Post-Op

I had a chin implant and sub-mental liposuction done 2 days ago (FEB 18TH 2014) after lurking these pages for a couple years trying to decide whether I should go through with it. So far - I think I'm going to be very pleased with the end result, and I am very happy with the doctor I choose to do my procedure. I will updating over the next few days/weeks as the swelling goes down and I get my stitched out as well as my filler for my scars done and possibly some light botox around my eyes.

Just wanted to update quickly about the past few days. I had my procedure Tuesday afternoon and it's now Saturday night. Although I read and was prepared for the whole "it takes months for the final result" - I still find myself getting worried because I am not as "flat" as I would like to be. I’d like to see more of a “slope” to my neck if you all get what I mean. That being said - I of course am still very swollen and in my mind I know it's way too early to even try to judge to what degree my profile will be improved so I am TRYING to stay positive. ? I can say I can that there is undeniable improvement even with the swelling so I guess I am trying to keep reminding myself that it’s way too early to get discouraged. I think that part of what has me down is that A- I am still in a lot of discomfort and pain at times and B - I am stuck in the house.
As far as the discomfort and pain – I called my doctor’s office Friday because I was concerned about running out of pain meds over the weekend (they gave me a small amount of Percocet to get me through the first few days but I took the last of that last night and believe me I still needed it). Whereas at first they acted it would be no big deal to give me a few more to get me through the weekend if I needed it – when I actually called Friday to get a script, the nurse I spoke with on the phone acted like I shouldn’t be hurting anymore and told me to take extra strength Tylenol. (Tylenol is a joke for me - it does ZERO for my pain.) I wasn’t really surprised by this seeing as I have worked in the medical field and I have lived in KY long enough to know that they act like anyone who requests or needs a pain pill must be addicted to them - It is VERY frustrating when you can’t get the stronger medication when you legitimately need it because of so many people abusing it. I know doctors are put in a precarious position because of the laws and all that but right about now as I am sitting here throbbing I’m not very happy that I couldn’t get a few more to get me through until Monday. Anyways - I am really more concerned as to why I am still in pain if I am not supposed to be. I was told that I am now allowed to take ibuprofen and so today was my first day off narcotics and with just ibuprofen and it really wasn’t enough to make me feel as comfortable as I’d like but… it’s the weekend and it is what it is. It did dull the ache a bit, just not as much as I think it should have and it is still interfering with my sleep and I am not very comfortable which is making sitting here and concentrating on homework very difficult. (I am in college – my last semester YAY!) At least with the pain pills I could fall asleep for a little while because they have that effect. Hopefully by Monday though I will feel a little better that way and if I don’t I’ll be making an appointment to find out why anyway. I will admit – I do have a low tolerance to pain so maybe that’s why this is a little harder on me than others BUT even though they said they used one of the smallest implants and all that – my chin is the main source of the pain. My chin itself throbs at times and it is as HARD as a rock. I have some purple marks out the front part of my chin – but most of my bruising is from the liposuction underneath. (I’ll add a couple pictures.) I have the numb bottom lip everyone talks about and it is starting to REALLY get on my nerves. I don’t look funny (other than bruising/swelling of course)– no drooping lips or not being able to speak correctly – but I cannot smile as big as I should be or open my mouth very wide. There is a LOT of pressure in that area. It’s no unbearable but again, I wish I had a few more pain pills and I am looking forward to this part easing up. I did notice that it looks a little like I am frowning when my face is relaxed – but I am trying very hard not to analyze too much during this time because I have read over and over that the swelling causes so much of this and that it dissipates and goes away within the first few weeks. So again, I will keep posting for those of you following my recovery and results trying to decide if this is a good option for you.
PS- I don’t get my stitches out until next Friday which is 10 days post-op. That seems like such a long time to wait. When I go in that day, we are supposed to do the fillers for some of the acne scars. I am VERY nervous about the needles going into my face that day. They were originally going to do the fillers when I was sedated from the chin augmentation Tuesday – but decided I would get the best result if I wasn’t lying on my back on a table all swollen from surgery – which I agree with – BUT – now I have to be awake! LOL If anyone has any idea what this will be like let me know. I am hoping that it’s worth it for the scars. I have battled acne since I was a teen and I would love to have a much smoother look to my face so I hope this does work.

I know I just posted last night but wow...I am almost in tears I am in so much pain at the moment. It is a Sunday...I really do not want to call the doctors emergency number and be that whinny patient but if it gets any worse I don't know what I am going to do. I am sooo swollen on the sides of my chin...like right along both bottom gum lines. It's throbbing and this morning this hurts worse than any part of this procedure has thus far and being as how Friday the nurse acted like I shouldn't be in hardly any pain now I am quite scared that something is wrong! I have no fever or any sign of infection, today is actually my last day on my antibiotics. I did not sleep good again, and I think I may have been clenching down in my sleep which maybe has something to do with the pain this morning. All I know is that this is just about unbearable at this point and I pray that nothing is seriously wrong. I'm beginning to think maybe I should have just went with the neck lipo and not gotten the chin implant. Anyone else out there experience a sudden increase of pain and swelling around post-op day 5?