Getting a Little Nervous - New Jersey, NJ

I can only speak for myself. I had no pain. But had a lot of numbness and the later a lot of tight feeling and tingling. I work retail and went back to work inten days

I am usually the worst in feeling pain and there was none. I had full face, neck and brow. Was out to dinner 1 week later. NO ONE knew. My compression bandage was taken off that night and felt tight and gave me a little headache. But the pain killers took care of that. It has been 8 weeks today and still feels very numb and tight, but no pain. Good luck you will do fine. Who is your Dr?

Bett031 , go to the boards and join our group that just completed surgery in March, April, May.. type "if you are having a facelift".... most of us just completed our own facelift procedures and would be happy to help you through it on each phase. It was a tremendous help to all of us to have each other supporting and sharing our experiences. Unlike a lot of posters here, I had absolutely no pain. Took 3 pain pills for the first 3 nights mostly to sleep in the upright position and then switched to Tylenol because I just didn't need anything more than that. Big recommendation: have a laxative on hand if you ARE going to need/use the pain meds because for sure constipation is a side effect of them. That was one great piece of advice I had. You do not want to be straining your neck face at that point for anything! Other than that, the tightness you will experience will be numbness in the areas worked on, most of us found our ears to be very sore for a bit, in front of the ears swollen and numb and the requisite tightness and numbing in the jowls and under the chin. You're having the chemical peel which I did not. I would imagine that will be like a bad sunburn. My Doctor had me use the compression bandage for exactly two days and then nothing else. Really wasn't a big deal. My swelling really started on Day 3 and then moved around. I would urge you to be the "poster-child" for not doing anything at all and staying elevated! In the 2nd week, you will mentally feel like you should be doing more but the fact is most of us have found that this is the time when overdoing it can truly set you back. I did go out in week 2 despite some bruising on my neck (managed with a scarf) and some fairly significant yellow on my face( ran to the store for a makeup primer for that!) I also would recommend you pay attention to your nutirition and health pre and post op because it will only help you heal faster. Everyone's healing capabilities are so varied and while I was just coasting along with absolutely no issues on Day 10 for some reason I ended up with a hematoma that needed to be drained on my neck. It was unusual for sure, but easily dealt with but you just need to be aware of everything. Doctor's beliefs on what you need to do to heal you'll find are as varied as our experiences. Some believe in Arnica, Bromelain, lymphatic massage and compression bandages for weeks, while others like mine do not. Some use sutures and staples, others do not. Each of us has a unique experience to share. Feel free to email me privately with any question you have or respond here, I'm happy to help. Good luck!

Thank you for starting your story on RealSelf! Here's a list of supplies you might want to consider for recovery.

I hope you'll use this space to keep us updated throughout your journey. We're rooting for you!

All I can add is that you are getting great advice. Financegirl, you summed up most everyone's experiences really well! The thing that I was most surprised at during my recovery was how tired I got the first three weeks. My doctor gave me a list of things to do post-op and the first thing on the list was GET PLENTY OF REST.

Bett031--Sorry but I was in a fair amount of pain. And I know what pain is and have a high tolerance. But as you have read, everybody is different. My experiences are to stay on top of it--in other words take them every 4 hours and not wait until needed at least for the first 24 hours. They won't hurt and they will help....The compression bandage the first night will most likely be under bandages, so you won't feel it. It should not bother you at all. In fact if you are like me, it will give you the added security of knowing that your ears will stay flat and everything is protected :) Are you having a general? I don't know what diprivan is....Personally--it's a very long surgery and I am glad I was mentally absent for it.

Sorry didn't read--the compression bandage will be OVER the gauze bandages. (You will look like a Q-tip!)

Bett031, sorry I missed your question on this. Because I have a weird elongated uvula, my doctor opted to be very conservative and do my FL in hospital and did a huge huddle with the anaestician group on whether to do local or general. In the end, they opted to start with local first and if they had to, they would switch to putting me under completely. I was very, very , very happy that they only did a local! I believe my recovery was better and yes, I was able to communicate on and off through the process with them but it was not anything that bothered me. I believe they gave me an anti nausea along with an anti anxiety pre and during the procedure... can't really remember all of it. But , honestly, when I was aware of them working on me, I was actually joking with them about what they were doing on me. No awareness of any pain at all. And not anxious at all. As far as pain, I know there are others who have had a lot of pain post surgery, that was not my experience at all. I had absolutely none. I don't know, I would chalk it up to there being as many varied experiences with this as there are in childbirth. :) Just remember there are always things for pain your doctor will help you with IF you do have any. Going out in Week 2 I was a little self conscious with the bruising and swelling. Scarves were and still are my best accessory! I was fearful people would be thinking I was a battered woman! So in the third week my confidence is building. Still have swelling but none that others would notice. Please keep feeling like you can post and ask questions. I had no one to talk to either about this except my husband. ( I'm sure he's sick of it although never once complained!). That's why we are all here.

Diprovan(Propofol) is short acting, they will have you on a drip of it. It clears your system very quickly. It is not general anesthesia, but if done right you won't remember a thing. I had that as well as versed and fentanyl. Versed is an amnesiac, fentanyl is for pain during procedure. This combo is used a lot with colonoscopies, etc. I actually had this for a uterine ablation years ago too. It's an excellent combo, that is considered twilite sedation. I only had compression bandage and the head wrap for 24 hours, then nothing after that. Pain is subjective....you are having much more done than I did. I did not have eyes, chemical peels performed. Pain is manageable, I used Tylenol, but also at times Percocet. I'm glad I had it available. I had very minimal bruising and swelling compared to some I have seen. I am at three weeks and three days now. Back to work after three weeks.....I truly needed that last week too. My ears were the worst part of it. I did not get the bands of tightness others have experienced on their necks....but I did not have lipo, though, either. The first day was the easiest. Lol. Day two - five were fairly miserable....just uncomfortable and my stinking ear swelling! You'll do great. Welcome to the forum. :)

Also, I used a travel neck pillow almost all the time. The anesthetist told me about it, as she had her FL from my PS too. It helped for sleeping so my chin wasn't down on my chest, and as a reminder to keep my head upright. I am still sleeping slightly elevated. If I don't, I get swelling. Still uncomfortable to lay on my side, so I use the travel pillow to cradle my head so my ears don't get squashed now at night. Someone posted a great pillow that is totally movable, so you can get the support you need where you wanted it; travel one was enough for me though. REST. REST. REST. you'll get so bored, but like Financegirl said, week two you feel pretty good, then can easily overdo it. I know I did, AND trip and fell!

I had a general, and so for me, the first 24 hours were a blur. I'm guessing you will sleep most of the time and will need somebody to take you to your appointment the following day, if you have one. Everyone's pain level is different, the first night will tell you what yours is. More important is that your doctor has given you (or will) a prescription for meds strong enough for the majority of his cases, so don't worry about that. Have you taken a look at the list of supplies suggested on the forum?

my doctor used propofol, which I guess is the same as diprivan. I think it's easier on the system than a general. I woke up feeling no pain, just discomfort. Oh, and they also gave me anti-nausea and anti-anxiety stuff in the IV, but I don't know which ones. It was nice to wake up with no pain, and dozy of course, but not sick or disoriented. I knew exactly where I was and had a nice conversation with the nurse when I woke up, lol. Just be sure to get lots of REST the first few days, even if you're bored out of your mind. I truly believe that staying in bed and resting and staying pain-free (whatever it takes to do that) makes a big difference in how quickly you recover.

Bett031, my PS did not put me out, so I was pretty lucid coming home from surgery. The following day I took a nap in the AM and the PM. Absolutely no pain for me, but I did not have any kind of peel so I'm not sure what that involved. Expect the bruising around the eyes that's sort of a standard and while surprising again, not painful. The most significant thing is really any swelling and tightness. but truthfully it will most likely not be the first day it will be more toward the days after that the bruising or swelling will start. Life Anli1974 I was given anti nausea and anti anxiety in the IV. Good stuff for this surgery! You're going to do fine. :)