FACELIFT POST-OP: One Month Follow-Up

WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!! GRAPHIC SURGERY IMAGES!!!!!!!!!!!!! WARNING!!!!!!!!!!! GRAPHIC SURGERY IMAGES!!!!!!!!!!!!! WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Right ear scars are more “pink”. No hair growth on scar lines yet.

I was torn about how to act when I met with my surgeon for the one-month post-op appointment. On one hand, I wanted to whine about how LOOOONG it was taking to feel my face, ears and neck again. On the other, I wanted to thank her profusely for changing my appearance so much — almost TOO much!

There were definitely questions I wanted answers for, and I didn’t want to be “that” patient, so decided to stay positive. I explained how I was feeling, and she told me it was normal, and sensation would eventually return to the sides of my face. Thankfully she didn’t say “everything is progressing faster than normal”. She quickly checked the scar areas and said nothing. I guess that is good.

SO, my big questions: Where did the fat harvested from my stomach actually go, and what the heck is the “meso-mix” and where did it end up? (See my last post for more info on my lack of knowledge regarding what was put into my face).

She told me the fat actually went into the “apples” of my cheeks to build them up, and the treatment should be permanent. I noted the cheeks were still tingly, and didn’t feel “right” when I smiled. She expected that as swelling continued to go down around the temples that this sensation would resolve itself.

Six weeks post-op and still some bruising.

The “Meso Mix” does indeed contain some Botox along with peptides and other collagen-builders. It was primarily used to fix the deep lines on my upper lips, and fill an old scar below my lower lip. She said it was a proprietary mixture that she learned at a master class with an Alabama based surgeon just before Covid struck. So, if you like what you see, I guess you’ll have to use my surgeon or one of her peers. I haven’t given her name because I’d prefer to ask her permission. But, if you really want to know, email me at riversagefarm@gmail.com. I will confidentially let you know.

HERE are my take-aways from Week 5 - Week 6 (tomorrow is the 6-week anniversary!)

Left ear…still a mess, but continuing to heal

I thought the scabs would be gone by now. They most definitely are NOT. The ones behind my ears seem to be the last to go. Also: The hair is gone in all the scar areas, and there is no sign of new growth yet. So, still wearing my hair down all the time.
Waking up is still hard to do. My neck muscles continue to be tight and throb for the first 20 minutes each day. I gently stretch, but every day is the same. I guess it’s getting better, but it’s pretty imperceptible.
This week we travelled to see my grandkids. I had thought that one month after the surgery that I’d be 100%. My seven-year-old granddaughter started to play with my hair, and I had to distract her so she wouldn’t be scared by the appearance of the continuing scabs and scars.
Keep water at your bedside for the first couple weeks after giving up the facial support strap. If your neck muscles are still tight, they may “cramp up” during the night or early morning and pull your mouth open a bit. I woke up several times with a mouth that felt like the parched surface of a desert.
My face and neck look great, but my smile still looks kind of tight. I had asked my doctor is there was some type of physical therapy, massage or stretching I should be doing for my neck and ear/temple area, and she said no; the muscles will relax over time on their own with normal use.

Bottom line, if you planned to be back to normal in two weeks or even a month, think again. A face and neck lift is major surgery, and you’re going to look like you had major surgery for a while. Everyone heals differently, and some may heal faster, but it’s wise to go in with realistic expectations. And be willing to adjust your expectations as the healing drags on, and on, and on.