Wishes Do Come True. Asheville, NC

Yesterday was awesome. Kelly took my stitches out and I admit that we were giggling the entire time. Better to hear laughter at the dr.'s office than moans and groans, lol. Celebrated with a trip to Biscuit Head in Asheville for brunch with my daughter, drove back home to SC. Put just a dab of makeup on and went shopping for a cute new outfit. No, the journey is not quite over, but I do feel like I am almost to the top of my self improvement pinnacle. Although, I love Dr. Harley's work and artistic ability, I am still not able to do it justice with these awful mug shots views. I will post them anyway, lol. Will check back in a few weeks as healing time takes it's own sweet time. Everyone heals at a different rate and although it has been so beneficial to read everyone's own personal story, keep in mind what works for one person may not for another. I personally never had any pain and bruising was minimal. I will tell you my own tips. Eat healthy, before and after surgery (yes, you can celebrate on the day you get your stitches out!), use the recommended arnica gel and pills, use the bromelian supplement, get a wedge to support you in an upright position in bed (that will keep you from sleeping on your side and aggravating the swelling), first two to three days, ice (or for me cold washcloths) several times a day. Oh, yes, the little neck travel pillow! I am still using that to sleep with on the wedge to keep my swelling down. Yep, you look like a corpse laying upright with the neck pillow and your hands folded across your chest, but you look like a "beautiful" corpse, with a kind of Tim Burton flair. To all the ladies still thinking and researching, I don't care what corner of the globe you are from, Dr. Harley is the best there is! Asheville is a pretty good place to spend a mini vacation those first few days of recovery. I stayed at the Baymont Inn and it was fine. Til later girls. Hopefully with some decent photos, I have a friend who is a professional photographer. My selfie days are over! LOL

Thank you all sweet ladies for your support and encouragement. I think I must be one of the lucky ones who doesn't even remember the actual surgery and I have had no pain following it at all. The after pictures are scary to me, but each day brought rapid improvements. Still can't understand why I don't smile in any of the after photos. I hate my picture being taken (always have my whole life, haha) ,so they all look like mug shots from the county jail, lol. A little hardness on each cheek and these eye stichs are driving me batty. They all come out Monday, thank the stars!!! Looking forward to what Dr. Harley has to say about his handiwork. Promise to look as happy in those photos as I do on the inside! That was how the whole journey began. I really wanted the outside to match the inside. I did the work with diet changes and a whopping 75 lb weight loss, but it took Dr. Harley's expertise to remedy the excess skin laxity around face and neck.

Very little bruising, is that normal?