57 Facelift and Upper Blepharoplasty - Redding, CA

Well, it has been more than 3 ½ months since I last updated and about 4 ½ months since my facelift. I’m happy to say that “the lump” is resolving. I can still feel it under the skin and it is noticeable if you really look for it, but otherwise it is almost gone. Most of the swelling is gone. I still have considerable numbness and decreased sensation on the sides of my face and still some tenderness along the incision lines. I no longer have any tightness in my face but unfortunately, the jowl area has relaxed a bit. What I remain unhappy with are my incision line scars and all the broken capillaries on my cheeks that were not there before the surgery. I have posted some photos of the scars along my hairline on the sides of my face and behind my ears. As you can see, they are still very noticeable. I can’t wear my hair up like I used to because in addition to the scars, my PS shaved about an inch of my hair line behind my ears. I now have hair that is about 2” long along the scar line. If you look at the photos you can see all the broken capillaries on my cheeks as well. I am having those treated with a laser next month (by someone other than my PS). I am using a scar fade gel on my scars but I really didn’t think they would still look this bad this far out. I hope they will improve and fade over time. Anybody have any insights or experience with dealing with scars like this?
Anyway, with my hair down and with make-up to cover the scars and capillaries, I feel I am looking pretty improved and not too bad considering I turn 58 years old in about 7 weeks. I will also see my PS at that time for my 6 month follow up and my formal “after” photos. After I get a copy, I will post my “official” before and after photos but for now, I have posted my “before” along with and “after” I took today. If it weren’t for the scars, I would be pretty happy but I am still reserving judgment on whether it was worth it or not. I’m thinking I will make that decision at the one year mark. (P.S. Wasn’t I an old, saggy necked, mean looking biotch? Lol)

Well, apparently I don't have a hematoma or seroma. The lump on my face is solid soft tissue, possibly edematous, as a result of the surgery. My PS obliged me in trying to aspirate it (just in case there was some fluid) but no luck. So basically I am stuck with this lump on my face for God knows how long. I asked if there was anything I could do to help it resolve but all he could offer was to massage it. I asked if it would go away over time and he said it "should". He also said that I am definitely healing slower than most but that it will be "worth it" in the end. So. I am now trying to reconcile the facts and accept that 1) I am most likely NOT going to be able to keep my facelift confidential, and 2) I am going to look like a I have an abscessed tooth for awhile. It never occurred to me before surgery that I would be one of the slow healers or that I would have any complications so I was not prepared for it. I thought I would just sail thru with flying colors. All I can say to anyone contemplating a FL is to prepare yourself that this MAY happen. Then, if it doesn't you will be especially happy! And to be fair, I think a person would be more likely to have no problems, than to have problems. So I don't want to discourage anyone. This is my problem and I'm just whining. I am not going to post again until my 6-week follow-up appointment which will be towards the end of this month. Fingers crossed that things will improve a little by then....

After all my complaining on the last post, I do have to say that once things resolve I think I will look very good. I took this photo yesterday after putting on a ton of make up. I really like this photo since you can't really see the lumps, scars and other problems, but you CAN see that my jowls are gone and my neck looks great. If it wasn't for that big lump on my cheek, I would feel pretty easy going out it public as long as the wind didn't blow my hair away and "expose" my little secret! lol! Anyway, I will update later in the week after seeing my PS.