Post Divorce Restoration

I have recently divorced. Life now is wonderful and i am looking forward to many happy years. But was it the stress of the marriage? It seemed that suddenly I was looking much older, my jawline had crumbled, my neck was sagging, my mouth lines made me look angry. I thought how nice it would be to get a facelift. I had lost twenty years and i wanted some of it back! I did my research, saw the doctor, and scheduled the procedure for two weeks later.

That took place just nine days ago. (3/15)
My goal was just to look a little younger. Also, the doctor suggested that I have my chin reduced. I was thrilled about that suggestion because my chin was too long and I'd always disliked it.

While I waited for surgery, I took arnica Montana and large doses of vitamin C. My doctor was an older man, well established, who had been listed as a super doctor in Texas Monthly.

The surgery was on a friday. It didn't hurt much, except for that first day when I woke up. I got my bandage taken off the next day and I had almost no bruising thanks to the arnica, which I was taking in pill form and also applying to my face. The doctor told me that the surgery had gone very well and that I would be pleased. I had had face and neck lift with fat injections and chin reduction.

The very next day I felt well enough to go see my son perform. I'm sure I looked terrible! By the third day, the swelling kicked in. Third and forth days were hard, I looked like an Eskimo, my face was broad and swollen. I was focusing only on recovery. Sleeping, taking medicine, taking arnica, Bromelain and enormous doses of vitamin C. By the fifth day the swelling reversed. My only problem is the lump on my right side below my ear, which my doctor said was my lymph gland fluid. He said it would resolve. With each day, I get better. The swelling goes down a little more, the last of the bruising clears up. Now it is Sunday night, the ninth day, and I look almost normal. My energy increases everyday. I still have some swelling around my jawline and under my chin. I am sure my appearance will continue to improve. I could go back to work early tomorrow, but I'd rather take it easy and continue focusing on recovery.

I'm thinking of calling my Chinese doctor and asking him if acupuncture would help me with my lymph drainage.
I am supposed to go back to work on Thursday. (In four days) I have a very gossipy office, and I'm hoping to slip back into my cubicle without creating a stir.
What do I wish I had known? Only that vitamin K is also recommended and I never got around to getting it. Or if there had been any way to prevent this lymph-related lump, I would've like to have done it.
It is too early to say if it will change my life. However it is already abundantly clear that I am going to look much prettier.

Well, it's day eleven, everything is fine except a funny ridge on my right side, below my ear and along my jaw. Several people have posted about it, so I know it is common. My doctor said it was the lymphatic fluids that couldn't drain because my neck was so tight. He told me to keep my head up and massage it.

Yesterday I went to see my Chinese doctor and asked him to help with general healing, nerve regeneration, lymphatic drainage, and swelling. These are things that would fit well with acupuncture. He put in the needles and an odd sensation started. It felt like electrical currents were gently streaming from the outer corners of my eyes down the sides of my face. It felt very relieving, like the fluids in my outer face and under my jaw were draining away. When the hour was over, I was disappointed to reach up and feel that I wasn't magically completely healed. But, the secondary ridge below the first one in my right side was gone and everything was softer, not so rock hard a stiff. The doctor sent me home with some herbal medication. Every time I drink the medicinal tea, the sensation of energy flowing down my face restarts. The swelling above my jaw on my face is now gone. I am softer below the jaw, but the ridge remains. I hope the rest of it resolves soon!

Well day eleven I had a bit of a relapse. I was feeling so good I decided to go to the mall to buy a hat. I walked from the parking lot and through the mall for about an hour. The mall was a downer. In the bright lights of Nordstroms, I didnt look so great. They had some nice hats - for $200.00! By the time I got home I realized that I didn't feel well. Sickly tired. I forced myself to nap. But bored and stir crazy, I went out again. Found two nice hats at Backwoods. Then feeling optimistic, I went to renew my gym membership. I noticed a few people looking at me as I walked out. When I got home I saw that a large bruise had blossomed on my face. Sweeping across my cheek bone. Looked like I'd been whacked by my abusive boyfriend. I was planning on going back to work tomorrow, but I don't think I am ready. I did not expect for bruises to reappear! I researched it a bit and people said it had happened to them, too, when they started moving too much too soon.