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POSTED UNDER CO2 Laser Reviews

61 Desperately Seeking the Fountain of Youth! Delray Beach, FL

UPDATED FROM runningklein
18 days post

. Pics at Doctor's office- 2 weeks 3 days post op

runningklein
$20,000
Hello everyone! Sorry it's been a while... Been working on a project during my recovery that has taken up a lot of my time. Sorry but I'm a bit tired ????????????in these pics and not smiling!
I am feeling more energetic every day, and hopefully I can start back to excercising next week- YAY! Not working out at all over the past 2 weeks has made me feel lethargic and very restless to be active again????
I have been able to get out and do a few things over the past few days, which has really improved my frame of mind. Being inside a lot can do a head trip on independent people like myself!
The doctor thinks I am doing very well with my progress so far, and maybe I'm just impatient, but I didn't know my head, ears, and chin would still be numb at this point. Apparently it can take several months or longer for these to have normal feeling again.. This I didn't realize- ugh! It is not fun to trying to style my hair right now, since it feels like the hair on tops and sides of my head is sitting on top of a helmet that is tightly attached to my skull. I also think my hair is thinning or maybe I am losing some of it now? I just hope thes things are just the temporary after effects of everything my face went through! If anyone has any experience with this numbness ( must be due to the brow lift) please let me know if this is truly all normal? I can handle this right now, but long term I would not be pleased.
I am very happy though, when I look at myself in the mirror now, and realize how much better I look without all those lines, bags and sags! The before and after pics are definitely astonishing. When Dr. Westine showed me my "before" pics again on the BIG SCREEN in his office, ???? I remembered why I had these procedure done!
I just have to trust that All's well that ends well!

Again, many thanks and much appreciation to all the Realself women that have reached out to give me their comments and advice as I continue down this long and winding road!????????

runningklein's provider

John G. Westine, MD

John G. Westine, MD

Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

4.9 | 76 Reviews
PROFILE

Replies (5)

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March 19, 2016
I got your text when I was at work and apologize for for forgetting about it. Between work and remodeling my master bath my brain stopped working I'm so, so sorry. My head felt really tight too. Give it 3 or 4 months. Hated blow drying my hair!
March 20, 2016
You are progressing well and look FABULOUS! Hopefully your staples are gone by now. The numbness really does stink big time, but it gets better over time, little by little. I only had a brow lift and upper.lower bleph, so it is definitely the brow lift. My scalp would itch but it felt like I wasn't scratching it and it drove me nuts for awhile. But then one day, you wake up and then it's lunchtime before you realize it hasn't been bothering you. Mine kind of came and went for awhile, but I promise, it does get better. Concentrate on your pretty new face for now :)
March 27, 2016
You look terrific for 2.5 wks. Smooth and pretty and not pulled. Lucky you. Amazing.
March 28, 2016
We had our surgeries on same day!!! Read my progress as we'll :)))
July 19, 2016
Been 4 months since you updated your review. A lot of healing should have taken place since 18 days post op......are you doing ok and are you satisfied with your results?
UPDATED FROM runningklein
9 days post

Day 9 post op

runningklein
Sorry, but I accidentally posted the pics, and then couldn't figure out how to go back and put in my update! Last few days have been a series of ups and downs, and lots of hoping that the swelling and numbness starts to diminish so I can feel comfortable enough to venture out on an errand or two over the next few days! I have a case of Cabin fever big time! I did drive with my daughter today to the local fish market, but I waited in the car while she bought the fish! It's hard to have to be patient as the world keeps turning!

I just feel like one side of my face is definitely not moving along at the same pace as the other....the one side still looks like it has that "surgery look," while the other side is ready to see the world! I wonder if many other Realself women have had this experience and that both sides will match up very soon!?
I still have a lot more stitches to get out over the next few days. I'm looking forward to this! I cannot thoroughly wash my hair with all the staples in the head, so it's always matted down! ugh! It is too painful to try to brush through my hair now, so.... Until the stitches come out, I have these BAD HAIR pics!
The ears, head and neck are still numb, which I thought would be about gone by now. As long as I know it's temporary, I can deal with it... But I DO need the face to even out so I can feel comfortable about things.
The weather, of course, has been just perfect, making it doubly hard to be inside. If I had the choice again, I would recuperate during the winter months...mentally Much easier for a person that enjoys being outdoors!
Any suggestions or advice any of you have is always welcomed and appreciated! I love all your comments... So very helpful!

Replies (5)

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March 10, 2016
The numbness may last a year or more in some spots. The staples are awful....you'll be so happy when there removed and you can actually wash your hair! Swelling in my case lasted for about 6-8 months. I wish some of the swelling was my final result....loved the fullness. Your face will even out, patience....rest.... {{{ Hug }}}
March 10, 2016
Hmmm... Patience and rest, Joanne? Two things that are definitely NOT my strongest suits!! I actually did wake up this morning and feel like me, even if temporarily, so I am going to go ALL BY MYSELF To Publix for my Rx pf Valtrex for one spot on side of my mouth that hasn't healed up yet
March 10, 2016
Wow, you have to be over the moon happy! Your results are quite amazing. I hope your healing and recovery maintain this kind of speed, hard to believe how great you look at four days.
March 10, 2016
I'm sorry, I misread, even for none days you are quite stunning.
March 10, 2016
ugh! nine
March 10, 2016
Well, no matter how many days, thanks for the compliment and support Crissy!! It means a lot to me to have so many others helping me keep my chin up ( lol!) and continue thinking positively!
March 11, 2016
I am so nervous as my date is quickly approaching, but when I see these pics and some of the amazing results on this site I feel a whole lot better. Again, your results are beautiful. Have a restful and enjoyable weekend, and thank you so much for posting here.
March 10, 2016
Aren't the staples the worst! When those are out and you can wash your hair properly, you will feel like a million bucks! It is hard to be stuck inside when it's nice. I did mine in the middle of a Chicago winter when it's easy to hibernate. But once those staples are gone, you'll be doing your happy dance. Hang in there!
March 10, 2016
Yes Cassy, the staples are THE WORST!!! It's like having an entire HEADBAND made of staples in one's head! I am PRAYING THAT TOMORROW I WILL BE GETTING THE STAPLES OUT OF MY HEAD! I will never again take for granted the wonderful feeling of having freshly washed, able to make look decent, hair!!!! Yippee!!! And yes, I will be doing my happy dance... Hmmmm... Ever so gently though!!! I don't want to swell up any further!
Yes,if there is EVER a next time I'm coming to Chicago to hibernate!!! Great idea!!
March 10, 2016
Your healing beautifully :). It stinks that we don't heal symmetrically but nobody ever does...hang in there n know that there's no perfect time of year esp living in south Florida though I will tell u the snow birds r keeping our stores n restaurants super packed so maybe u picked the perfect time to heal:):)
March 10, 2016
Thanks so, so much for reminding me about our "seasonal intruders" as we like to call them! Yep! They do make going anywhere here in Palm beach county sometimes a mission impossible... Gotta have a whole "STRATEGY" planned on when to do anything around here from October till may, right?? lol!
Thanks for confirming that this beauty and the beast difference in the two sides of my face are normal!
I appreciate all the support and understanding!
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March 13, 2016
you look you are doing very well for being so early in the stage did you have full face C 02 ?
March 18, 2016
Yep, I did have the full face C O2, but only let him do the level 1 at 65%... Perhaps I should have done more, but I didn't want to risk hypo pigmentation!
UPDATED FROM runningklein
9 days post

Day 9 post op

runningklein
Getting Better! As always, Thanks for everyone's support :)

Replies (0)