POSTED UNDER Facelift Reviews
Facelift in Chicago - Chicago, IL
UPDATED FROM Cynthiaald
3 months post
Facelift in Chicago
$20,000
Now three months and 1 week after surgery. I can say that my face is completely free of swelling and pretty settled. Still have some issues with neck. Looks good, but there are sutures down behind ears that are not absorbing and so neck is very tight and was pretty uncomfortable. But Dr. Dayan gave me some cortisone and botox shots along the suture line and it really helped. Neck still tight from sutures, but not as uncomfortable. Some people take a longer time, and I'm one of them. But really happy with my face. When this part is over I will be a very happy camper. Waiting for that 4-6 month period that everyone raves about. So happy to be this far along. Feel rejuvenated. Love to go shopping and feel great in new clothes (although we've been going out more now that I'm really out and about and the restaurant food is not a good thing!).
Cynthiaald's provider
UPDATED FROM Cynthiaald
2 months post
Facelift in Chicago
Newest pic at 10 weeks. Still having some issues with tightness behind ears down into neck. Restricted range of motion and discomfort of lower ears, but getting better. Takes a bit longer than I thought. Oh to be a really fast healer!
Replies (5)
I am also now at nearly 9 weeks post op and have the same thing with behind my ears and down into my neck. And the band up through the middle of my neck is still so tight. My incisions are still quite tender and I am still putting off getting my hair highlighted as I can't bear to think of someone getting too rough with the back of the neck. But....I can deal with it all. Its certainly bearable. And....you look absolutely wonderful!!
I can actually feel a suture with my finger on both sides from behind the ear heading down into the neck. I believe my swelling has subsided and it is the suture that is still tight and not yet absorbed. BUT I WISH IT WOULD HURRY. Can't wait to wake up with no ear or neck pain. I'm wondering if sleeping on my ears is causing it to take longer--but I can't sleep on my back. So, time will tell. Hope yours gets better soon.
You Look Great!!!!!
AZ
You look terrific and very natural!! I'm in the "average speed healer" group with you... starting to get a bit of feeling back in my right earlobe... but may be close to sleeping on a regular pillow (instead of the travel pillow to take pressure off the ear) again.
You look great and very natural. You are 2 weeks ahead of me, I never realised full recovery would take so long. But it really is worth it. Bit of an emotional roller coaster though isn't it?
Hang in there --- really month four is the best!!!
UPDATED FROM Cynthiaald
1 month post
facelift in chicago
Wow ladies. Here's what I'm figuring out at 5 weeks. When I first had surgery I was looking for big reduced swelling changes in days. After a couple of weeks, I was looking for big changes in a week. Now, with reality setting in, I am hoping to improve noticeably in a month.
My linebacker neck and face sides (by ears) just won't give it up. Had another massage yesterday and don't see or feel any changes. Biggest pain is the neck. So tight still, just barely functional. But it looks pretty good. Saw Doctor yesterday and they reassured me that all this hard tissue will soften and reduce. So looking forward to that. But so happy to be so far on this side. And so helpful to read about all of my other "friends" on realself who are experiencing the same thing. We are not alone. We are not freaks who do no heal properly. We are just too impatient. Best to you all.
My linebacker neck and face sides (by ears) just won't give it up. Had another massage yesterday and don't see or feel any changes. Biggest pain is the neck. So tight still, just barely functional. But it looks pretty good. Saw Doctor yesterday and they reassured me that all this hard tissue will soften and reduce. So looking forward to that. But so happy to be so far on this side. And so helpful to read about all of my other "friends" on realself who are experiencing the same thing. We are not alone. We are not freaks who do no heal properly. We are just too impatient. Best to you all.
Replies (5)
You are looking great. Like you I am impatient for the swelling/firmness to subside.
Ok - I am in month four --- jawline still numb - top of ears still numb --- weird when turn head do to neck being tight -- small amount of swelling under chin -- very small! But chin area now soft which makes it easier to massage. You are healing normally. Hang in there
You're looking wonderful! Just like you, I'm still struggling (at 7 weeks) with swelling and a stif/tight neck......which I thought would all be over by now. But it's slowly getting better (as everyone promises!) I find massage really helps - as does wearing my chin strap for a few hours each day and loosely at night. So good to have everyone's support. Hope your healing continues so well!
Saw your latest post. Also at 7.5 weeks and finding my neck tightness really tough to handle. You are the only one I have seen with similar issues at the same time. Both sides are still very tight and pulling on my earlobes. And swelling under chin.Never have a moment of "normalness" but getting more used to it. But that doesn't make it acceptable. Is yours any better? I wonder if I am just the slowest healer in the world, and/or what is actually causing this. Dr. says it will go away, but it hasn't changed at all in about 2.5 weeks. I went for massage 3 times. The last two times didn't really help, and made my ears much more sore, so that's not a good tradeoff to me. I massage in the shower with the warm water, but not noticing any difference. My eyes healed so quickly, as well as the sutures around the ears and head, but this is really tough to handle. Are you any better. Any other tips? I see Dr. next week for an update, but I know there's really nothing he can do. Makes you wonder if there are some people (me, specifically) that never get over this? I would like to go out and enjoy my new face! This is such a helpful forum. I know I'm not alone, even though I wish you weren't in the same boat with me.
AZ
I'm in the boat too! :) Tomorrow will be 7 weeks for me and things still feel quite tight, with no very visible improvement in the last 3-4 weeks. I remind myself that tight is what I paid for. I can turn my head to 90 degrees each side but I feel it when I do so. I can only look up about 30 degrees but I honestly have not tried to increase my range of motion much in that direction since neck and under chin was where I wanted things tightened the most so I don't want it to get loose. (It is awkward to drink out of a soda can or water bottle that is less than half full though!!) One funny thing is that as the numbness is gradually receding, I think I am more aware of the "tight" feeling. Probably it was there all along but masked by the numbness. And still I have a fair amount of swelling from the Adam's apple to the chin scar. I'm reminded of a comment from Westy that she came to the point of "I've enjoyed this enough now" and I sure feel that way sometimes! But I know she got past that and we will too. I am still trying to keep sodium low and drink lots of water, still sleeping at a slight angle (could of pillows) with the face bra... lately I have been doing more moisturizer on my neck and I think that helps some. I think we are probably on the "average healing time" track rather than the fast track (see Marathon Mom's comment below) but we will get there!! Remember it does look better from the outside than it feels to us from the inside, and eventually it will feel good from the inside too.... :)
Hi to you - and to AtoZ (below).......I'm now at 8.5 weeks and making SLOW progress. I'm certainly worrying less that something is going wrong and accepting that the healing is normal. Certainly true what AtoZ says - I really do think that as the numbness recedes (very slowly, I'm still numb about 2 fingers in from my ears) the 'tightness' and swelling does feel different but isn't necessarily worse. My neck and jaw are definitely looser and today I realised I can open my mouth really wide (enough to go to the dentist)! The BIG negative for me is salt and I'll post more about that in a few days....I'm only now getting on top of understanding that it's not just added salt (easy to avoid) but hidden salt in so many foods. Very strict on this now and it helps hugely. Another thing that I realised is that the healing happens in this order: bruising, scars, major swelling, residual swelling/tighness. The last one takes the longest by far and is so unexpected AND uncomfortable. Do remember it gets better.....and feels worse to us, not noticeable to others (although a bit of sympathy would be nice :-) Take care, you look wonderful in your photos - keep posting!
Everything you say is so true - and helpful. See my comment above too. Hope you're progressing well :-) Yes, - 'I've enjoyed this enough now'....lovely!
Thanks for the support. Very helpful!
Wow yes, agreed with all here,, you look sensational! If you are having issues it does not show in the photo!
YOU LOOK INCREDIBLE!
Replies (5)