Looking Better Every Day - Flagstaff, AZ

I had a lower face/neck lift with lipo under chin, and fat augmentation into lips and nasal labial folds. I'm 57 years old, and was getting jowls, and have always had a full neck, which was starting to sag and become crepey. I agree totally with those who say not to take this lightly. My surgeon made sure I knew what to expect post-surgery, but I still wasn't prepared. It's a long process, not something you recover from in a few days or weeks, or even months. I stayed over-night at the recovery center, rather than going back to the hotel for the night. (I had my surgery in a city about two hours from my home.) This was an extra $850 but it was so worth it. The RNs were very attentive, and I was monitered through out the evening, and given IV fluids. My PS had put in one drain, which he removed, and he also removed the mummy bandages. I went home late morning.

I felt okay, no pain to manage - I took Tylenol when I got home and that was the last pain meds I took. I slept a lot the first two days, and my face was very swollen and tight. I slept upright in a recliner to help move the swelling downward. My head felt like a basketball with a face! I saw my PS to remove sutures a week later and he said all was well, but I felt and looked so distorted! I was still very puffy and lopsided, and had bruising under my eyes and around my mouth from the fat injections. These lasted about a week, and were easily covered with makeup.

I'll be at two months on Nov. 9th, and while I still see a neck that's a little puffy, and I still don't have the clean jaw-line, my PS said I'm on schedule and looking great! I know he has to say this, but I do look at my self and see someone who's the same, but different in a subtle and really nice way. I know the process continues, and am looking forward to the continuing healing and changes.

I'm very happy with my lips - they are very natural, the corners are no longer turning downward, and they aren't unnaturally large. I do have a fat deposit under my upper lip that distorts my smile a bit, but that will go away. The sides of my face are still numb, cannot feel my right ear at all, but I feel a bit more sensation every day, and I know this could take months to go away.

All in all, I'm very happy with this, but it's nothing to take lightly. I can't believe that people go back to work and activites after a week or two, but everyone heals differently. I've seen people recently who think I've lost weight or notice my longer hairstyle.

By the way, my surgeon is wonderful, personable, honest, talented, caring and an all-around terrific doctor.

I will add another picture at the two month mark.