Deep Plane Facelift/necklift, CO2 Laser - Dallas, TX

You were really red but from the pictures the scars you can hardly see. I'm sure the redness will get better and better. Your really tough Going through all this. I hope your totally pleased as time goes on. Keep sending your before pic and a current one. Let us know any problems you may have and how it's going. When all is healed I'm sure you will be beautiful.

Cindy and everyone thanks for sharing. It is so helpful. Has anyone awakened to find themselves sleeping on their side. I did this last night. Sure hope that didn't cause a problem. Sleeping is impossible. I don't sleep on my back, and right now it is impossible.

Cindy, I definitely had the feelings you wrote about - wondering what the heck you did, etc. if you look at my blog and the conversations there, I think you'll find that is pretty common. It's taken me months to get used to the person looking at me in the mirror and, at ( months post-op I am definitely still in the recovery process. Best wishes to you!

I am 23 days post op and I still have bouts of "who am I" or 'what have I done'. I am having more 'I can see me" moments but still not near where I need; I also had a nose job so I am in a total face identity crisis! I've seen 2 of my 3 kids, both who say I look fine and I still look like Mom. Neither thought I needed a face lift either, so I question their ability to honestly assess Mom. I always look like Mom to them no matter what I do :), that's a good thing i guess. So today I went into work for the first time just to get the first reactions over with. My first encounter I passed someone I knew in the hallway and was met with "Oh Hi, I didn't recognize you....%&%* Oh Great! Now I am paranoid! When I saw my 4 co-workers who knew I had a face lift, they said I looked good and still looked like me. I felt better.....until I went to the restroom and bypassed someone I knew in the doorway who said, "what happened to your face"? I was so self conscious, I blurted out "I had a face lift and continued walking. I told my co-worker and reassured me I looked fine and said they were probably asking because you have a bandage on your face covering the burn. Well duh@! I am sure the word will be out be next week and I have a pleura of curious visitors!.. Somebody, hand me my sign!!

Poppy, I go back to work as an NP in an ER Sunday night. I have only told 2 of my 4 children. (The two that live at home, lol) They are 16 and 13 yo girls. My 16 yo thinks I look a lot younger and knows that under the bruising and swelling a more refreshed "mom" is in there. My 13 yo just says, "You look fine, mom." I didn't even tell my other 2 children. They don't live at home and are 25 and 23 and would be upset over how much money I spent. I am "just mom" to them. They are busy with their own lives and just don't see me as a person. My little girls do because I have raised them on my own after divorce and so they are more in tune with "mom is a separate person" idea. I think the laser red face and all the bruising is what is throwing a lot of people in public at this point. It's kind of funny to watch them look at me and then, look away because they are not sure what to say...lol. Work, Sunday night, is going to be hard because ER folks are pretty straight talking in general. So, I expect a lot of comments and most of them damn honest. I realize that many of the negative comments come from people who are jealous that I can afford to spend the money on what is considered a "luxury. " Knowing that I try to be gracious and just say, "I did this for me. It's my turn at this point in my life." Then, I walk away. I think it helps that I had a tummy tuck in June and that increased my body confidence like nothing else. One positive outcome today is I got my braces off! I am not sure I mentioned that I had braces on since last December. I knew I was getting close, but ta-dah!!! Off...and I love it! Tomorrow is my partner's graduation from her Master's program and I am only 11 days post-op. So, in the morning will be me using a green concealer to try and offset the red skin from the laser and hopefully not looking like my favorite Martian...hahaha! The bruising on my neck looks like someone has tried to strangle me and I gonna try and cover it with makeup, but at this point, I am just trying to focus on the positives: No more turkey gobble and jowls. After the laser I don't have a wrinkle on my face. So, I am gonna do my best to look my best and If it doesn't turn out perfect, "Oh, well, bring on the wine!"

Wow! I can see the difference already Looking great!!!

Wow you look great! Sounds like you're making progress fast, hope you have TV/Internet again soon :)

I am on for tomorrow. I want to thank everyone for sharing. I will try to post tomorrow at some point.

Please keep us updated of your progress with pictures and any problems. Your doing great! So brave. It's a very scarry process.