My Birthday Gift to Me! - Fort Washington, PA

Yes, they told me it'd take quite some time before the swelling was completely gone but come on now! This is getting a bit silly. Remember the last time you had novacaine at the dentist and your mouth/face was numb? Mine still feels that way, especially in my "ear area". I'm OK with it, really, but sometimes it itches and I just can't seem to scratch and get relief.

I have another follow-up with my surgeon next month. I'm going to tell him that though I'm loving how my neck now looks, I'm not so sure I'm completely happy with the cheeks, jowls and mouth area. (I'll post some photos to show what I mean.) To me, that area doesn't really look so different. :-(

What to do? What to do?

Still swollen. Not as bad but it's all down in my neck and chin area. The bruising is all but gone and make-up is making it completely gone.

I'm still wearing out my little camera (what'd we ever do before digital!?) taking selfies. I'll be so much happier once the swelling is completely gone. It both feels funny and makes my face lop-sided. It's tough to judge just how happy I am with the results just yet.

The stitches around my ears are still dissolving and are itchy but I have to remember not to scratch because, man, that hurts! Shampooing is still a bit of an adventure but I can do it as well as pulling shirts over my head and wearing make-up and/or using facial moisturizers. I haven't tried wearing earrings (pierced) just yet though.

So far, so good.

Still have some swelling and the bruising has turned to that lovely green shade around my eyes and under my chin. My neck still looks a little like someone tried to strangle me, but not much. My neck and chin area are really the only parts still swollen and it's making my chin look ... funny (see photo). But it's so much better.

I've been trying to clean dried blood and bits of dissolving sutures from the around my ears. Still a little sore for any "hard scrubbing", so to speak. But I finally feel like I can attempt a bit of make-up and maybe hit a store or two this weekend. Stay tuned.