOL. I dont like what I see in the mirror. My upper eylids cover nearly half of eyes and I look angry all of time, have some slight jowling and a good start to a turkey neck. So I am having my upper lids, brow lift, lower lids, neck lipo and lift, mid face lift done first. .
My abd is about 3 inches bigger around then my hips I am so looking forward to having a flatter tummy, but that will have to wait until the fall.

I sent an email to my boss today to let her know I have scheduled my surgery for 04/13. Just said I went to the Dr and we decided that I need to have surgery. Gave her the date of the surg. We will see what she responds.

Well this week I have had a bought with the flu or a cold, cough, headache, stuffy head, slight fever. Glad it's not anywhere near my surg date. Would had to postpone it and would not have been happy. Trying to lose 10 lbs before surgery, but being sick I eat everything in sight LOL. Just 7 weeks away!!

getting over this cold/flu virus going around, I have heard it hangs on a long time. Hope it goes away soon

Still battling the cough, it's been 3 weeks and doesn't seem to want to go away. I will go to the Dr tomorrow and get it checked out. Otherwise doing ok, just over a month until my surgery time is going by fast. Will be here before I know it.

Finally went to the Dr to get my cough checked out. She said she couldn't hear breath sounds very well when I tried to take a deep breath. Gave me antibiotics and nebulizer treatments. Doing much better now.
My boss approved my time off and hubby took 2 weeks off. only just over 2 1/2 weeks till surg.

Still having the cough, but a bit better every day. Still tryong to lose somght before surgery. I ecided that instead of trying to get an hour of exercise in 3 days a week, I can do 30 min a day. I think it won't feel so overwhelming as the thought of an hour.

My surgery is just 10 days from tomorrow, boy is time going by fast.
My PS called today and rescheduled my pre op appt from 930 am to 1030 am, that is much better for us since we will miss a lot of the rush hour traffic on a Monday morning. I keep pulling the extra skin back on my face to see what I hope to look like after surgery. It's keeping me motivated, and keeps me from wanting to call and cancel my surgery.

Just one week from tomorrow!!! can't believe it's almost here. Getting nervous now, anxious, excited. Having doubts sometimes, just like almost everyone else who has gone through this.
My Pre op is Monday, I will have a list of questions to ask, prob still think of something afterwards, LOL,

I had my preop appt today, got all my tests done and spoke to the anesthesiologist. Wrote the check to pay for it (that was hard to do LOL) He answered all my questions and what I should and shouldn't do after surgery. Got my prescriptions filled, will go to pick up a few things tomorrow. Think I am as ready as I will ever be.

Thanks for all your comments and expressions of concern. My 5 hour precedure ended up taking 7, then I had a lot of trouble waking up, Very sick to my stomach afterward. I went back to see Dr Lee on Monday, he was very pleased with his "handywork" LOL. He said I was fine, breathing without any trouble and they did wake me up but couldn't stay awake He said "you don't drink at all do you?" I was the only surg they had that day, They thought they would have a short day, but I showed them LOL. Finally left the hospital at about 530pm. Pain isn't bad, I stopped the pain pills on Sunday and am using ibuprofen. Putting ointment on my eyelids and wearing my chin support. Bruising is resolving with Arnica. And of course lots of naps. Hubby has been great being my Nurse, giving me the antibiotics and creams, getting food etc. Dr Lee told him no cooking or any housework for awhile. I go back again on Monday to get some of the stitches out. Looking forward to that!!! I am happy with what I see so far. Able to take a shower last night and gently wash my hair. That was GREAT!!!!

Ok today is post op day 6, going to post some updated pics. I am feeling pretty good, only problem is my blurry vision from the swelling of my eyelids. Still sleeping in my recliner every night. Dr said I could sleep flat now if I wanted to, I tried to go to sleep in our bed a couple days ago. but when there was pressure on the staples behind my ears it hurt and I couldnt find a comfortable position, soooooo came back to the recliner. He is supposed to take the staples and sutures out on Monday, (9 days post op) so I will be able to go back to bed again.

Thank you both so much for your compliments. I did have the staples out today, still having the blurry vision, he said that can last 2 or 3 weeks and is due to the swelling around the tear ducts etc. He was not happy with some swelling that was causing mywer right eyelid to droop a bit, has me lifting it up and puitting on steri strips to encourage it to "relax" in proper alignment when the swelling goes down. I thought it was doing fine, look like it was relaxing back to normal to me, but he is cautious. I go back in 3 weeks for him to recheck it, he said if I don't feel like going back to work he will give me another week off, hummmmm that is tempting, LOL. My numbness is getting better. He wants mme to massage the areas around my eyes and under my chin several times a day to promote better scar results. Here are day 10 pics,

I am soo happy with my results. My left eye is much better, will stop taping it tomorrow I think. Vison still blurry, but better, got some eye drops for dry eyes, seems to hwlp a lot. I am posting more pics, going to get really brave and post the pics right beforrg and right after as well as the ones taken today, really can see the improvement. ;:-)

LOL, can ya tell that I am not seeing well with all the spelling errors. :;-0

Updated pics, 3 weeks post op. I don't notice the differance until I look at the previous weeks pics. Looks like my swelling is going down a bit. Vision is getting better, still blurry but improving. Left eye still a bit droppy, but still swollen too.

Went back to work today, lots of good feedback, some commented that they liked my new hairstyle LOL (same hairstyle I have had for 2 yrs) Posting a pic from today. Need to learn to put makeup on again, it's been a long time since I have worn anything but a little mascara and lipstick.

I am so happy with my results. I feel so much more confident about myself. I also find that it seems people are reacting more positively toward me, which may be the result of how I feel now. Absolutely no regrets or second thoughts. Still have some swelling at 5 weeks post op, and my left eyelid still has some minisule drooping. At my last post op visit Dr Lee said to continue to tape it when I'm not working. I also spoke to the surgery coordinator and told her to put me on the calendar for my tummy tuck in Sept or October. I am looking forward to that too, ;:-). Granndsons wedding is a week from today. I got the flowers done now making a dress to wear, (combining 2 different patterns) . Just couldn't find anything I liked. I hope it turns out as I envision it LOL. I will post some pics after the wedding.