POSTED UNDER Lower Facelift Reviews
Neck of a 70 Year Old...But I'm 53! Seattle, WA
UPDATED FROM Rivergirl37
1 month post
Doctor Before and After pictures at 5 weeks
WORTH IT$9,500
I haven't been on here very much lately, business travel and trips to visit my dad in the hospital have been taking a lot of time. I just received copies of my doctor's before and after photos today so I made some side by sides to share. I'm just astounded at the difference. Now that I've been living with my new face for 6 weeks I'm starting to forget how unhappy I was with my old appearance (yay). In the before pictures I can see someone not happy with her face/neck, and someone a little worried and unsure if she is doing the right thing. I'm so glad I finally did this.
At 6 weeks post my neck is still numb ear to ear above my adam's apple to the bottom of my chin. My cheeks are still numb from my ears toward my nose an inch or two on each side in the areas where you'd find sideburns on a guy. At my last appointment my doctor said the feeling would completely return in time so I'm not concerned but it is a strange feeling. The numbness is slightly better than right after surgery. The pain in my neck is essentially gone. It feels tight every morning so I stretch it out and then it feels normal. There is no more pain at any of the incisions and I'm able to aggressively massage the under chin scar now without pain.
Seeing these pictures today brought out a lot of different emotions for me. Mostly I'm thankful. I wore my hair in a pony tonight and really appreciated not having that old feeling of dread at showing my side profile to the world.
I hope all my RS buddies are doing great in their journeys. Hugs!
Rivergirl37's provider
UPDATED FROM Rivergirl37
27 days post
Something my friend said to me...
This weekend I was at a small get together with some friends and at the end of the evening I was chatting with one of them and my time away in Seattle came up...and I mentioned that I'd gone over there for surgery. I shouldn't have mentioned surgery because then he was concerned so I ended up telling him what it was. He was pretty curious so I showed him the before and after pictures on my phone. His response was pretty cool, he said that during the evening he'd noticed something was different about me but it wasn't my face, he said he noticed that I was smiling and talking more than I usually do, like I was really happy. I was really happy to hear him say that, I do smile more and that's what I was hoping people would notice. :)
With my face/neck looking better to me I've noticed that I'm wanting to take better care of my skin. I've had so many issues with acne over the years that until menopause I'd given up on all moisturizers because they would just cause me to break out. In fact I still get acne so I have to be careful with what I choose to use. Well, a few weeks ago I started using a skin care line from my PS office, so far so good there, and I saw my dermatologist this week and just started using a retinoid cream. I'm going to be adding vitamin C soon as well. This is all new stuff to someone who's previous regimen has consisted of washing her face once or twice a day and using minimal makeup!
With my face/neck looking better to me I've noticed that I'm wanting to take better care of my skin. I've had so many issues with acne over the years that until menopause I'd given up on all moisturizers because they would just cause me to break out. In fact I still get acne so I have to be careful with what I choose to use. Well, a few weeks ago I started using a skin care line from my PS office, so far so good there, and I saw my dermatologist this week and just started using a retinoid cream. I'm going to be adding vitamin C soon as well. This is all new stuff to someone who's previous regimen has consisted of washing her face once or twice a day and using minimal makeup!
Replies (5)
August 5, 2015
I love this! This is what we are all searching for, just to be ourselves!
August 5, 2015
You look so good! I had to stop using the retinoid cream before surgery and will start up again as soon as I get the ok. I only use it 3X week but It makes your skin and pores look even and smooth while flaking away dead skin. Make sure you use sunscreen during the day though.
August 5, 2015
Thanks! I'm on the low strength version to start, I don't want to peel like crazy so I'm going to work up to it slowly! Saw flakes already this morning so I'm backing off to every other day.
August 5, 2015
Smiling more and feeling more comfortable in your own skin are sooooo wonderful.
Does anybody know what to do about an aging décolletage ?
Does anybody know what to do about an aging décolletage ?
August 5, 2015
I agree! And I don't have any ideas for you, sorry. I've been pretty laid back about skin care until recently. For that area I use my Mia and wear sunscreen, that's it. Hopefully others will have some suggestions that have worked for them?
August 6, 2015
Dermabrasion? I'm not sure, but that's what they want to do for me for lip lines, and the lines on my chest are deeper! One thing just seems to lead to another lol!
August 6, 2015
how about a updated picture ;) how fantastic you are beaming inside and out how cool is that
August 28, 2015
You look amazing - I bet you and I are very similar. I had my surgery in June (9 weeks PO) and I can tell that I am a different person now when interacting with others. The I hit perimenopause - gained weight, cheeks and neck started drooping, which just got worse when I lost the weight. I was always surprised at how OLDI looked in photos and in the mirror - complete disconnect between my mental image of myself and my reality. And I started being very aware of this when around other people. Now, I feel like I am back to my old self.
We probably have similar skin - congested with breakouts along the chin and hairline and usually at least one deep blemish on the cheeks. Moisturizer would worsen the congestion and not moisturizing would lead to deep blemishes. No win. I've been on tretinoin (retin-a) for six months - I went through the "purge" for three or four months when all of the congestion works itself out of the skin. I am using a glycolic acid cleanser at night to address the peeling (Dermadoctor Ain't Misbehaving) and, when the bumps on my forehead/hairline weren't clearing up, started using zinc soap with a clarisonic brush in the morning. I am still some of the deep blemishes on my cheeks that are still working themselves out of my skin but it looks better than it ever has, even when I was younger. I only use a light dusting of Bare Minerals over primer and go (of course I am really good about using my serums, moisturizers, and sunscreen now).
Congrats on a great outcome!
We probably have similar skin - congested with breakouts along the chin and hairline and usually at least one deep blemish on the cheeks. Moisturizer would worsen the congestion and not moisturizing would lead to deep blemishes. No win. I've been on tretinoin (retin-a) for six months - I went through the "purge" for three or four months when all of the congestion works itself out of the skin. I am using a glycolic acid cleanser at night to address the peeling (Dermadoctor Ain't Misbehaving) and, when the bumps on my forehead/hairline weren't clearing up, started using zinc soap with a clarisonic brush in the morning. I am still some of the deep blemishes on my cheeks that are still working themselves out of my skin but it looks better than it ever has, even when I was younger. I only use a light dusting of Bare Minerals over primer and go (of course I am really good about using my serums, moisturizers, and sunscreen now).
Congrats on a great outcome!
UPDATED FROM Rivergirl37
21 days post
Day 21 - PS! My neck!
I'm getting phantom pains and lightning zaps to my neck! It's waking up! Started yesterday with feeling like something was rubbing my neck but when I reached up to move the collar, there was nothing there, so weird. But now its got that waking up from Novocain feeling so I think its just a little behind my face in the getting feeling again progress. Yay!
Replies (1)
August 5, 2015
Probably your nerves regenerating from the trauma. I don't think you should worry but call the doctor's office if you are.
Replies (5)