Peggy’s Blog: Facelift Recovery Conclusion
I decided to share my experience on the blog because I think anyone considering a facelift can benefit from the experience of others who have had the procedure. Maybe the most important word to remember throughout your recovery process is “patience.” A facelift is not a quick fix, but major surgery and it takes time to lose the swelling, fluid build-up and it takes awhile for everything to get back to normal. I can’t wait to really see my own final result.
I also suggest that you shouldn’t go into it thinking it will make you look like a movie star when it is done.
Having realistic expectations is a topic that Dr. Bashioum discusses during an office consultation. I feel comfortable with the way I look now. My son was actually concerned I would look like some of the older women on TV that have had excessive cosmetic surgery, but he had no need to worry because that is not what I was seeking. A quick look through Dr. Bashioum’s Before/After photos shows his more natural approach for facelifts and my result is predictably in line with them.
In closing, I am pleased with my facelift results. Life is short, so I hope to live the rest of mine looking good!
Thank you for sharing this incredible experience with me.
January 29th, 2011 at 8:18 am
i have just had a facelift and chin implant – i am sooo swollen but not bruised…i had no idea i was gonna look and feel like this … i will be patient and hope everyday gets a little better… realistically – when should i be able to look a little more like myself instead of alien.
February 18th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
All surgery disrupts lymphatic drainage, some more than others. Facelift surgery by itself leads to swelling. This process is part of surgery. When acute surgical swelling occurs at the same time as lymphatic disruption, prolonged swelling may be observed. Facelift surgery combined with other facial aesthetic surgery can not only result in more initial swelling, but also greater lymphatic interference and prolonged edema. I try to inform my patients of these consequences. Most of my patients choose to stage facial cosmetic surgery so that each swelling episode is reduced, pain is minimized and the improvements are gradual. It also gives the patient the opportunity chose the “next” procedure knowing the improvements of the first.
I developed this approach based on how I designed my mother’s facial cosmetic surgery. She was a healthy 78 years old at the time, but suffered from a minor heart rhythm problem. In an effort to reduce the stress on her, I did her surgeries separately, waiting 6 months between each one. She had a facelift, followed by a brow lift and lower eyelid surgery ending with upper eyelid surgery and lip wrinkle removal. We did each procedure under local anesthesia, with the lightest sedation. I was impressed how quickly she recovered from each procedure. In fact, being 78 didn’t slow her down much, because we walked 2 miles the day after her forehead lift and lower eyelid surgery!! That was hard to believe. She turned 95 in January and still looks great!
My point to recounting this story being that continued swelling and ease of recovery can be a bit prolonged when facial plastic surgery is combined. Even though it is apoealing to have only one convalescence, there are some compelling reasons to do cosmetic surgery procedures individually. I evaluate this depending on their complexity, pain potential, and lymphatic disruption.
I trust that your swelling will resolve with time. Your patience is needed and greatly appreciated during this healing process.
May 5th, 2011 at 7:03 am
I’ve recently had a nose job a few weeks ago and although it’s still a little painful, i can defiently tell there is a huge difference, can’t wait for it to get back to normal!!