Facelift scars from hell - raised, wide, large, puffy, and painful

This is not a bash session. I’m here to shed light on the risk involved with electing to have surgery. I underwent s-lift surgery in May 2022. I considered noninvasive options, but I wanted something more permanent. 7 months post op, my scars resemble something from a horror film. They are raised, wide, large, puffy, and painful. My life is not the same. I have to wear long thick wigs to completely cover my lateral face. No scar cream, strips, or remedy on this planet has help me. I cannot go swimming because I’m self conscious. If the wind blows my hair back, I’m self conscious. I can never wear my hair in a ponytail. What hurts the most…my daughter cried and asked “mama what happened to your face?” A decision to enhance my look, has changed my life for the worst. Dr. Steckler did briefly examine my scars and stated that I will need scar revision. I’m sure that’ll cost thousands as I will NOT have it done by him!! Understand the decision that you’re making when you allow ANYONE to cut on your face!!! I am planning to post pictures in May 2023 as that will be my surgery anniversary.

After visiting a board certified facial plastic surgeon, I’ve been informed that my scars are keloids. However, I don’t have keloid skin. I’ve had multiple surgeries, piercings, etc! No large ugly scars present elsewhere on my body! I was informed by a board certified reconstructive facial surgeon that I indeed have a botched facelift. He deemed it botched due to the “one size fits all” approach that Dr. Steckler used to close my incisions. Upon close examination, I think it’s a mixture of both. Bad scars, one side of may face is pulled tighter than the other, one side is slightly higher up, rippling of skin, etc. To date, I’ve received keloid injections with no changes present. I am terrified to even allow anyone else to touch my face at this point. So basically I’m just doing what I can to cover the scars & move forward with life. Again, I think Dr. Steckler is a nice person. I do often recount the “problem visit” that I made 30 days after my procedure. I knew my scars were not healing properly after following all the guidelines. He did an examination and assured me that I was fine and my scars needed time to heal. Six months post op, he still assured me that I needed more time to heal. I never heard from him again after that. Any person in ANY profession could look at my scars and see they were atypical. Sharing my experiences for information purposes only. Not to deter anyone from using this doctor. If I could do it over again, I would’ve gone to a board certified facial plastic surgeon to do anything to my face.