Question
What would I have done without you lot and this Forum before and after my surgery?
I have recently had (26 days ago) upper eyelid, brow lift, mid /mmh/product/facelift/index.vm?procid=7" target=_blank>face lift, /mmh/product/liposuction/index.vm?procid=9" target=_blank>lipo on chin and neck.
Feeling a little better this weekend as I finally managed to put on eye shadow and my eyes looked stunning.
I have had a serious problem with swelling as I developed an allergy to the bandages and my head was like a football for two weeks.
A few problems have popped up like a walnut sized swelling on my right cheek which looks like a cheek implant but doesnt match my other side. PS says massage as much as possible and I have noticed some improvement but maybe it is wishful thinking.
My stitches behind my right ear have still not healed and they weep a lot but don't seem to be infected.
I get shooting pains around my chin that take me by surprise but are not enough to warrant a re visit (yet ) to my PS.
When I eat , the first mouthful seems to set off a reaction under my chin that appears to relate to my salivary glands. Not painful but very strange.
BUT my Worst fear is my smile and my laugh. It has gone unless I close my mouth and look like Miss Mousy.
I always loved my big smile in photo's and now when I try it is like a grimace with my top lip pulled back tight across my teeth. When I laugh out loud I have to put my hand across my mouth and a friend asked me today if I had had false teeth fitted and not to be embarressed.
Please tell me it will come back.........
All in all, except for my smile I am feeling pretty OK about it all. I have had the blues last week as my swelling still sems to come and go and I suppose we are all looking for a miracle. It doesn't help that some of you guys looked stunning and ready to go clubbing at 5 days post op.
So any lumps out there? Any bodies smile come back and when? Please right now I need a little reasurance so maybe I do still have the blues.


Answer
Hi Turkishbabe. Sounds like you may be in that slump time that we all go through when it's hard to imagine the finished product. So many issues to deal with and so many what ifs. But at only 26 days you've got a long way to go. One of these days you'll wake up and find that some of those problems have magically disappeared. Some new ones might even crop up, but they'll eventually disappear as well. Most of us have had something or other we weren't happy about. I venture to say even those who look like they could go clubbing at 5 days. (I'm so jealous)
I have a smile issue too. You can take a look at my photos if you like. Just e-mail me and I'll give you the password. It is gradually improving. I'm at exactly 4 months today. The ps said it might take 6 months to a year to be completely normal. Oh Goody!!! I mostly just kind of duck my head or look away when I laugh and smile big. But sometimes I just think Oh What the Heck, and smile without trying to hide it. Anyway, I think everything you're experiencing is pretty normal, except maybe the allergy thing. Insult to injury there!!! I'm glad you're over that. Please keep your chin up, as it I bet it won't be long before you'll see vast improvements.Age: 59
Facelift & necklift 6/29/06


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Hi Turkishbabe, one of the twins Lynn had the smile issue and i believe it resolved at about 4 months but i am sure she will be along later to tell you about it.
ShirleySMAS face and necklift
8th March 2006
Age 53


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Hi Turkishbabe, I see you had the blues, we all get it about the second week. Your smile will come back I am sure, you are still swollen and there is a lot going on beneath the skin we don't know about. I think refreshme had the smile issue too.Chez x
I can resist anything but temptation-- Oscar Wilde
Age 59 f/l neck lift u/l bleph ear lobe reduction
June 12 2006


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I do hope so ...my smile was my thing.
I had my surgery in Turkey by the way and it was a third of the price of the UK and states. I will do a thread about it later as it really is a marvelous clinic.


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Turkishbabe, I still have the smile problem at almost 6 months post op. Each day I see it getting better but it is annoying, I have to remind myself not to smile big. I've practiced in the mirror what smile looks acceptable. I'm having gum surgery this morning, I'm hoping it won't do anything to the smile to make it worse. PS assured me it won't! patience, patience, patience I'm begining to hate that word!!!! Sharon
age 55
5/24/06 FL, NL and lower eyes excess skin removed
1999 lipo of outer/inner thighs and stomach
1993 upper/ lower Bleph


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Hi turkishable,
I am about 24 days post op. I don't have the smile problem but I do have the swelling problem. You can look at my photos (password india) I am horrified at how long it is taking for the swelling to go down. I feel a freak.I also have very bad tightness feelings. I wish I could turn the clock back..I would never have had this done if I had known....nobody prepared me for this...I thought by 3 weeks I wouls see something that made me happy. I can only wait...they tell me patience is a virtue...and I am running out of it!
Linda


Answer
dear linda.
it is only three weeks or so for your procedure. you look great. the swelling will come and go for a while. i had eyes face and neck done back in 2000. and it took along time to be completely right.
i had a hematoma on my neck that took about 4 months to resolve.
i wish you had some befores to compare. you would be so amazed to look at them side by side.
eventually the swelling will all go away, and you will be thrilled. i can tell by what i see at this time frame that you will have a fablous final result.
if you want to see swelling look at one of the twins, can;t remember if it was lynn or alice....then you can complain about swelling. it was the most extreme case i have ever seen. she can give you some encouragement. very nice ladies, both twins.
good luck, and don't despair. if you look this good at this amount of time you will be just fine.
barbt5343.


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Helo Barbt,
Many thanks for your very kind words. I want to cry when you all write such nice things...your words really encourage me. It is just this swelling that really is getting me down....every morning I get up and go to the mirror to see if it has gone. I took myself shopping today...christmas parties around the corner...I have bought the new black dress. Please swelling go down for the christmas dance.
Thanks Barbt you cheered me up.. I feel guilty you all seem so positive and I just keep moaning!!!


Answer
I developed allergies to a few things and the main one was the elastic bandage. If you are still wearing it then try a day with out it and see what happens. Also I was swollen every morning and jsut burst into tears until I changed my pillows to anti allergy ones.
I am still a little swollen at 28 days but loving the results so far. Hang on in there.