Face/neck Lift W/complications from Hematoma and Thin Skin. La Jolla, CA

I can't say enough good things about Dr Roark and his nurse Sarah Celeste. I am 62 yrs old and have wanted a facelift for years. I was a long time smoker and quit 6 months prior to surgery but still chewed on some nicotine gum. Nicotine use is a #1 cause of hematoma after a face lift followed by high blood pressure and a hematoma was what I got. The hematoma was detected a couple of hrs after the surgery so I rushed back to surgery and Dr Roark had to open me up again to take care of that problem. The other problem is that I have very thin skin so having to sew me back up was another feat accomplished. Luckily all of this is hidden behind my ear and now just have to wait out the extra time the healing will take. I look 10 years younger and that horrible neck I had is gone, gone, gone. I still need to work on some wrinkles around my mouth from yrs of smoking but that is another story. Dr Roark is taking good care of me and I highly recommend his expertise.

I look great but it sure has been an emotional roller coaster ride for me this last month. I am still recovering from the hematoma/thin skin and it has been high maintenance . I have a big ugly gap behind my ear that needs to heal. It is about 6 inches long and 1 inch wide and needs mine and my Dr.'s constant attention. Ointments, lotions, silvadene cream etc. I'd post a picture of it but it is so ugly I'd hate to make anyone sick looking at it. Luckily it is behind my ear and not visible so I'm ok about that but every so often I look in that 10 x mirror and freak out and that is where the emotional roller coaster women enters. Other than that I look 10 or more years younger and getting lots of compliments. My husband thinks I look great. I did this for me and I would do it again in a heartbeat. What happened with me is rare but I know it will heal and I need patience. it's just that I've never been a patient person and that will allow the emotions get the best of me. I'm just waiting to get the ok to exercise again and as soon as I do I'll feel better. Gotta get up and get moving. I will post more pics as soon as I can get a good shot. My old Iphone doesn't take good pictures. :)

Don't know why but they come out sideways from my phone so you have to turn your head. Lol