Not wanting to look old

I am biting the bullet and having a mini-facelift. I have been one of those people who has always had the genetic luck of looking younger than my age, but I have noticed in the last few years that my jowls have really become unattractive. I have tried the liquid face lift using Juvederm, but never achieved the tightening I wanted around the jowl area. I figure at 50, maybe it's time to go under the knife. My surgeon is Dr. Forsberg in Scottsdale and my surgery in Dec 22nd - Merry Christmas to me. In reading various posts about procedures, I always want to know about pain, swelling, healing issues, and even common things like when you are able to shower, wash your face or even color your gray hair! So these are things I am going to post about. I will start posting pictures shortly because I am a big believer in the before and after. This is my 3rd cosmetic procedure. I have had a breast lift (so worth it ladies) and liposuction (so not worth it! ask me about the sagging loose skin left over). I am hoping the mini-lift will be soooo worth it. There will be more posts to come - wish me luck - I'm hoping 2016 is the start of a newer, fresher looking me!

I have posted some before pics. You can see what I call the "witch's jowls" in the first few pics with my hair pulled back. In the series of photos in the black shirt - my face looks unusually swollen because I had unplanned root canal over the weekend. I called the doc's office to ask if there was any concern in "skewing" my results due to the swelling. She didn't think so, but is planning to ask the doc when he gets out of surgery. I have been able to hide how bad my jowls look with my hair and makeup, but I can't wait to have this done. I also need to lose about 25 lbs so I am hoping this will be the incentive I need to get it going. Wish me luck!

As you can see from the picture - I look like a wrapped-mummy pumpkin. My face is massively swollen and I have 2 lovely Christmas ornament drains hanging off my ears. The surgery took 3 hours. The hardest and most painful part was the insertion of the numbing meds - that hurt like a [RS bleep]. The rest of it wasn't so horrible, but long - about 3 hours total. I was awake (no anesthesia) and I'm glad because I have the groggy feeling afterwards. There was a number of re-dos on the numbing meds as I could feel certain parts of the procedure itself. I took 4 Valium, but that was like taking candy for me - very little. lasting effect. These drains look like bad earrings and I'm supposed to drain them before I go to bed. My whole face is numb - my right eye is droppy from the pain meds and I can't yet drink or swallow properly, but dammit I am hungry so I am trying. I haven't seen too many pics like mine posted literally right after surgery so this is as real as it gets. In other news - I can color my hair in 2 weeks (my gray grows like a weed) and can get back to exercising about the same time. I will post tomorrow after the drains come off and a new wrap is put on. Fun times ahead!