At 56, I finally decided to take the plunge and get the (mini) facelift and skin resurfacing

At 56, I finally decided to take the plunge and get the (mini) facelift and skin resurfacing I had been contemplating for over a decade. As a former smoker and someone who had never taken good care of my skin - only really using sunscreen on a daily basis after I'd already turned 40 - I was unhappy with the wrinkles, freckled/blotchy/red skin and jawline laxity that were the inevitable results of such neglect.
I can't really say why I chose Dr. McFadden, other than that he was the right provider, in the right place, at the right time. I'd met with other surgeons before, but always chickened out when it came time to schedule. This time, I was ready to take the plunge and he seemed like a reasonable choice considering his pricing, location (about 10 minutes from my home) and availability. I just got tired of overthinking things, I suppose.
Although, like so many surgeons these days, Dr. McFadden offers this procedure under sedation and local anesthetic, I chose general anesthesia because I am extremely squeamish and could not stand the idea of having any awareness of what was happening. They prescribed several anti-nausea medications to ensure my comfort and I had no complications during or after the surgery.
They also set me up with several pre and post-op supplements designed to minimize swelling and bruising and hasten the recovery process. I took them as directed and think they have helped, given that the bruising hasn't been too bad and I bruise extremely easily.
At this point, it is too soon to comment on final results, as I am posting this only 5 days after the operation and only one day after the laser resurfacing, but I can at least say that nothing too bad has happened!