LOWER face lift...Nine months later.

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LOWER face lift. LOWER face lift.

I need to keep repeating that, because some of my pictures make me wonder what actually changed? I still have wrinkles around my eyes, and the old scar by my lower lip is an ever-increasing divet.

Some people include a brow lift with a lower face lift, but I opted out. I’m glad I did. For me, the healing process for the lower facelift has been long and difficult. I can’t imagine additional trauma.

But, I’m still glad I did it. My formerly sagging, sun-damaged neck looks fantastic. I’m not sure I like the “fat transfer” done to my cheeks; it was my surgeon’s idea, and I just said yes. Even now, I have a tingling sensation in the affected areas, and I wonder if the procedure made much difference. I never had problems with enough fat (who does?)

What is up with my lip…?

So, here is the nine-month update.

Part of my procedure included correction of deep vertical lines on my top lip. I have never been a smoker, but after more than two decades of extreme work and stress the lines were “well earned”. It’s my understanding the surgeon separated the top layers of skin to break up the deep wrinkles, and added a touch of botox to the area. After the surgery, I had stitches on each outer nostril, and each corner of my mouth. Ouch! I had great expectations, but the vertical lines never went away. Lately the skin over the left side of my top lip “pulls” horizontally as well as vertically. We shall see how this plays out. When I drink lots of water it’s less noticeable, so I wonder how much of my problems have to do with hydration.

I go back and forth about whether the “work” has changed my life in a positive way. I realize that at this stage of the game for acting and modeling, I need to pick an age, pick a look…to get jobs. They say “Old is Gold”, but who defines old anymore? On my acting resume, I say that I can play age 45 - 55. I’m 58. Forget about the facial choices, what about hair?!? I’m getting my mother’s gray streak. Do I let it go? Some people are gray at 45. Will I get jobs with this? What about the dark brown hair underneath. IS my hair dark brown? I’ve been doing heavy highlights for so long, I don’t remember.

Before this starts to sound like a mid-life crisis (IS IT??? IS IT???)….

The worst “If Anyone Had Told Me” item is the numbness and stinging I still feel behind my ears, and in front of them up to the temples. In addition, the adjusted muscles in my neck are still extremely tight. There are some yoga moves I simply can’t do anymore. It’s uncomfortable to drop my head during a reverse plank — I can’t lift it again — the muscles feel tense, and numb. I can, however, now lean my head back somewhat during sun salutations. Turning my head from left to right is finally “loosening up”.

Last week I dared to return to my chiropractor for the first time since the surgery. I told him to be extra careful, and he must have listened, because he didn’t pull or stress my neck muscles at all. Happily, he was able to do a full, much needed, adjustment. I actually had an emotional response afterward, tearing up as I experimented with careful head turns. It was gratefulness, and joy of simple movement. They say you don’t miss something until you don’t have it any more. The ability to look from side to side without pain or pressure is so important. With my neck mobility returned, I feel safer driving and riding my bike.

So, onward. As I’ve said in previous posts, the post-op effects of a facelift surgery can last for a year or more. I still have a “stuffy” feeling in my left ear, and sometimes both ears, so there must be some residual swelling going on somewhere. The skin behind my ears is still incredibly sensitive, both painful/numb when touched. The area in front of my ears to my cheek “fat transfer” area is still tingly and partially numb. But, the areas continue to slowly improve, as I notice these things less and less. I look forward to the one year mark, when hopefully both sides of my face will feel normal again.