Horrible Results - Canada

I returned from my one month check up yesterday. I have no bruising and my scars are thin pink lines healing well. I have no lumps or bumps but still numbness in front of the ears. I have a tiny bit of swelling under the chin, but nothing anyone would notice. I have had no pain and no depression. My surgeon was well pleased with my results, and me too. But here is the thing that has left me sleepless all night. When my PS lifted the skin away from my face he found no subcutaneous fat between the skin and the SMAS(muscle)..NONE.ZERO.NADA. In his 30+ years of practise he has never seen this before. He said he waited until now to tell me, immediately after surgery was not the time. I knew my face was wasting away before my very eyes this past two years. My own family pictures from the past three years prove this. I believe the laser just vaporized the fat, burnt it like bacon in the frying pan. My husband constructs bridges, he cuts through metal beams with a laser. Please don't tell me that lasers are harmless, I am living proof they can cause irreversible damage. I will need to get some fat transfers and hope that it works or my sagging will continue and my facelift will be short lived. I think in a few short years we will see TV ads....Are you a Victim of Cosmetic Laser Damage?????

Today is one week from my facelift surgery. I had a deep plane lift bottom 2/3 of face. I did not have my eyes done. My surgery was 5 hours. I was in hospital under general anethe. I awoke with no pain and was kept overnight. The PS removed the drain tubes (they had only a few drops in each) and I was fitted with a compression garment. I was orginally going to have fat transfer but I have so much damage from the cosmetic laser treatments that my Doctor felt it would be better to wait for my face to settle down to its new "natural fit" before we do that procedure. Sometimes it take 2 or 3 fat transfers before they "take". I was prescribed tylenol 3 but only took 1 pill every 5 to 6 hours for one day. I drink lots of fluids(no caffine) and pee a lot. I had no bruising on left and moderate on right side. Bruises on right are a lovely shade of yellow 1 week post-op. I do have some swelling but not bad. Yesterday, I had my stitches out and this was completely painless. My PS was very happy with my appearance and my mental state. I have the numbness on cheeks but none on neck or ears. My Doctor is very quiet, gentle and kind. He does not go overboard with too much information or procedures. I was given his cell phone number and his home number. He knows I really did my homework and have a huge stack of do's and don'ts. I was more than ready. I have a high tolerance for pain and have made it though life with a pretty upbeat attitude. The Fraxel disaster really shook me up though and the self loathing can be so devasting to your well being. I love the book "the Secret" Each day I read passages from it and my healing WILL be textbook. I will still have skin texture issues (orange peel texture, enlarged pores and fine wrinkles)and begin Retin A and Vitamin C serum in earnest today. My doctor wanted me to wait till after surgery to begin this regime. A light chemical peel may be another option. I will also use silicone sheets on the scars in front of my ears starting tomorrow. So all and all I feel great and I look forward to tomorrow and I am so thankful for today. Will update often.

I have had no improvement from the orange peel texture, wrinkling and collapse of the skin. The main area of damage is the central area, around the nose, lips and chin, although all the skin on my face has large pores now. It has been 15 months and if anything I feel it has gotten worse. I have used many skin care products $$$$$ and went to my Dr. Derm 6 times in the past year. No help there. I have been to several plastic surgeons and I have finally decided on a face lift and fat transfer. I know that the skin texture and pore size will not improve but it should help the sagging. I can't wait for the skin to repair itself. I do not have the luxury of youth as I am middle aged and post menopausal. I am a thin woman, never smoked and I eat very healthy, mostly organic. I am sure diet and exercise has NOT played a role in improving my skin. I believe the laser BURNT away the underlying dermis/fat. I am booked for surgery Jan24 in hospital. Never been too worried about most things but can say I am nervous, not so much about the pain but the outcome. I have read many reviews on this site (face lift) and feel I am prepared this time. My PS thinks I should try some light chemical peels after I have healed from the surgery. So I will keep you posted. Hoping I learn how to post some pictures so I can share with you all. Hey, my vacation for this year is one day at the hospital and probably a couple of months as a shut-in in my own home. But then again I haven't been out much in the past year. Oh crap!