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Hi guys. I'm going to respond to Rose's new post, but in the meantime, I have looked for posts that talk about one month post op and didn't find many - so thought I'd take the opportunity to try to contribute.
I just got back from the PS. I wasn't scheduled for another 2 weeks, but had things I just really wanted to talk to him about. Bottom line, I'm more swollen than most. , but I pretty much knew that. I have not found ANYTHING, ANYWHERE, that has told me how to solve this problem. Nothing I can do about it! No miracle drugs, no ice, no herbs, nothing. If I notice it more when I have salt - don't eat salt - if more when I sleep with my head turned sideways - sleep with my head straight. Says it will be 3 months before I can expect to be totally back to normal. Suggested I continue to sleep on recliner, but guess what - they came and took it back today (1 month) There's a biggggg space where it sat this a.m. when I went to work. He said I can sleep in any position I want/can - it won't do any harm, but should pay attention to what my swelling, cheeks, ears, neck are telling me. I WANT MY CHAIR BACK
He gave me three cortisone shots on each side of my face along the side of my no sun and then sunscreen for life and sunscreen/sunglass for rest of summer. I will have to say, the peel is pretty incredible with the chance it made. But it's only for those that are prepared and can handle the recovery. Since it doesn't seem that many people have this done, I won't go on and on, but if interested in more info, feel free to email me.
Neck - Monday, I blew my little something to help you sleep the first couple of times, but may be worth a try. I still have to sleep upright with head straight as well ...
Good luck, and talk to you soon! (I won't be out too long hopefully )
Kaye


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how come you guys Kim and Marion got a shot of cortisone for your hematoma and I didnt? Why wasnt I offered that? My lump refuses to leave me,when I see the dr next week I am going to ask him for a shot of cortisone in my lump,I have been trying to "break it up" with hot towels but its not working, its really hard too doesnt seem like it will ever go. and here it is over 3 weeks and my "dissolveable stitches" refuse to dissolve,it looks like I have a bunch of white hairs under my eye.I get so tired sleeping on my back andwhen I do accidentally sleep on side that side of my face swells up in the morning! Lol/mmh/product/liposuction/index.vm?procid=9" target=_blank>lipop PS I broke the rules and dyed my hair today I just could not stand that grey!


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Hi Lollipop. I do have have a hematoma - just excessive swelling.


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Awwww....Kim......you a WHINER???? NEVER!!!! Your detailed posts have been the most helpful reading for me every time I get discouraged about my own "slow to heal" parts. You and I seem to have a very similar one month's result re. swelling. I am VERY swollen. Yesterday, the aliens acted up AGAIN! And up came the snarly lip from the terrific swelling near my mouth and jaw.
The only thing I console myself with is that everythings that's bothering me has improved at least a little bit each week. So.....I guess that is the "shape of things to come". Bit by bit!!
Lollipop-- Alice's under-/mmh/product/eyelidsurgery/index.vm?procid=6" target=_blank>eye dissolvable stitches did not dissolve either--so the /directory/index.php" target=_blank>doctor had to take them out last week. Perhaps you should ask him about this.
Anyway, thanks for this update, Kim--why, it was so good, I read it twice!
hugs, Lynn


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Hiya Kim! I didn't hear a single solitary whine from you. Just very honest reporting. Plus, you made those of us who are "slow healers" feel loads better! Probably the scariest part of this all is when you feel your healing is 'abnormal.' What a relief to hear one's own 'ailments' being described blow-by-blow!
That's really interesting about your internal stitches "popping." Whoa! First I've heard of that! Am so glad you mentioned this. So now if it happens to me, I won't think that my entire facelift is about to "unravel!"
You mentioned the "band of skin/swelling under the lower lids when you smile" -- Lynn and I have that. It's sorta puffy and makes you think, "Well, heck! Didn't the Dr. take out enough fat??" But it's just swelling, so don't worry.
That numbness around the upper cheeks and ears is a real bummer. And, like you said, it's so weird when you have an itch. The thing of it is....even tho you can't feel it, when you scratch an itch, the body should react the same way it does when you DO have sensation. It should alleviate the itch! - even tho we don't feel it! (I read an interesting article last year about "itching" and its relation to pain. Wish I could remember the author's conclusions....!)
Oh! One other thought about 'itching.' If you get an area that is making you crazy, put one of those freezable ice bags (reusable cold compress) on it. Best way to alleviate an itch!
As for sleeping without a recliner, definitely build yourself a little nest. I "build" plump pillows behind me with a neck pillow as the tip of the pyramid! Then, I put pillows on both sides of me to act as "arm rests." The more I heal, the lower I build the pyramid so I can recline more. (And, of course, it helps to have a hairy Shih Tzu 'spooning' right next to you so you can't roll over! )
By the way, I'm very interested in the peel -- what exactly it did. I know that a facelift doesn't address the lines around the /mmh/product/eyelidsurgery/index.vm?procid=6" target=_blank>eyes and mouth. I'm just a little nervous about peels that are "too invasive." And it sounds like your surgeon was rightfully cautious. It's great that you're getting such a good result!
Thanks SO much for your update, Kim! That's the kind of info that is so very helpful to all of us. Hugs and keep up the good healing!
TwinA (Alice)


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Hi Alice. Thanks for your comments and suggestions. I'll have to try to ice pack. There are times I have an itch and I just want to pull and tug and do anything I can to relieve it. I think it might have something to do with the nerves healing.
The peel. The peel I had was called /mmh/product/chemicalpeel/index.vm?procid=4" target=_blank>Phenol Peel. If you read about it on the internet, you would probably never do it. My PS did a "lighter" more conservative version of what is described. Why he would do that vs a different type, I don't know. I have read a lot of people get a /mmh/product/chemicalpeel/home_peels/tca/index.vm?procid=4&catid=1045&subcatid=1047" target=_blank>TCA through their PS. (there's lighter versions you can do at home). I saw a woman the other day who had the TCA. Her one /mmh/product/eyelidsurgery/index.vm?procid=6" target=_blank>eye was every bit as red as my "bad" eye and she still had /mmh/product/beauty/index.vm?procid=13" target=_blank>wrinkles.
The phenol peel is only used on the face and is the strongest/deepest. It can take away skin pigmentation, freckles, but also wrinkles (I've seen /pictures/index.php" target=_blank>pictures of people with reallllly deep wrinkles that disappear, /mmh/product/beauty/acne/index.vm?procid=13&catid=205" target=_blank>acne /mmh/product/scar_reduction/index.vm?procid=42" target=_blank>scars, pre-cancerous spots, etc., so is not used on dark(er) skinned people. I have light olive skin. He thought I'd be okay because of the "lighter" strength. But I went into it knowing that there MIGHT be a visable permanent loss of pigmentation, needing some /mmh/product/makeup/index.vm?procid=54" target=_blank>makeup to cover. I do not believe that is going to be a case specifically with one eye. The other eye is healing slower. He "feathered" the peel to try to blend it in. It starts from the inside corner of my eye and down like a half moon to oh, I'd say just below my cheek and up to the outter edge removing most of my crows feet.
I did not have any discomfort with it, but I don't know if that's because of everything else going on and I was on pain meds for the first couple of days. They DO use anesthesia to do these procedures and they do prescribe pain meds, so I assume it can be uncomfortable.
I had to wear a very heavy cream (some use vasaline), which had to be rinsed off and reapplied 5 or 6 times per day. It is gross for a few days, oozing, etc. It was tough because I couldn't let the ice gauze for my eyes /mmh/product/eyelidsurgery/index.vm?procid=6" target=_blank>bleph get on it.
On the 5th day, I went back to the PS and I could then start using a much lighter cream. At about this time, it started crusting and peeling.
At this stage, one under eye is much "redder/pinker" than the other. I do need to wear Jane Iredale makeup on them to cover it up. I can still see it somewhat through the makeup, but noone has commented on seeing it. He said it would probably take 3 months before no coverup would be necessary. One eye, I could probably use regular makeup to cover vs. the heavier Iredale.
How does it look........great. He did a inside eyelid incision to remove fat and then did the peel to remove lots of fine lines as well as tighten the skin (when burned skin heals, it naturally tighens), vs. removing fat and skin. When I am not smiling - everything is totally smooth with no wrinkles. When I smile, there are some faint wrinkles which he can "touch-up" if I want later on.
I still have crows feet when I smile, but I use to have them even when I didn't smile.
These peels are also great for around the upper lip. I need something done to that area also, but he wants me to wait a while until they come up with a permanent "filler" that he's excited about.
Hope you and Lynn are having a nice Saturday. Hugs Kim