Facelift with Dr. Portuese in Seattle WA

I'm scheduled for a face and neck lift with Dr. Portuese next Monday 3/29. I'm excited but very nervous. I'm a private person, so I'm not sure I'll be posting pictures however I wanted to document the process for future patients. This site has been valuable to me for my own research, so I'm paying it forward.
The consultation was virtual, which has pros and cons. I had met Dr. Portuese in person a few years back when doing preliminary research on a facelift and rhinoplasty. I wasn't quite ready then, but now I'm 51 and it's time. I found Dr. Portuese to be very professional and thorough back then, as well as when we did the new consultation last month.
The patient care coordinator, Janet, has been helpful and responsive to my questions and concerns - and I've had a lot of them!
The pre-op appointment was also virtual. The nurse, Pam, was thorough and patient with me and my questions.
The scheduling and payment process was a breeze.
I am just prepping and planning for the big day and my two weeks (or so) of recovery now.
Wish me luck!

I finally did it!
Bottom line: It was a good day and easier than expected!
For those of you who want a lengthy detailed update, here you go:
Surgery visit was a bit of a whirlwind. Dr. Portuese's office asked if I could come early because of a last minute schedule shuffle due to an issue with the first patient. I was happy to accommodate. Pre-op pictures were taken by Jamie and Janet had forms for me to sign. Friendly, upbeat, and efficient without feeling rushed.
Then Janet ushered me into the surgical suite (which is down the hall from their office), where I changed into a gown from the waist up and had fairly quick consultations with the nurse Pam, then Dr. Portuese, then the anesthesiologist Dr. Larson. (Note: these were quick consultations because I already had most of my questions answered in earlier conversations.) Dr. Larson showed me into the surgery room and before I knew it I was on the operating table with nurses Pam and Noel prepping me, plus Dr. Larson putting in the IV all at the same time. Before long I was off to sleep. I woke up to Angela telling me I was out of surgery and that everything went well. My eyes had some sort of gel in them so I had trouble seeing. I remember having a bit of a headache and my throat was sore. She gave me saltines and coca-cola because it was likely I was going through caffeine withdrawal. She may have given me pain pills but I was too groggy to remember.
I hired a professional caregiver for the first night, so she picked me up from surgery and took me home. She has been great! Bringing me soft foods and administering pain pills. She strips and empties my drains and makes me get up every hour or so to prevent blood clots. She monitors me closely for signs of hematomas. I definitely recommend hiring someone who knows the ropes to help you out on the first night if you are able to do that. She also chatted with me quite a bit, which helped immensely to distract me from the discomfort.
Speaking of discomfort...I'm not in much pain right now. Honestly. Sure, it doesn't feel good, definitely uncomfortable, but I expected much worse. My neck feels tight, but not so awful that I feel panicked or have trouble swallowing. My neck also feels sore. I'm bruised, mostly in my neck. The drains are kind of gross, and I was only expecting them under my neck; I wasn't expecting the ones by my temples. When my caregiver strips the drains, I can feel it in my neck under my ears. Weird pinchy or stinging sensations. My throat is still a little sore, and I have a bit of a rough, sore spot on my top lip, presumably from the general anesthesia.
I am definitely woozy and unstable when I get up and try to walk around. I am not sure if it's from the narcotic painkiller or leftover from the general anesthesia. I'm holding on the to walls a little to prevent falling on my freshly renewed face.
Dr. Portuese called me at 9pm to check in. He asked specific questions of my caregiver, probably asking about signs of swelling, bleeding, and pain management. He was lighthearted and kind when I spoke to him. All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better surgery day.
Next up - post op drain removal appointment. I'm very much looking forward to not having drains but I'm not looking forward to getting them removed. I am expecting day 2 post op to be a little worse for pain and swelling, but I'm hoping that the absence of drains will balance out the overall day.

Post op was quick and easy. Drains were removed and it didn’t hurt much. Just a little stinging sensation. Dr. Portuese reiterated that surgery went well, very routine, nothing unusual, no complications thus far and he expects great results. The swelling is worse tonight for sure. I’ve switched to Tylenol since the other painkillers were making me too groggy and weird. Hope to sleep tonight finally.