POSTED UNDER Neck Lift REVIEWS
47 Years Old, Neck Lift, Fat Transfers and Laser Resurfacing Under Eyes and Around Mouth. - Denver, CO
ORIGINAL POST
My neck had that turkey wobble and my face had...
Braxton06February 11, 2015
$12,500
My neck had that turkey wobble and my face had gotten very hollow. As well as lots of fine lines around my mouth and under my eyes. PS called it crepey skin. I wanted a more youthful appearance. Currently I am not very happy with the result. I have the platysmal cords now which I did not have before. I can feel the suture lines in my checks and my left eye waters continuously. PS said to go see my Optometrist, which is crazy since this is a result of the surgery. However I am going today because I cannot function with tears pouring out of my eye. PS keeps saying I have to give it time that the banding in my neck will go away and that the suture lines will ease as they loosen. I don't think I look any better than before the surgery -just traded one issue for another.
Replies (2)
February 20, 2015
Ok --- first I was wondering if you could take your photos in better light since very dark on web. The other thing I wanted to say since you live in Denver my left eye was not only painful - but constantly watering so I could not wear my contacts -- not happy!! But here is my suggestion on the eye problem since mine is now 90% better -- Founders Parkway Vision Center in Castle Rock. They are only two offices through-out denver (I believe) that carry the Lipiflow machine. The tear glands that were destroyed - they are gone -- but you have some that might just be clogged and this machine will suck out the junk so the eye starts producing tears again. Does that make sense. Now this is the last resort - first probably medication - and eye drops --- but I got tired of all that crap and went for the machine. It costs 800.00 per eye -- only my left eye was damaged and not covered by insurance. But, please go see them and just say Wendy sent me - same problem. I believe it was brought about by so many people have dry eye symptoms --- but for us that never had it until surgery --- it was a blessing.
UPDATED FROM Braxton06
1 month post
One week update
Braxton06February 16, 2015
I am now 8 weeks post op. Not much improvement that I can see on my neck Pictures are posted below. I am very depressed about the result. I can also still see and feel the sutures in my checks. eye watering is less after starting the use of gel drops every hour but left eye still feels like there is something in it. Due to the tightness in my cheeks, neck and jaw I cannot smile normally and its hard to eat as my mouth doesn't open very wide. I have a Dr. appt on Thursday so we will see what they have to say.
Replies (3)
February 20, 2015
Most likely you have a scratched cornea due to not producing tears ----
February 20, 2015
I was aware of tightness, every waking minute until I got to 9 1/2 weeks. Even today at 5 months I feel a bit left. I love the tightness of the muscles in my neck and lower face. If your surgeons got the muscles right, maybe a simple skin revision might do the trick.
UPDATED FROM Braxton06
1 month post
8 weeks today
Braxton06February 23, 2015
Ok last week was 7 weeks today is 8 weeks post op. I did go to the eye Dr. She said my eye was massively dry so I spent the last 10 days putting artificial tears in my eye's - sometimes every 20 minutes. It is better but its been brutal.
I go see my PS on Friday. I sent her an email with updated pictures and concerns. I have uploaded pics from today and one from 2-19. No change that I can see. Its so lumpy and bumpy under my neck I am so bummed and it looks terrible. Here are the questions I sent to my Dr.
As you can see I have very deep cording under my neck. It is not getting better with massage. Is this normal? From what I have researched it should be better than this 7 1/2 weeks out. If this is not normal how do we correct it?
Some other concerns are:
• I can see and feel the sutures under my skin on my cheeks
o Checks are hard where the sutures are – are they dissolvable sutures? If not, how does this go away on its own
? My cheeks are lumpy and bumpy where the sutures are
o Feels like I still have a very tight compression bandage around my neck, cheeks and head
? Makes it difficult to turn my head
o I am still unable to smile
o Eating is hard as my mouth won’t open all the way and when I chew I feel like my jaw is going to snap shut due to the tightness
I go see my PS on Friday. I sent her an email with updated pictures and concerns. I have uploaded pics from today and one from 2-19. No change that I can see. Its so lumpy and bumpy under my neck I am so bummed and it looks terrible. Here are the questions I sent to my Dr.
As you can see I have very deep cording under my neck. It is not getting better with massage. Is this normal? From what I have researched it should be better than this 7 1/2 weeks out. If this is not normal how do we correct it?
Some other concerns are:
• I can see and feel the sutures under my skin on my cheeks
o Checks are hard where the sutures are – are they dissolvable sutures? If not, how does this go away on its own
? My cheeks are lumpy and bumpy where the sutures are
o Feels like I still have a very tight compression bandage around my neck, cheeks and head
? Makes it difficult to turn my head
o I am still unable to smile
o Eating is hard as my mouth won’t open all the way and when I chew I feel like my jaw is going to snap shut due to the tightness
Replies (3)
February 24, 2015
You know we pour our heart out on this web page and it's like I want to say something but I just don't know what to say --- my first thoughts would probably be like most -- the eye --- pain in the butt --- and slightly mad that this happened -- next i felt like I had a hockey helmet on my head - I can not tell you how much I hated that feeling and I swear I would go nuts so somehow had to divert my mind --- if you had fat injections around the mouth - don't expect to smile for 5 months and even then it may look weird -- I know we all say this takes patience and it does --- under my neck is still tight - BUT i was always able to move head side to side and up and down and eat - just not smile. It's scary - but even if you wanted corrections it would have to be at least a year down the road because that is really when we can exactly see what is liked and what is not liked.
February 24, 2015
You are right MM.. it is really scary. I don't think PS's realize how scary it is for us and I don't feel like the expectations are set appropriately. I hate the tight feeling and being unable to smile. I feel like my face is made of stone. How far out are you from your procedure? 8 weeks already feels like a life time.
February 24, 2015
I am over a year now - and it gets better and better --- things just take a while to calm down -- the good news is I forgot I couldn't open my mouth either - just remember sending a video to my sister and saying "this is as far as I can open my mouth" it was barely open at all !! You will feel so much better in 3 months but still very swollen under the chin area and numb --- I think all surgeons want everything to be picture perfect - come in get sutures removed -- really no complaints - but when I complained about my left eye --- some what of a different tone -- and I too complained about my smile and he said "what's wrong with it" Well, I can't smile - "sure you can" no I can't --- well it will come but don't try to force some weird smile - let it run it's course and I did and he was right! I had shakes from McDonalds -- :)
Thank you very much for sharing your experience on RealSelf!