POSTED UNDER Lower Facelift Reviews
Lower Facelift, Chin Implant, Liposuction Under Chin - Illinois, IL
UPDATED FROM Loquita98
11 days post
9 days post, hair covering incisions
Loquita98December 11, 2015
WORTH IT$16,000
These pics look amazing to me. The side view/profile looks great. From the front, I'm still swollen - the swelling goes out sideways, which is why you can see it from the front, but not from the side.
Anyway, I'm really stunned that this is my profile now. The swelling will go down.
All of that said, my doc explained carefully, several times, that over the course of about 6 months, my skin will relax, and some of the wrinkling on my neck will return. Right now, it's pulled super-tight, because he "over-corrects", knowing that the skin will relax, and some of the wrinkling will come back. It makes sense the way he explained it. So the pristine profile I have now is not going to be there in 6 months, but it will still look great compared to what I looked like before. I can definitely see that.
The incisions still look a little messy - still bunched skin, and not really healed yet. I'm hiding that with my hair in these pics. But given these were taken only 9 days post... um. Holy. Cow.
I'm officially changing my opinion to "worth it" from "not sure." I'm sure at this point. I'm totally going to love the final result.
Anyway, I'm really stunned that this is my profile now. The swelling will go down.
All of that said, my doc explained carefully, several times, that over the course of about 6 months, my skin will relax, and some of the wrinkling on my neck will return. Right now, it's pulled super-tight, because he "over-corrects", knowing that the skin will relax, and some of the wrinkling will come back. It makes sense the way he explained it. So the pristine profile I have now is not going to be there in 6 months, but it will still look great compared to what I looked like before. I can definitely see that.
The incisions still look a little messy - still bunched skin, and not really healed yet. I'm hiding that with my hair in these pics. But given these were taken only 9 days post... um. Holy. Cow.
I'm officially changing my opinion to "worth it" from "not sure." I'm sure at this point. I'm totally going to love the final result.
Loquita98's provider
UPDATED FROM Loquita98
8 days post
8 days post.
Loquita98December 8, 2015
Same pics, but cropped differently to show jawline and chin instead of incisions. This part is looking great. It's around the temples and ears that don't look ready for public yet. Also, you can't see it from the side, but the sides of my face are still swollen, and they're very tight and numb.
Doc explained (both before surgery and post-op) that he over-corrects, because over the next few months, my skin will relax into the final result, and I won't look tight and pulled after that. In fact, I may have a few wrinkles back. But it's obviously going to be nowhere like it was before the surgery!
Doc explained (both before surgery and post-op) that he over-corrects, because over the next few months, my skin will relax into the final result, and I won't look tight and pulled after that. In fact, I may have a few wrinkles back. But it's obviously going to be nowhere like it was before the surgery!
Replies (3)
December 8, 2015
I was just reading someone else's posts about facelift, and she asked a great question about whether it hurts when the stitches come out.
Yes, it did hurt, but it was okay. I stopped my pain meds 5 days post op, so 2 days before the stitches came out. That was for a couple of side-effect reasons, but also because the pain was manageable without the meds. So I felt like I didn't really need them any more.
So when the stitches were removed, I was totally free from any sort of pain reliever - not even tylenol. Yes, there were a few pulls that did hurt a bit. I picked up some tylenol on the way home, in case I felt like I wanted something, but I ended up not taking any. Right now, the only time it hurts is slight soreness if I brush my hand over my chin, or around my temples. But I find it totally, 100% manageable without any pain reliever at all. It's like that old joke "Doc, it hurts when I do this." So doc says "Okay, then don't do that." If I avoid touching my chin or temples, then there's really no pain. Just tightness and numbness.
Also, about my lower lip. I saw this in someone else's review. I can't lower my lower lip, or smile or talk quite normally. It isn't numb, so doc explained there's no problem with the nerves. That's always the biggest concern. I have normal feeling in my lip and chin, so the nerves are unaffected. He says it's because the muscle involved in moving the lower lip has been interfered with by the implant, and it's still swollen, so I can expect to regain full movement there after everything calms down again.
Also - about the chin implant. He went with a large implant, as opposed to medium or extra large. He says it is still swollen, so the size will actually go down a bit as I continue to heal. I was glad to hear that. I like the way it looks compared to before, but I do feel it's slightly too large. So if it's only slightly too large now, and it's swollen now, then that's perfect.
That's all I've got for now! Changes are pretty small day to day now, so I'll probably just update when I feel like something looks different.
Yes, it did hurt, but it was okay. I stopped my pain meds 5 days post op, so 2 days before the stitches came out. That was for a couple of side-effect reasons, but also because the pain was manageable without the meds. So I felt like I didn't really need them any more.
So when the stitches were removed, I was totally free from any sort of pain reliever - not even tylenol. Yes, there were a few pulls that did hurt a bit. I picked up some tylenol on the way home, in case I felt like I wanted something, but I ended up not taking any. Right now, the only time it hurts is slight soreness if I brush my hand over my chin, or around my temples. But I find it totally, 100% manageable without any pain reliever at all. It's like that old joke "Doc, it hurts when I do this." So doc says "Okay, then don't do that." If I avoid touching my chin or temples, then there's really no pain. Just tightness and numbness.
Also, about my lower lip. I saw this in someone else's review. I can't lower my lower lip, or smile or talk quite normally. It isn't numb, so doc explained there's no problem with the nerves. That's always the biggest concern. I have normal feeling in my lip and chin, so the nerves are unaffected. He says it's because the muscle involved in moving the lower lip has been interfered with by the implant, and it's still swollen, so I can expect to regain full movement there after everything calms down again.
Also - about the chin implant. He went with a large implant, as opposed to medium or extra large. He says it is still swollen, so the size will actually go down a bit as I continue to heal. I was glad to hear that. I like the way it looks compared to before, but I do feel it's slightly too large. So if it's only slightly too large now, and it's swollen now, then that's perfect.
That's all I've got for now! Changes are pretty small day to day now, so I'll probably just update when I feel like something looks different.
December 8, 2015
Oh - thought of one more thing. I've been putting antibiotic ointment on the incisions, and avoiding getting any soap on the incisions when showering. I have been letting water run over them - doc said that was okay. Anyway, between the ointment, showering and shampooing, combing out my hair, etc for a week, I ended up with really oily hair that shampoo wasn't helping. I was shampooing twice a day, and still had oily hair all over my scalp from the ointment around my ears. How exactly that works is a mystery of the universe.
Anyhow, I ended up googling "how to get ointment out of hair." What worked for me was washing my hair in the sink with dish detergent. Seriously. Shampoo was not shifting the ointment at all. Based on a recommendation I read on another site, this morning I tried putting in conditioner and leaving it in for a while before my shower. No good. Didn't help at all. It was finally the dish detergent in the sink that worked. I washed and rinsed 3 times with dish detergent, and as I'm letting my hair dry on its own, I can see that *finally* worked. Just thought I'd share that tip!
Also, I didn't try washing in the sink before today, because I was being careful to keep my head upright at all times - showering, sleeping, etc. Doc said it's okay now to bend over when I need to, so I took that as okay to wash hair in sink by bending over the sink as well. Feels fine, grease is finally out of my hair, and all is right with the world! :)
Anyhow, I ended up googling "how to get ointment out of hair." What worked for me was washing my hair in the sink with dish detergent. Seriously. Shampoo was not shifting the ointment at all. Based on a recommendation I read on another site, this morning I tried putting in conditioner and leaving it in for a while before my shower. No good. Didn't help at all. It was finally the dish detergent in the sink that worked. I washed and rinsed 3 times with dish detergent, and as I'm letting my hair dry on its own, I can see that *finally* worked. Just thought I'd share that tip!
Also, I didn't try washing in the sink before today, because I was being careful to keep my head upright at all times - showering, sleeping, etc. Doc said it's okay now to bend over when I need to, so I took that as okay to wash hair in sink by bending over the sink as well. Feels fine, grease is finally out of my hair, and all is right with the world! :)
December 10, 2015
you look incredible! how fun it will be to watch things progress. congratulations :)
December 11, 2015
You look great. I love your chin/jaw line. I can't believe how fast your healing. Have you gone out in public yet? Apart from the stitch mark near your ears, I think you look really amazing.
December 11, 2015
Sorry, didn't mean the stitch marks near your ears look bad, just that they are a little noticeable ;)
December 11, 2015
:) No worries. No, I haven't been out in public yet except for a quick errand with a big winter hat pulled down over my ears. I'm a little worried about my return to work in a little over a week, because I'll still have some bunched skin along the hairline incision line. But I think I can get away with wearing a hat at work for a few weeks. Glad I ended up doing this headed into winter!
UPDATED FROM Loquita98
8 days post
8 days post-op
Loquita98December 8, 2015
Stitches came out yesterday. I was a little disappointed because I'd expected the incisions to have healed a bit more, but this was major stuff, and doc says I'm right on track where I'm supposed to be. Still lots of bruising numbness, but I have good energy, and am starting to go a little stir crazy. I definitely don't feel comfortable going out in public yet without a big winter hat pulled down over my ears. Hoping I'll feel ready to be seen at work week after next.
Replies (2)
December 8, 2015
Looking great. Did your surgeon tell you the incisions were in front of the hairline prior to surgery? Just asking cause my PS burried my incisions deep inside my hairline. They are well hidden but took a long time to heal and every once in a while I have ti pop a little bump where a hair is trying to break through.
December 11, 2015
Yes, he told me they'd be right along the hairline. He had me look in a mirror while he traced where the incision line would go. He gave me very clear and accurate info ahead of time. I have little bits of stubble there now - he must have trimmed about a quarter inch or so - maybe less - back into the hairline where he made the incision. Now the hair is starting to grow back there, and it will be completely hidden once it's all healed and the hair has grown back.
Replies (5)
I'm also having a similar procedure lower face/ neck lift with small chin implant. But my PS says he is not making incision in the front. From the inner ear, over and along the back hair line. I know the incisions are scarry at first, but it gets better as the days pass. I've had previous surgeries tummy tuck n breast lift with implants. But I'm a bit confused with how you treat the scars. Some say keep clean n dry, others say antibiotic ointment.. Hmm not sure. But you definitely look amazing. I also took 3 weeks off of work. I hope that's enough. But I am known to heal slowly. Keeping fingers crossed.
Best wishes
I've read different things also about how to treat the incisions. In the end, I'm just following my PS's instructions. I figure he's the expert, he has a good track record, and it would be hard for him to give me proper guidance if I just ignored it. So, the ointment is according to his instructions. I'm guessing it's best for everyone just to follow what their own PS says.
Wow - I've never heard of the incision in the ear and around the back. Inner ear sounds kind of scary to me, but I can see that would hide any scarring really well. I'm actually very worried right now about what my ear is going to look like. The incision went right along the edge of the front, and now it's actually slightly misshapen. On the one hand, I probably shouldn't worry about it, but on the other hand, this is cosmetic surgery, and the whole point is to look really good.
Anyhow, my fingers are crossed for you, too! I hope everything comes out beautifully for you!