61 and Having Fun! Costa Rica, CR

Thank you so much, I'll be following you too!! What day are you scheduled to leave Costa Rica? I'm there until the 13th of April. I'm so excited for both of us!!

I am staying 21 days. Will be arriving on the 8th and leaving on the 29th. Just missing you!

Awesome!! Where will you be staying?

Vedeza

I've heard it's amazing. I opted for Casa Mercedes. It's one of the places that Dr. Lev recommends.

Thanks Connie, I appreciate your support!!!

Hi Janet! We have a lot in common!! I've spent many years living in Eastern Oklahoma and spending weekend skiing on Tenkiller Lake, and laying for hours in the sun. We never used sunscreen, I don't think they had it back then! I was born in Arizona and spent years trailriding and only in the last few years wearing a sunvisor and sunscreen! Yikes, I'm lucky I haven't gotten skin cancer!! What is a composite face lift? I e never heard of it. Have you posted pics? Tanya

Hi Tany, What a coincidence! I absolutely love Tenkiller Lake - so clear and beautiful surroundings! We haven't been there in a long time, but I have been skiing and camping at that lake, too. Did you ever float the Illinois in a canoe?
Geez - don't really know how to explain a composite face lift except that from what I've read it is a bit more complicated and there is a SMAS elevation done, too. I don't really know what I'm talking about, though! LOL My friend just wrote down most of what the surgeon said, but he didn't do a lot of explaining so I have done reading on my own. From what I've read, it takes longer to perform and there is a little longer recovery period. I didn't like the sound of that, but I am going to trust the reviews I've read about him and one gal whom I have spoken with that used him for the composite lift. I have decided in past couple of days I am not going to have the C02 laser resurfacing of my full face until next December. Besides it being so much injury to the face to recover from - which scares me to death - I have four grandsons who will be at our house all summer. We put in a pool last summer so I will need to be out there with them supervising and swimming, too. You probably know that after laser resurfacing or chemical peels, etc. you have to stay out of the sun for a few months. The new skin growing back is very susceptible to sun damage. I honestly can't believe I'm doing any of this, but I can't stand this wrinkled sagging skin any longer and the prospects of it getting worse just makes me cringe! My husband thinks I've lost my mind and that I'm vain, but, oh, well...all I can say is, thank goodness there is something that can be done for us - right!?
I have not posted pictures yet because I'm not ready to start blogging that much. I think it may make me a little more anxious and definitely make me feel obligated to make a jillion replies. I want to be helpful in anyway I can, but I don't have that much helpful to say right now. I do wish you all the luck in the world! You are so fortunate to get to go to a well-known (he is well-known?) surgeon and recuperate in paradise! God bless and let's keep in touch!!

Tanya, I sure wish I had re-read what I wrote before submitting it. I didn't realize I misspelled your name! ;)

Hi Janet, I didn't even notice that you misspelled my name! I do that often by accidentally dropping the a at the end. Lol.
Yes we have taken canoes down the Illinois!! We did it with my mom and her husband and had a blast!! Wow, small world!!
I've thought about the co2 laser resurfacing but it looks so painful! I've had a fractional and an erbium laser treatment done and wow, it was extremely painful for a couple of days. I saw minimal results but I went to the National Laser Institute in Scottsdale, a teaching facility and I'm wondering if the treatment they do is as strong or intense as a medical office. I don't know, I have some before and immediately after pics from it but there is a lot of redness and swelling which makes the skin looks less wrinkled. As soon as the swelling goes down the wrinkles come back but maybe not quite as bad.
I wish you the best of luck with your surgery in May and yes, let's keep in touch!! I'll be back in Oklahome probably in late April or May to help my mom. She lives in Roland. Have a great day!! Hugs, TanyA

I just found Roland on the map. It's 3 hours from where I live in El Reno, right off of I-40. If possible, I would love to meet you! We can keep in touch and maybe it can happen.

That would be awesome!! I haven't been back in a few years but I plan oncoming out in late spring or early summer so I'll let you know when. I might be flying out and driving my mom back her so we will be taking I-40.

Hoping we stay in touch! I imagine you're getting excited and anxious as your transformation is coming up quickly! Of course, saying that makes me realize how fast time is going and I'll soon be getting the years turned back on my face! OMG! This is going to be fun!!! LOL

Hey girl!! I have t been on here in awhile but yes, I am getting excited!! I think I'm a little overwhelmed too when I think that this is really going to happen. It was always a dream but now it's going to be a reality!! I'm excited to follow your journey too, and absolutely we must stay j. Touch!! Hugs, Tanya

Hey Tanya! I have been "making" myself a little nervous lately so decided to make an appointment with my surgeon. I kinda consider this major surgery so I want to see him face to face again. After I had my initial consultation with him, he left the room and I talked to my friend and Dr. Wayne's booking assistant about which route I wanted to take - based on the doctor's recommendations. I have decided against having the C02 laser at the same time as the neck/face/lower bleph/fat transfer procedures. I've read it can be too much for an already compromised face. It totally makes sense plus I cannot hide from the sun all summer long. I have four grandsons and a pool I insisted on having installed in our backyard last spring, so I have to be out in the yard and in the pool a lot this summer. I've read the new skin that comes back after having it "burned" off by a laser is very sensitive to the sun and I don't want to ruin a costly procedure that results in a painful and rather lengthy recovery. I know I will be talking to my doc two weeks before the surgery, but I need some peace of mind now that this doctor is as caring and knowledgeable as reviews I have read. Only getting to see him for 15 minutes four months before surgery isn't working for me. My appointment is March 23rd...six days before you leave for Costa Rica! I wish I were going with you!! You are going to a beautiful place, using a very reputable doctor and paying about a third of what I am going to pay. Oh well, I really do try to stay positive and tell myself (and I mostly believe it) everything is going to work out just fine! It's just money and I do have some reserves, so, I'm moving forward positively! I'm going to post some pictures of my face around two months prior to my surgery. We are going to Colorado March 11 and return the 17th so it will likely be March 19 or 20. My surgery is May 16. Sorry for the long post! Thanks for being in touch again! Hugs back to YOU! jan

Thank you do much!!

So much, lol

Thinking of you!

Thanks Vee!! I'm here now at Casa Mercedes and she is a real sweetheart!!

Thanks Mandy!!