Lower Face/neck Lift This Friday...- Asheville, NC

Thanks for responding. When you woke during the procedure, were you anxious? I'm very anxious about health issues in general, so this worries me. I woke in the midst of a colonoscopy in PAIN and keep thinking of that. Also, I let a dermatologist allow her med student to cut something off of me and it wasn't numb. I about went thru the roof. (I recevied no bill for that procedure :) Those things are in the back of my mind... How long before you were out in public? I'm surgery #3 on Friday...I hope he's not fatigued from the first two. He said he does between 8-12 facelifts weekly. I'm thinking he must be good with that huge volume!

I didn't actually wake up during the procedure, I was awake, but extremely groggy when I was first taken into the surgical suite. I can remember them putting the cap on my hair and Dr. Harley and Kelly talking and, then he was numbing my face, and that was it. I was out until it was over and my husband was there to pick me up. I had my surgery on a Monday and I was worried and actually told Dr. Harley that "I hope you didn't have a wild weekend and that you are alert this morning", lol, lol!! I was his first surgery that morning. Afterwards, we went back to the hotel suite, where I enjoyed a quiet day, watching tv, dozing, and sipping milk shakes. I did have some pain, especially in my right ear for several days afterward, which I found is quite normal. The pain was easily controlled with the pain meds. I did become nauseous that first evening and actually called Dr. Harley (he'd already called earlier to check on me). I had one episode of vomiting, but that was stopped by taking only one of the anti-nausea pills that Dr. Harley has prescribed for you. I wore a scarf around my face when I went to his office the next morning, but then went to breakfast with my husband. I was swollen (chipmunk cheeks), but no one seemed to notice. I stayed home that first week, but could have gone out sooner. I was conscious of the cheek swelling, but I think it was more noticeable to me than to anyone else. I had very little bruising, which was a huge surprise as I can bruise by just bumping into something. Like I said I am a huge fan of Arnica. I did feel "wiped out" for the first few days and would have to lie down in the afternoons for a couple of hours. I think you'll be so happy. I don't know what your main issues are, but mine were the jowling. That was what I'd always seen when I looked in the mirror. I was 53 when I had the surgery, I'm 54 now, so we're the same age. It just seems so good to be able to look in the mirror and see a tight neck and no jowls. I still have a raised, slightly noticeable scar at one ear, but Dr. Harley injected it with a steroid and it's going down and is easily covered with make-up. Please let me know if you have any more questions and you can call me if you like, I'd be glad to talk to you and answer any questions personally. I don't know how far you live from Asheville, but I chose Dr. Harley out of other doctors that are closer to me (I'm about 3+ hours from Asheville) and I've been well pleased. If you want to talk, let me know and I'll give you my number or if you have any more questions, please let me know. Best of luck

It's been almost 2 years since your surgery. Are you still pleased with your results?

I was given pain pills and took them before I went to bed. I think they relaxed me more.

I'm so glad that the surgery is over and it sounds as if it went well. I felt the tightness, especially on the side of my face, for several weeks. I also had the "chipmunk" cheeks. I think I'd mentioned it before, but the worst pain I had was in one of my ears. My right ear hurt for several weeks. I had the puckered skin, especially behind my ears. Once the stitches were out and the incision healed, I began to massage the are and using Mederma. The puckering is much better. I still have the scar that extends below my left ear, which Dr. H injected with steriods and said that I might have to get an additional injection later if the scar doesn't go away. It is improving and easily covered with make-up. Please keep me posted and feel free to call or write me anytime. Was Kelly your nurse?

Take the pain pills for as long as you need them. There are no hero's here :) I took all of them and requested more, so 5 days, maybe? And I have been told that I have a high pain tolerance.

One other thing, I kept a daily journal after my surgery (written) and I can now look back and read how things were going during each stage of my recovery. I called and/or e-mailed Dr. Harley several times during my recovery with different questions and he was always prompt about responding. Are you taking the Arnica? And, again, feel free to call me anytime - I've been where you are now.