OMG you guys, I am so sorry to hear that you all are having so many post-op complications. I had my full face and neck lift and rhinoplasty (breaking nose and have a cartalidge graft to one nostril, shaving down bridge, nostril reduction) 5 weeks and one day ago. I returned to work 11 days after surgery and everyone said I looked great. I had no hematomas and bruising and swelling was all but gone. I have read all your posts and I have not heard of one of you having drains placed somewhere behind the ear area extending under the tissue of the neck, under the initial large bandage. They collect fluid build up for the first 24 hours after surgery and are removed the 2nd day post-op when returning to have the initial bulky bandage removed. The right drain was about half full and the left drain was about 1/3 full. I did have more swelling on the left side. I'm thinking that that the drain did not work as well on that side. Now both sides have no swelling at all. I was give solu-cortef IV during the procedure to prevent swelling. Did any of you get that. I also was given a "bruise/swelling" cream that I was to apply 2 weeks prior to the surgery to the areas that were likely to bruise/swell. I was told the cream increases circulation to the area. I was told to start using it again 4 days after surgery as he didn't want me to message the areas until the skin/muscle began to become firmly attached to the underlying structure. When I began using it again after surgery, the bruising and what swelling there was, was noticeably better in the morning and continued to get better daily.The doctor gave me a jaw bra the day after surgery when he removed the drains and bulky dressing which I wore for the first 5 days 24x7 unless showering. I was also on 750 mg of Keflex (antibiotic) for the first 7 days post-op to reduce the likelyhood of infection and in fact the stitches(disolvable) inside my ears and around the back of my ears healed great, and are completely dissolved. I also used triple antibiotic ointment on them after a thorough washing once a day. I do have one small lump under my right cheekbone that is slowly going away and is only palpable now and not visable to anyone. I also have a small indentation under my left cheek that is continuing to resolve that is also only noticeable to me. I do have numbness that gets better every day as it recedes from my midface to my ears. My neck looked tight from day one and I think it was because of the jaw bra..Did you guys get one of those..if not you can order them online for about $25.00 dollars. Again sorry to hear you are having problems..just keep the faith and keep seeing your surgeon.
Dharma.Lotus wrote:
Dharma.lotus
OMG you guys, I am so sorry to hear that you all are having so many post-op complications. I had my full face and neck lift and rhinoplasty (breaking nose and have a cartalidge graft to one nostril, shaving down bridge, nostril reduction) 5 weeks and one day ago. I returned to work 11 days after surgery and everyone said I looked great. I had no hematomas and bruising and swelling was all but gone. I have read all your posts and I have not heard of one of you having drains placed somewhere behind the ear area extending under the tissue of the neck, under the initial large bandage. They collect fluid build up for the first 24 hours after surgery and are removed the 2nd day post-op when returning to have the initial bulky bandage removed. The right drain was about half full and the left drain was about 1/3 full. I did have more swelling on the left side. I'm thinking that that the drain did not work as well on that side. Now both sides have no swelling at all. I was give solu-cortef IV during the procedure to prevent swelling. Did any of you get that. I also was given a "bruise/swelling" cream that I was to apply 2 weeks prior to the surgery to the areas that were likely to bruise/swell. I was told the cream increases circulation to the area. I was told to start using it again 4 days after surgery as he didn't want me to message the areas until the skin/muscle began to become firmly attached to the underlying structure. When I began using it again after surgery, the bruising and what swelling there was, was noticeably better in the morning and continued to get better daily.The doctor gave me a jaw bra the day after surgery when he removed the drains and bulky dressing which I wore for the first 5 days 24x7 unless showering. I was also on 750 mg of Keflex (antibiotic) for the first 7 days post-op to reduce the likelyhood of infection and in fact the stitches(disolvable) inside my ears and around the back of my ears healed great, and are completely dissolved. I also used triple antibiotic ointment on them after a thorough washing once a day. I do have one small lump under my right cheekbone that is slowly going away and is only palpable now and not visable to anyone. I also have a small indentation under my left cheek that is continuing to resolve that is also only noticeable to me. I do have numbness that gets better every day as it recedes from my midface to my ears. My neck looked tight from day one and I think it was because of the jaw bra..Did you guys get one of those..if not you can order them online for about $25.00 dollars. Again sorry to hear you are having problems..just keep the faith and keep seeing your surgeon.
Lucky you DharmaL!! Can you tell us your surgeon's name and location? It may be of interest to others considering this surgery. If a surgeon likes the jaw bra, he will recommend it. Mine doesn't. Patients have to go along with what their surgeon tells them to do.
His name is Dr. Brill out of Gainesville, Florida..he is the best plastic surgeon in this area.
To daniju and whomever else is wondering how long the pain, swelling etc. last. This is just an update; I had a full facelift and eyes done (the works) last November. It is now 11 months. My closest friends think I look younger, no wrinkles but do notice one side is still swollen. (as if I have gained alot of weight lopsidedly). After 11 months, I am still slightly swollen, pain enough on the ears where I STILL occasionally sleep ON TOP of an ice pack at night, and my ears are knotted and loopy behind where no one can see, but I get grossed out when I touch them and try to knead/smooth the small lumps out.
I have been told on this board and elsewhere it takes one year for everything to settle and be normal. I do not anticipate that everything will be fine in one more month. My friend said she wanted to do it and look like I came out - but I reminded her how many drugs I was on over the past year, the steroid infusion that helped slightly and how I would sit in my chair at night for the first six months watching the clock just so I could take a sleeping pill to knock myself out, to be out of pain. On the upside, I never had a surprised look in my face from the forehead lift portion, on the downside, the side I was initially concerned about drooping, STILL droops slightly. Worth it? Hell no.
My scars behind my ears are bad. One has a keloid lump and the other side has a long ridge where the 2 edges weren't sown together properly in the first place. I'm told needling by a cosmetic dr. can help scars. Also to my horror, I now have large patches of vitiligo surrounding these scars and even some on the scar in front of my ear. I can only tie my hair back when no-one can see me. I've just done an oral zinc test and found I'm deficient, even though blood tests show I'm not. I have a condition called pyroluria which causes zinc and B6 deficiency, but thought I was supplementing correctly. My naturopath said the deficiency would have affected my healing. He may be able to improve the vitiligo as he's had results with treating it in the past... here's hoping! No, the op wasn't worth it. I'd rather look completely normal than younger with a lump and awful scars.
To Joan1 - I am so sad and sorry you haven't progressed much after an entire year. I am heading back to Bangkok in a few weeks but REFUSE to go NEAR Bumrungrad or Dr. Teerasit. My face lift results, although not nearly as horrific as what you have experienced (with fillers needed etc.), was not worth the ten thousand dollars spent (excluding all the medications and follow-ups needed with other plastic surgeons). I wonder how the doctor could have screwed up both of our ears so badly.
But something keeps reminding me of the comment his assistant made when looking at me before the surgery; she looked at my ears and seemed visually relieved; as she said "oh good, you have small ears and the swelling/healing won't be so noticeable". I think his technique is shoddy if he hasn't perfected the ear area where the scars should be hidden. I am surprised that the scars in front of my ears and behind my ears are still in pain when touched.
Also, if there is anyone out there having surgery at Bumrungrad in Bangkok, I recommend you have an advocate there with you post-op. The nurses' English is much more limited than they lead you to believe. The doctor repeatedly told them they were not changing my ice bags enough because every time he would come in to check on me, they would be tepid. I was alone and had no way of changing them myself as my eyes were bandaged. Little did I know, but there was a refrigerator IN THE ROOM that would have been helpful to keep the ice packs in for me to get them myself instead of waiting for nurses who didn't come in often enough in the 12-24 hours after surgery.
Joan1, I hope you have found a good homeopathic type of expert to help you with your zinc and B6 deficiency. I am also seeing a natural type of doctor (former pharmicist/chemist) and she has me on natural progesterones, melatonin for sleep, vitamin D and calcium to help with bone loss (not to do with the face lift) but just trying to get healthier as I age. These vitamins are not from a generic health food store and I'm going to give it a year commitment to see if it helps with blood and bone density scan results. I'll think of you as I fly through Bangkok.
I had my surgery done 6 weeks and had a large hematoma. Jut wondering if you have recovered fully and what treatment you did to do so.
Regards
thanks for your article of encouragement. It helped me so much to have some hope after reading all the BAD BAD things that happened to
people. It seems like everybody else felt just as I do now...discouraged VERY VERY much....afraid to see my husband and friends too....
My husband was fine with the way my face looked but because I didn't want a chicken neck he let me go ahead & do the surgery.
Hope he still likes my face.
THe biggest thing is: NO DOCTOR or article I read ever told me the real facts about the down side. A LITTLE SWOLLEN, a LITTLE
BRUISED...everything was minimized as though it would be fine in 2 weeks....."go back to work in 2 weeks".....this is a big lie and I feel
it should be addressed properly. It's false advertising. It makes us scared too cause we think whats happening to us is unusual.
The adds never mention that you have to sleep on your back elevated for weeks.... they never mention the awful pain you get for a few
days afterward....they say "sometimes there is severe pain"..............well in today's age, there is always some kind of pain killer, so you
figure they can take care of the pain somehow.....but they don't. You lie there in the dark and suffer and wonder why on earth you ever
mutilated your body...... Right now....i am very very angry at myself for it. I just want to cry, but of course, I don't cause it hurts too much.
SO....it was nice to know there is some hope up the road somewhere....after everybody I know on earth will find out what I "secretly" had
done. I could always say I had a bad motorcycle accident! Thanks Carolruth
I had a Face lift 2 weeks ago, while under surgery my hematoma started. The surgeon saw it start and did noting to drain it, just sat and cauterised it and hoped for the best!! I am 2 weeks later worse bruised black and blue with one side that is abnormaly swollen, I look like a battered wife and feel very depressed. The surgeon just says, leave it!, but I have to face people, I work for a living, I don't just sit at home with servants to run my errands for me. They also caused nerve damage in my forearms by strapping me down too tight on the theatre bed. I can't get this hematoma to go away, it is staying large and hard. My arms arms are also causing me grief as I can't lift things and am also told to wait here, it will come back to normal. How will I know?..... (I don't know how many cups I've broken, struggle to lift parcels into the boot of the car. Well I am so depressed now..I don't think I will ever be nornal again. I live alone, so it makes it even more difficult. I think if I knew this was going to be such a journey ahead of a swollen hard lump on my one side and bruised, I have to apparently wait another 6 weeks to see" what happens???????? I don't recommend a face lift to anyone, stay as you are....the inconvenience, pain, skew face, bruising, numb arms, are definitely not worth the outcome which is not always a success at the best of times. Very annoyed and depressed! And yes, they NEVER tell you it is going to be possibly 3 months of your life down time, that the entire world will see by the hematomas and bruising on your face, the pain they always talk away as if you should not have any pain...hello...your entire face has been cut open. They tell you, 2 weeks downtime, back at work in 2 weeks..hahahaha yeah!! right!!
So I have to make time and put my life on hold for another possibly 3 months if I'm lucky and the hematoma does reduce and go away, if not then I probably might have to again go under the knife to cut this blood clot out my face and risk further trauma.
Any advise on how to reduce the hematoma myself at home without causing worse problems. Please!
The laser did an excellent job and coupled with the lip augmentation, I just may be able to keep my lipstick around.
I just bought myself some A&D ointment in hopes that I can get rid of the sandpaper feeling from the laser. I'll let you know how it works.
Oh, how I miss horizontal sleeping but if its a whole payoff/price thing, I'm staying vertical for awhile.
Lots of lumps and bumps on my head from staples, numbness, tingling etc. but really glad I had the procedure.
I am 52 years old. I had my nose done around 20 years ago and the Dr. did a great job so I didn't need that done.
I really had sooooooooooo many wrinkles before. I really disliked what I saw each time I looked in the mirror.
I did this for ME and me only.
Will keep you updated and perhaps post pics