Just an update, today is day 14 po, feeling pretty good after some scares, my hematomas continues to bother me but is much better, swelling, numbness, tightnessand bruises of course is still an issue, but from what I gather it is normal, I go home Friday, April 1, ¨fools day, funny huh, any way the dr/ps said my swelling , hematoma etc. should all resolve it self over time, is this correct, someone please tell me this is so, I look forward to any updates from all you out there, this site has been such a help but noticed that after a while you do not hear from the progress on the facelits, I guess once they are better they move on, we still need your info on how long it all takes and the results of the facelift, did all the issues resolve themselves. looking forward to hearing from you all and thank you Joan for all your input
carmen in Costa Rica
carmen in Costa Rica
Hi CRica, I didn't get a hematoma but lots of pople have on this site and they have given a lot of advice. If your doctor feels it doesn't need draining and will go away, I think you can feel confident at this stage that it will. When I got back home from Thailand, I saw a cosmetic surgeon a few weeks later because I was worried about swelling and a large fatty lump. When he examined my behind ear scars, he saw that they were infected and he removed a huge thick scab behind one ear. Under the scab was a ridge of raised scar tissue. This has since flattened. I had to bathe behind my ears and into the hair line where the incisions were, with an antiseptic solution for 2 weeks. I did lose a small patch of hair follicles due to infection. So I advise to have follow up checks with a doctor where you live.
thank you Joan, I do intend on seeing a doctor when I get home, just hope they will treat any issues I may have, the ps has drained my hematoma 3X, it looks ok now, but only time will tell, I too have some scabs behind, thanks for the heads up, this is a uper site for these kinds of questions, 3 weeks for me tomorow, I feel great but of course still have all those issues, swelling, tight, numb and bruises, but I counting on my board certified PS that all is going well, again thanks Joan, I will post any changes and updates, I know I appreciate everyones input, thanks
carmen in Costa Rica but going home to Florida Friday
carmen in Costa Rica but going home to Florida Friday
So Joan, what does the dr. say about your tight and stiffness still after over 6 ms. is it normal? is that what i have to look forward to, I am 16 days po, my hematoma is better but have all those issues, as far as the tight and numbness, can anyone else tell, does it look normal, just need to know what to expect, thanks
Hi CRica, I don't communicate by email anymore with my ps, who is American board certified and trained, but lives in Thailand. Everything I've been concerned about, his answer always is, it will resolve in time. Face lift complete healing takes up to 12 months. Some people have said nerve regeneration has taken longer for them. One lady on another website said years later nerves had not regrown and her numbness was permanent. I can move my face normally but still can't smile fully on one side. The ps said to exersice the muscle by purseing my lips. I'm not fully convinced this will help, as it hasn't so far, but I keep doing it. Not all facelifts are as extensive as what I had done, a local surgeon told me. He stays clear of the smile muscles, which extend to above the cheeks, mainly concentrating on the lower face and neck, to keep adverse results to a minimum.
Hi Joan, our ps in Thailand wants me to send another photo at six months. I am tired of looking at my photo and being so disappointed. I am at 4 months 3 weeks now and my pain level has gotten alot better. I am consistently on Advil to help with the swelling as my face is STILL swollen. There are still lumps behind my ears and I probably should massage them more. I can sleep at night now without an ice pack (that has only stopped in the last three weeks). Little hairline hairs are now growing and covering up most of the scar on my forehead and I think it won't be noticable within the year. I'm hoping to ignore the whole mess and look up one day between six months and a year and like what I see.
Hi all, three weeks ago today had my full face lift in Costa Rica, now home thankfully, I did have a hematoma but it is gettig better, had it drained 3x, swelling and bruising going down every day, but I was really worried, going to my Dr today about the area behind my ears, Joan gave me heads up on possible infection, hang in there, I think things will heal in time, at least I hope so, getting a little tired of being inside though, please continue to post, I just want reassurance that time really does heal
thanks for all your input
thanks for all your input
this is for help on the Hard lumps on my face after surgery, it will be 4 weeks on Wed, 4/13, most of bruising is gone but hard lumps still persist, what can I do, will they go away on there own
Are the hard lumps really swelling? Mine was a solid hard cheek...it is 5 months 1 week for me, and I still have the swelling but it is getting alittle softer and going down in size......very very very SLOWWWWWWLY. I hear it can take up to one year. For my swelling, I use advil now only....plus ice packs occasionally when it hurts.
wannabncanada, thanks, My hard lumps are not swelling, but they are still puffy, one side more than the other because of the hematoma, I was hoping it would not take so long for the lums to go away, but I have noticed that I still have lite bruising, seems to be getting better, but still there, dose that take as long as the lumps. but I do see progress, keep posting, I like to hear on how you are doing
Hi - still trying to reach Joan1 - Joan1, I didn't get your pm, please resend and hopefully I can respond. Internet Explorer browser is not working on my system to reach this site, so I haven't been able to respond or post a message. C.Rica - I totally understand why you want to hear from other people, who have had their surgery and how long everything actually takes. I guess it differs with people. What I can't understand is how the movie stars do it and don't have swelling issues as I have had. If given the choice again - if they would have told me it would be well over 5 months before I would have a "normal" unswollen face again, I would have opted for a less drastic face lift. What I have learned? NEVER AGAIN.
Hi all, I see some recent posts are missing. A temporary message came up from host saying there were problems Apr 13-15.
Some of the missing posts - CRica asked if it's better to use cold or hot packs, and I answered this. Also I said how you can send private messages. So here it is again. , Complete 5 logged-in posts. Then can click on yellow envelope symbol above people's avatar when they have made logged-in posts. I contacted the website and that's what I was told. Wanabncanada hasn't received my pm...damn, I hope a 2nd try will work!
wanabncanada, did you get my p/m today? I have picked out this new avatar from the gallery. It's half a face, because that's all I'm happy with since the f/l !!!!!
Okay, so this site says I have only posted 3 times? Is this a bizarre counting system, because I KNOW I have posted more than 3 times - perhaps in different subjects.....but I have been on since November/December....strange. I STILL cannot send private messages. I got a test message from you Joan. So I am posting this as time number FOUR perhaps? (do you hear the sarcasm in my voice?!) Anyway - this is for anyone who has had a facelift or someone considering it; after my surgery, my ps gave me 2 long ice packs to use. I asked for MORE and they acted as if they were gold, and very expensive and wouldn't even let me buy a few extra. Immediately after the surgery, still in the hospital, several of the nurses who came in were VERY inept and didn't even know how to put them around my face. Now, 5 months 1 week, after the surgery I am still using these wonderful packs! They are perfect for hangovers, and hot flashes also! So, when I wake up at 2, 3 or 4 a.m. feeling one of those hot flashes coming on, I grab one of those out of the freezer and put them behind my neck - GREAT instant relief! After the hot flash passes, I can use them on my swollen cheeks and I think it helps the swelling. C.Rica - I never had really any lumps on my actual face I don't think, it was AND IS mostly just "hard" cheeks that make me look FAT. I've always had a round face, but this surgery SURE didn't help THAT. Joan1 - you still are not satisfied with HALF of your face? This alarms me, since you are about two months past where I am. Okay - this is post #4 according to Steady Health, correct?!!!!!
I just posted a message - but a note came up and said I wasn't registered or logged in. I was BOTH OF THOSE. So, here is ANOTHER message....C.Rica - I did have lumps on my neck, lymph node lumps that would get very painful, especially in the afternoons, between 1-4 months post-op. These alarmed me, but they did go away. As I said before, I never used pain drugs much at all in my life, during any other surgeries. But for this face lift, I had more drugs than I've EVER taken for pain. The most helpful one was one that is supposedly off the market in some countries and my p.s. recommended (THAT didn't seem wise) - but it was Celebrex and although I was warned against it from Joan1, I carefully used it at half dosage for one month and did get some relief then. After that I switched to Advil, MORE than recommended, and now don't need anything at all (although the swelling is STILL there noticeably on one side of my face). Okay, this is post number 4 or 5???? Guess it depends on whether SteadyHealth will acknowledge this post since they haven't on so many of them.