POSTED UNDER Facelift Reviews
47 and Tired of my Sad Face - Houston, TX
UPDATED FROM jmstx1968
3 months post
Totally worth it
WORTH IT$10,000
It's been a while since my last update. I'm now at the 3 month mark and am so happy with my results! I saw a lot of old friends over the weekend and I got a lot of "you look great!" comments but I really don't think anyone can tell I had anything done. The scars are still visible but fading, and it will be a little while before I'm comfortable wearing my hair back in public, but I'm getting there.
UPDATED FROM jmstx1968
1 month post
Thoughts on the one month mark
I'm one month post surgery today! I saw my PS on Friday and he assured me everything is healing well. He gave me a steroid shot on the left side to settle down a little "ridge" that won't go away. I still have a yucky scab on my right tragus, but it's almost gone now. Overall I'm very happy with the way my face is turning out. Yesterday my husband, who really didn't want me to have anything done, looked at me and said that I looked good and that "you look like yourself". That meant the world to me because we were both a little scared I would end up looking too "different".
Here are some thoughts on healing from my deep plane facelift.
WORK: I went back to work at the two and a half week mark. Visually, it was too soon. There is NO way nobody noticed something was off, but my co-workers are generally very polite and would never say anything like "what's the deal with your face?" I had two group lunches and a happy hour the first week, and i wasn't really up for up close socializing but couldn't realistically get out of it. I've been back two weeks now and am mostly over the self conscious thing. Oddly enough, just last Friday, a woman who works on my floor asked me about my hair, asked me if I'd lost weight, and said, "are you sure that's all? Because you look...different." Well, thanks, sweetheart. I actually had lost a few pounds and told her that , and we changed the subject. (Hardest diet ever, btw.)
SLEEP: It's still hard to sleep. I'm sleeping on my back, not because my dr says I have to, but because my face is still too hard underneath to sleep on the side of my face. Ambien is my friend.
MY FACE: I still have "cheek bumps" that look like little cheekbone implants, but they are getting better, and the bottom of my face is filling out and not so pulled looking. My jawline is awesome. See my car selfie? It's still weird to feel hardness under the skin, but it is getting better...very, very slowly. I still have a wicked bruise on my left side. I don't know why it won't go away. It lioves me, apparently.
SCARS: When do they go away? My left side still looks like Freddy Kruger got me. I use scar gel twice a day like I'm supposed to and do my best to hide them. I bought some concealer at Sephora before surgery and didn't feel like explaining to the twentysomething hipster saleslady what it was for, but she assured me that "it covers tattoos." Well, alright then.
Here are a couple of pictures. Gotta go make dinner now.
Here are some thoughts on healing from my deep plane facelift.
WORK: I went back to work at the two and a half week mark. Visually, it was too soon. There is NO way nobody noticed something was off, but my co-workers are generally very polite and would never say anything like "what's the deal with your face?" I had two group lunches and a happy hour the first week, and i wasn't really up for up close socializing but couldn't realistically get out of it. I've been back two weeks now and am mostly over the self conscious thing. Oddly enough, just last Friday, a woman who works on my floor asked me about my hair, asked me if I'd lost weight, and said, "are you sure that's all? Because you look...different." Well, thanks, sweetheart. I actually had lost a few pounds and told her that , and we changed the subject. (Hardest diet ever, btw.)
SLEEP: It's still hard to sleep. I'm sleeping on my back, not because my dr says I have to, but because my face is still too hard underneath to sleep on the side of my face. Ambien is my friend.
MY FACE: I still have "cheek bumps" that look like little cheekbone implants, but they are getting better, and the bottom of my face is filling out and not so pulled looking. My jawline is awesome. See my car selfie? It's still weird to feel hardness under the skin, but it is getting better...very, very slowly. I still have a wicked bruise on my left side. I don't know why it won't go away. It lioves me, apparently.
SCARS: When do they go away? My left side still looks like Freddy Kruger got me. I use scar gel twice a day like I'm supposed to and do my best to hide them. I bought some concealer at Sephora before surgery and didn't feel like explaining to the twentysomething hipster saleslady what it was for, but she assured me that "it covers tattoos." Well, alright then.
Here are a couple of pictures. Gotta go make dinner now.
Replies (5)
J
August 29, 2016
Hey Kiddo! You're looking terrific! Time speeds by when we don't want it to and crawls when we need it to hurry so we can see the results we want from our fl's! It's pretty much major surgery, so it does take a long time for all of the healing to take place. Enjoy the new you that looks like you!! janetlee
J
August 29, 2016
Thank you Janet! I had mistakenly thought my recovery would be easier because I'm on the young side for this surgery. I was wrong. It was totally worth it, even though I'm still struggling with some stubborn bumps and scabs and my face shape isn't "done " yet. I know that takes a few months.
J
August 29, 2016
When you end up with something more difficult than your expectations,bad been, it makes so much harder! I thought I wouldn't have bruising under my eyes for very long, but it hung around for a month! I just didn't realize how deep the bruising would be. I wasn't as educated as I thought I was! LOL.
A
August 29, 2016
It took 3 months for the scars in front of my ears to fade to 'unnoticeable by me' (this vs 'unnoticeable by others' which I think was probably earlier than that because most people don't notice anything much).
It took another 2 months for the scars BEHIND my ears to become 'unnoticeable'.
They went slowly from 'unnoticeable' to 'completely indetectible' from there. I can't see them now even if I really really look for them (I honestly thought that was a lie when people said that they couldn't see their scars, but it's (astonishingly!) true!).
It took another 2 months for the scars BEHIND my ears to become 'unnoticeable'.
They went slowly from 'unnoticeable' to 'completely indetectible' from there. I can't see them now even if I really really look for them (I honestly thought that was a lie when people said that they couldn't see their scars, but it's (astonishingly!) true!).
J
August 29, 2016
I don't have scars in front of my ears. I do, however, have scars along my hairline on the temples that run down along the sideburns and inside and behind my ears. It's the temple ones I'm having trouble with. I know they will fade soon and that hair will grow through them eventually. How long ago was your surgery?
A
I
August 30, 2016
Apologize if I missed a post regarding - Silicone Strips to diminish the scars! But if you have started using, they work wonders!
J
I
September 4, 2016
Purchased "ScarAway" from Amazon.com but I've seen them at CVS, etc. [I am a power Amazon Prime user-keeps me from over buying & free, fast home delivery.]
My husband saw the incision sites 2 weeks ago and almost passed out. I'm using the strips as advised - 23 hrs/day and all but one are almost unnoticeable.
My husband saw the incision sites 2 weeks ago and almost passed out. I'm using the strips as advised - 23 hrs/day and all but one are almost unnoticeable.
J
September 5, 2016
Ok, thanks. We have Amazon prime too. Can you see the strips when they are on? I don't think I would want to wear them anywhere other than around the house. My doc gave me scar fade gel. Not sure how well it's working but maybe it helps a little.
I
September 5, 2016
Flesh colored & can cut to size. I cut about 1/4" wide and my hair covers them. I'm told both the strips & gel work!
J
H
August 30, 2016
You're looking awesome! I don't know how in the world you went back to work at 2 weeks! I'm almost at 4 weeks and still self conscious - I still have not seen any friends 'up close' - only wave from a distance : )...SO worried that someone will ask me if I've done something...I started having manual lymphatic drainage massage today and hope that helps with the swelling.
Boy, was I dumb to think I would be back to normal in 10 days - which is what I told my husband...ha!
Boy, was I dumb to think I would be back to normal in 10 days - which is what I told my husband...ha!
J
August 30, 2016
Thank you! My back to work day was around day 18. I really don't see how people considered themselves back to work ready that early, but apparently a lot of people heal faster than I do. I'm not so much self conscious about my face shape anymore, but hiding that persistent bruise and the scars has been challenging, especially in the summer when I would LOVE to pull my hair back. That style will have to wait.
W
September 1, 2016
Wow.....you look amazing! I can't believe you went back to work in 2 and a half weeks! I am not working right now and that was why I opted for the surgery at this time. The recovery was definitely more difficult than I anticipated. Being about a month out....I am very happy with the results so far as well. I am a friend of Ambien too. Started using it a year ago after my cancer diagnosis. I am also still sore and stiff. It is a very gradual improvement. I had scars from a previous "Quicklift" that everyone knew I had done 4 years ago, so luckily everyone thinks the scars are from that. I was pretty public with that procedure. I finally posted some before and after pics under..."Fabulous, Fantastic Facelift at 51."
J
September 1, 2016
Thanks! I will have to check out your photos! I was so not ready to be seen up close at two and a half weeks. I didn't have much of a choice, though. At 5 weeks I feel pretty good as long as my scars can't be seen. Those are the next things on my list to worry about.
UPDATED FROM jmstx1968
16 days post
Day 16 and I finally look pretty normal
Saw my doc yesterday and he said I was healing up nicely. I still have some upper cheek swelling that lakes me look as though I had cheekbone implants instead of a facelift, and the bottom of my face is still a bit narrow as a result of the swelling pulling everything up, but my doc assures me that in a week or so, I won't really see that anymore and my face will have a more natural shape. I saw a couple of friends last night who knew what I had done but hadn't seen me since the surgery, and they said I looked good, so I will choose to believe them! It was nice to finally do something social after two weeks of being a hermit.
New pics are from yesterday (white shirt) and Thursday (navy shirt). I am very happy with how my jawline is turning out, especially when compared with the before picture!
New pics are from yesterday (white shirt) and Thursday (navy shirt). I am very happy with how my jawline is turning out, especially when compared with the before picture!
Replies (5)
H
August 13, 2016
You do look really great!! I've had sort of a pity party today but it's almost over. It looks like your swelling is gone.
J
August 13, 2016
I hear you. I've had some of those myself. I still have some swelling and pulling but it's a lot better than it was a couple of days ago. It's just harder to see in the pictures than it is in person.
H
August 14, 2016
I think when the swelling starts to go it can go slowly but it makes you feel like it's all going to be okay.
S
J
August 14, 2016
I don't see anything but an absolutely wonderful result! You can't let go of the panic button!
J
J
August 15, 2016
Thank you! I am back in the office today and have spent way too much energy fretting about whether anyone notices or not. I think I look different but I don't know if anyone else does.
J
August 16, 2016
I guess we must all do that fretting...I certainly did and from what I gather, not many people notice the terrible the things about our faces that we grow to despise. Only the people that knew I was having a fl have made comments. Isn't that crazy but good but - gee wish someone would realize we look better?!
J
August 17, 2016
Yeah, the guys I work with the most are super polite and wouldn't say anything even if they noticed. Our secretary, who might actually comment on it, talked to me at fairly close range today and all she did was compliment my hair. I got a couple of inches cut off right before surgery and she hadn't seen it yet. So maybe no one notices, or if they do, can't really pinpoint what's different.
W
August 15, 2016
Hi.....sounds like your healing well. You look great! I had someone tell me that I looked good and ask me if I fillers put in my cheeks! I politely thanked her and said "yes". I had told no one that I had this procedure done except my husband and sister. When I had mentioned it previously, I was told I didn't need it and should just be glad to be alive at this point since I was just out of cancer treatments. I am very happy with my results so far. Glad I did it but still very numb!
H
August 16, 2016
Exactly why I didn't tell people - didn't want to hear "you don't need that yet! " glad all it going well. I'm at day 13 and still really swollen and a hermit in hiding.
W
August 16, 2016
I am 3 weeks today and each day it gets better. My face still feels really "tight" and it's hard to turn my head from side to side...bruising is gone though!
J
August 17, 2016
My bruising is almost gone. I am still a little red on front of each ear, and I'm getting tired of picking scabs out of my hair. Gross! My face is tight too...it comes and goes and I don't know what causes it to tighten up. It's really annoying.
M
Replies (5)