Just Turned 54 and Don't Want to Grow Old Gracefully. Sudbury, ON

I was on the fence you could say almost right up to the day when deciding on the fat grafting and when I talked to my PS he told me I would be much happier with the results if I did the fat grafting. I decided since I DO trust my PS 100% that I would have the fat grafting done. I had lost so much weight before (from 152 to 129lbs) surgery he actually had to take the fat from my inner thighs. My papers said Full Face Fat Grafting but after I asked the nurse and she said the cheeks and I believe the marionette lines. I really looked alien for the first couple weeks but it has gone done substantially. I really love how I look now and hope it doesn't go away completely. I just love my new cheek bones and how tight my neck and under chin is. This was all definitely worth it!!

Make sure you ask your PS if you should massage and how to massage after getting your stitches/staples removed. I was told to massage where I was a little more swollen on one side and it evened it out a bit. I'm glad to be able to put conditioner in my hair and style it now. I've noticed my hair dried out from just using baby shampoo for approximately 3 weeks without conditioner. Having a hand mirror makes it easier to keep your incisions clean as well. I sure have come along way from day 3 where I thought I would never leave the house. You will be looking beautiful in no time.

Thanks so much. My dr told me to get cream with vitamin E and also I got Silagen for scars. He will give me massage instructions tomorrow. I hope I can use normal shampoo and conditioner and comb my hair. My husband has been working on my incisions and I hope once all stitching removed it will be less maintenance for him. But he is not complaining. I am so happy I did all face in one time. I would not do it soon again. I never had real pain outside of first night until head wrap was removed. I wonder where r my bruising? Not complaining about it but maybe icing for 4 days none stop did the trick? I have no plans to leave house yet so I will see how I look.

Well my girlfriend that came with me and witnessed before during and after has told me my face looks great and I'm going to look even better as time goes on, now that is from my good friend. I saw my baby brother for the first time yesterday and the first thing he said was..."Why would you do that to yourself?" He kind of cringed when I showed him where I was cut but he wouldn't have noticed unless he was up close. He was aware what I was having done maybe not so much as detail just a FL. I haven't been really out there yet but will have everyone over for Christmas Dinner so that should be interesting. My boss said I looked young before and look even younger now that my face is nice and smooth with no wrinkles, lol, I never really had wrinkles before just jowls and lack of volume. She was also aware of FL, she said I looked late 30's early 40's, I'll take that. Not sure if she was just trying to be nice. Thanks for the compliment on looking great, I'm pretty hard on myself.

I know, I really hope it doesn't completely dissolve I like my face not looking so hollow. How much of your fat transfer do you believe stayed? I was also curious if you notice any difference with weight gain or loss. I tend to put approx. 20lbs on in the winter months then lose it again in the summer. I've actually put about 7lbs on since surgery.

Hi lucky,
I'd say apps 40% of the fat stayed. I've had several fat transfers over the last row years. My doc comp me when redoing my chin implant. Each time he would top off a little more. I've always been very thin and these past two years put on 10 lbs. everyone says I look so much better. I'm 5 7 and 130lbs. I'd recommend keeping weight on and add resistance training if not already doing gym. It helps to keep your body in good shape and keep the saggy skin away. :-)

I'm 5'6" (shrunk approx. !.5") and 142lbs today and was approx 137lbs the day of surgery. I have started getting on the treadmill and doing some Tae Bo which I badly need since sleeping in a recliner for about a month. I'm pretty stiff and sore and need to get back in shape. I love the way my face looks now, except I need botox for my eyebrows. It has been 6 weeks since PS do you think I will lose much more fat in my face?

Hi Lucky,
I know what you mean about trying to get back into working out. Drove me crazy and my poor neck was so tight and uncomfortable. I really don't know on the fat, it takes a couple of months for the final results. Keeping the weight steady will be helpful. I was happy with mine. But of course the 1st six months there is a lot of healing to be done. My touch ups were done as a comp from my dr during my chin implant drama which lasted two years. I guess that was a perk for all the freaking nitemares I had to go thru with my implant.

Hi, sorry it took so long to reply but Thank You! Yes, I'm very happy and much more confident since the alien looking days, lol. I have to keep looking at how I looked before the surgery because I need to see the real difference from then not from yesterday. I don't regret having anything done and am glad I decided on having the fat transfer, it really did make all the difference. Happy New Year's!!

Thank you :)

Thanks, I know, lol, I'm still hiding. I will be getting my stitches out tomorrow, hopefully, and I'm thinking of hooking up with my much younger sister. She knows what I had done and I want to see (she lives in Sudbury) her but I'm thinking maybe I should wait a bit longer till I look better, I'm thinking closer to Xmas.

Thank you :) I checked out your profile and you look very beautiful your PS has made you look natural and not done.

Thank you

I thank you for saying that, did you have fat grafting too? I find I can't open my mouth a whole lot been sticking with fluids mostly.

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I'm trying to be positive.

I know you can't see it yet but you actually look great for only 5 days post op.

Thank you... I know the worst is over, maybe I'll just write today off. I keep noticing something new like I might have pulled a stitch from inside my ear. I'm going to have to wait till Nov 11 and my PS will let me know then... I'm sure he will.

If it will make you feel better, you can call Monday, but probably one stitch is not a deal breaker. I had a brow lift with staples in my head for 2 weeks and pulled 2 out the first time I washed my hair. I was freaking out like there was going to be brain matter running down the drain, lol. My surgeon wasn't even concerned. but if it bothers you I would call Monday, if only to make yourself feel better. It's hard not to obsess about these kinds of things when you feel crappy and can't go anywhere :)

Thanks, I guess you can tell I'm a worrier. I have OCD and really cleaned the front/inside but am worried about cleaning it properly in the back without ripping that open. I have an aching in my left ear that I broke the stitch but I think I just got water in it. I know I have to just breathe, lol. Time to turn the Netflix on and escape for a while, I'm not able to sleep in the daytime.

:)

I hear you about the ice, I hope I didn't over do it :( I have stayed completely away from salt since forever. I can't change what I've done and can only try to stay positive. I will try to post more pictures later so we can see if there is much difference. Thank you for your advice.

I appreciate your optimism :) I do try to think of how nice the end result will be but unfortunately I have never been able to take naps.(makes the days long) I'm hopeful the one side of my face goes down to match the other. I've always been a quick healer and have noticed all but one small bruise remains and I'm just tight (good) and swollen still. I wish you good luck on your procedure and will be here for support. One thing I did want to mention which is different then any review I've read is that FOR ME I noticed I have more pain around 8pm and feel pretty good around 7am...it seems my face muscles,tendons,skin etc. gets wore out/sore as the day progresses.

Maybe you should get some sleeping aid? Or mussel relax meds? I was told day 4 is most difficult so you are just over it. Not sure why but most people say that. Good luck.

I have been on both for many years due to fibromyalgia, arthritis, IBS, etc. I take them approx. 1 hr before I want to sleep. If I don't take my sleeping or muscle meds, I WON'T SLEEP! Seriously I've tried for days at different times in the last 10+yrs and I can't sleep without them. So I don't want to overdue it and take them in the afternoon. Even when I was a child I never took naps. I'm happy if I get a straight 5 hrs of sleep at night. Right now I'm at 3hrs in a row last night and then I go right back for 1 or 2 more hrs, that is good enough for me right now. Hopefully by Xmas I'll be able to get my 7hrs of sleep before I'm up being mobile. Keeping my fingers crossed.