POSTED UNDER Lower Facelift Reviews
Early Forties Lower Facelift and Neck Lift
UPDATED FROM chicken_little
5 months post
5 months post and very happy!
chicken_littleNovember 9, 2017
WORTH IT$8,600
I just wanted to come back and update my review. I'm 5 months post lower face/neck lift with Dr. Vargas. I love the results, I still look like me but the results have improved my profile and jawline so much! I love Dr. Vargas and her whole office staff (awesome Botox injections too) and highly recommend! I may consider laser in the future for skin tone/spots on my face and will use her office definitely! Posting pics as well for reference. The only annoying thing is my scar behind my right ear is being really stubborn. It's raised and red still so I'm a bit self conscious wearing my hair up (can't pull it into a bun or ponytail spur of the moment) and have to use heavy cover up makeup on that scar. The ones in front of my ears are great and behind my left ear is nearly invisible as well. It's just the problem child right side! ;) It'll get there, I'm sure. Dr. Vargas injected it with kelnoid(spelling??) at my last appointment - it has helped a little but may need to have it lasered to completely get it to be flat and take the redness out.
chicken_little's provider
UPDATED FROM chicken_little
17 days post
Day 17
chicken_littleJuly 6, 2017
I called my ps office this morning because my right ear is being a problem child. I have some redness and itching and wanted to make sure it wasn't the start of an infection. They got me in immediately and it's just some of the dissolvable stitches that were irritating my pasty, fair skin - haha! They pulled those pesky ones so it should calm it down now. But otherwise, I feel normal, back to my routine (except still no heavy cardio) and am really happy so far with the results. I love Dr. Vargas and all of her staff, they are amazing and always so friendly and helpful. I can't say enough good things about my experience this far and if anyone is willing to travel for surgery, I highly recommend her! If not -make sure you feel really comfortable with your surgeon and their staff and that they are really good at returning calls. It'll put your mind at ease that they will be there when you need them after surgery!
Replies (4)
July 7, 2017
That happened to me too - one side got really red, inflamed and itchy. It scared me - I was worried I was infected, but I just let my silicone tape off for a day or so, used some cortizone and some zinc and it calmed down. Glad to hear yours was an easy fix too!
July 7, 2017
Yes! It was weird how it went from nothing to raised, bumpy and red overnight! But it's much better today and no itching or redness!
July 15, 2017
Hey chicken, how are you doing this week? How is your problem ear now? I'm curious about the yucky scabs behind the ears. What do yours look like? Have they started to come off yet? I can't wait for this!
July 18, 2017
They fell off last week - finally! I'm out of town right now, I'll post an update soon!
July 22, 2017
Lucky you! I'm still waiting... tic toc tic toc! Mustering up every bit of patience I have (which is not saying much) to leave them alone and not pick off what's left! Looking forward to your update!
July 17, 2017
How are you doing with your healing? Ears better? I'm 9 days away...! Happy healing!!
July 18, 2017
Yay!! Yes, ears feel pretty normal now, still a little numbness on the scars and sides of face and a little swollen on the one ear lobe. I'll post an update soon!
August 24, 2017
So how are you doing now? I am 4 weeks post and I have to say I can't feel my ears and in front of the its really tight; and my lower face and jaw line are still swollen and numb. So frustrating! But my ears are all healed up nicely! I still am not sleeping well..im on my back/sitting up still. Thoughts? Happy healing!
UPDATED FROM chicken_little
16 days post
Day 16
chicken_littleJuly 5, 2017
Sleep, glorious sleep! I've been sleeping so much better the last 4-5 nights, the ache behind my ears is gone. I still have some numbness on my upper jaw, below my ears and right along my stitches. Still have some scabs on my stitches lines behind my ears so I don't feel comfortable wearing my hair up yet..unless my ears are covered. But feeling more and more "normal" every day. My jawline has softened (dang) but I know some is swelling (fingers crossed it'll go back to those day 1 pics) but even if this would be the final result, it's still so much better than before! These pics are with light make up this morning, some light bruises still at the base of my neck but they are in the "dips" so it kind of looks like shadows. One ear lobe is still swollen while the other is fine. I saw my parents on Day 13 and entire family on Day 15 without any mentions of my face/neck. I wore a lightweight patriotic scarf to completely hide the base of my neck yesterday around them and no one said anything. But I notice and my husband does too! He was really on the fence with me doing this but he's really happy with my results and understands what I was self conscious about now that it's not there!! I'll update again next week - good luck to all those getting ready for surgery! Give yourself 2 weeks and you will be amazed!!
Replies (3)
July 5, 2017
It's great to see a post from you..and so positive hooray!!! So happy for you and your results. You look so good! And im glad to hear yoh are finally sleepibg. And how cool your family gathering went well..good for You! I just had me pre op appt today! I am 3 weeks away from my surgery date!
July 9, 2017
Thanks for keeping us posted! It seems people move on rather quickly and don't stay updated. No news is good news I hope! :)
Tomorrow will be Week Two for me and I agree with you, it is a huge corner to turn. Sure, you can venture out at Week One but on Week Two, you finally FEEL better! Yay, we are sleeping better and can feel our ears again! :) I still have the numbness along my jawline near my ears and behind. The jawline is slightly yellow still, but that's all I had for bruising and have been going out without makeup. Got lucky with the scars in front of my ears, too. They look great. Behind? Not so much. I'm with you on the scabs. Blech!
How did you feel about your family not noticing anything? Relieved? In a way I'm kind of disappointed, but "natural" is what we aimed for, right? Nothing pulled, tight, or obvious!
Tomorrow will be Week Two for me and I agree with you, it is a huge corner to turn. Sure, you can venture out at Week One but on Week Two, you finally FEEL better! Yay, we are sleeping better and can feel our ears again! :) I still have the numbness along my jawline near my ears and behind. The jawline is slightly yellow still, but that's all I had for bruising and have been going out without makeup. Got lucky with the scars in front of my ears, too. They look great. Behind? Not so much. I'm with you on the scabs. Blech!
How did you feel about your family not noticing anything? Relieved? In a way I'm kind of disappointed, but "natural" is what we aimed for, right? Nothing pulled, tight, or obvious!
July 9, 2017
It's a double edged sword! On one hand, I wanted them to say "Wow - you look so young" - lol! But I think it' better this way and the major thing is, I notice the difference. ;) I'm still numb in front of my ears along my jaw and behind my ears on the incision lines. But last night was able to sleep on my side for a while so that a huge change! There is one tiny yellow bruise that has settled into the nook of my neck in front but other than that, no more bruises. I can get away with normal makeup on my front scars but the back one behind the problem child ear still needs the redness coverup. I feel a little self conscious about that one when I wear my hair up, so if I know I'm going anywhere, I try to wear my hair down to cover it. I'm so glad you are feeling better! Tomorrow will be three weeks for me and I feel like I have almost full range of motion back in my neck and no more pulling on the sides of my head.
July 9, 2017
LOL isn't it funny? I felt the same way - I was terrified that people at work would notice (because I work with women that would have judged me for doing it), but then I was disappointed that not one person noticed I did anything! The change seems to be much more noticeable from the side than from the front, which I think is why more people don't notice. The underwhelming response from friends and co workers can make you second guess your decision, but as the swelling and numbness goes away and you realize how good it looks you will be so glad you did it. I know I am.
July 9, 2017
I have had the same experience and have concluded that no one noticed my turkey neck and face melting downward so they don't notice the new me. I guess the lesson is that folks don't look so closely as we think. this is good news. happy healing,
barbydoll
barbydoll
July 10, 2017
I am so happy for you! I am 16 days away from my surgery! I hope mine goes as well as yours and bunny's have gone. I think it's great no one noticed...its way more important that you and hubby notice. :) happy healing and thanks for your updates!!
July 10, 2017
Funny, I have a "problem ear" too, as you call it! LOL I have worn my hair up, no makeup on anything, but hid the incisions with a couple of tendrils around my ears and no one can see a thing. Since I have a chin scar, I am also wearing clear silicone scar tape on that, but only at night. Using Bio-Oil on it during the day. The incisions behind my ears are not far enough along to use anything yet. Scabs need to fall off - ew! :D
Good to know that at week 3, full range of motion starts to come back and no more pulling. At week 2, I still have both - but at least the back of my head has stopped hurting. Although I don't mind the numbness, I've been reluctant to drive because of how little I can turn my head from side to side. And my PS told me not to try to stretch it (counterproductive) so I've been walking around like I have a neck brace on - or Frankenstein with bolts in the neck. ha ha!
It has been SO helpful to read your posts; it tells me what I can look forward to, in the next stage of healing. Very encouraging! Thank you!!
Good to know that at week 3, full range of motion starts to come back and no more pulling. At week 2, I still have both - but at least the back of my head has stopped hurting. Although I don't mind the numbness, I've been reluctant to drive because of how little I can turn my head from side to side. And my PS told me not to try to stretch it (counterproductive) so I've been walking around like I have a neck brace on - or Frankenstein with bolts in the neck. ha ha!
It has been SO helpful to read your posts; it tells me what I can look forward to, in the next stage of healing. Very encouraging! Thank you!!
July 10, 2017
Olivia, you make good points. People are not that observant! They are also less likely to notice our profiles. Now that my swelling is really subsiding and because no one has said anything, I started to wonder if it was worth the money and pain and two weeks of downtime. But we do it for ourselves - no one else. And all that matters is that WE feel better when we look in the mirror.
July 10, 2017
Eleanor Roosevelt once said "you wouldn't worry so much about what people think of you if you realized how infrequently they do". Applies to looks, too.
July 10, 2017
I also think people may notice but who would ever say "did you have work done" most people would just say wow you look great. I have seen women in my business who have had obvious work I was so intent on finding a Dr who did the most natural work. 3 months out the lift is definitely not as tight as in the beginning by looks totally natural.
July 11, 2017
Very true. I would never dare ask! But it would be nice to hear "you look good!" Although, I haven't been around many acquaintances yet. Just strangers and close family who know I had work done. Glad to hear you are happy with your natural look!
July 9, 2017
Yes don't worry....I got freaked out by the same thing. The fluid traveling downward from the swelling can make the jawline look soft again and mine improved alot once most of the swelling was gone. I'm almost 2 months post surgery and only now can I say that my swelling is truly gone. The healing process takes longer than people think.
July 9, 2017
I keep telling myself that! I know there is still swelling, but even if it stayed this way, it's such an improvement from before! I'm looking forward to the 2-3 month mark to see the final results too!
Replies (5)