Having facelift surgery in 10 days - support and advice needed

[MerryForever]

HI there,

I'm due to go for surgery on 15th March. Face and neck lift under local anaesthetic. I'm 53, medium weight, would like to be a bit lighter. I've had a horrendous few years personally and it's shown a lot on my face. I'm in a better place now and feel this will give me a boost to restart the 'new me.' I'd love to hear from anyone really as I haven't told many people I'm having it done as it seems so vain. My dd is very supportive though. I don't have a current partner.

Any tips from those who have had similar procedures? Or chats with anyone thinking of getting some work done. Or even haters who will tell me that looks don't matter and I should bin it off.

Wow, you look amazing.

He also has celebrity patients (Kay Burley etc.) and fancy offices in London so I guess he can charge what he likes.
His results look great, and I like the fact that he only does facelifts, so sort of specialises. I imagine a surgeon just gets better and better over time.
Anyway, he’s not on my list sadly as I’d need to take out a mortgage to be able to afford him!

Yes, but he's close to home for me and I'm prepared for the wait and the cost, but the OP looks so amazing, I'm tempted to travel!

I had consultations in November and January then surgery mid-March.

Oh, that’s great @MerryForever

I know I’d like to do it, but finding a window when I can be out of action (and sight of the teens) may take a while. I’d like to see someone now (or a few someone’s to find the right person), then take 6-8m to get the money in place and be 100% sure I have the balls to go ahead and cope with the immediate aftermath. Am such a wimp!

How old are you op?

It says in the OP she’s 53. The results look brilliant so far.

Wow you look amazing - without looking over 'done' Is it all you hoped for? It does transforms the kind of sad/unhappy look that you say don't think reflected how you feel to look fresher. I would be thrilled with that.

OP what a difference already. You must be so chuffed.

Only v slightly, not in full. My necks wasn’t really a huge problem

That looks amazing already. I can't wait to have mine.

Wow that really makes me want to get this done! Amazing difference, you look amazing.

You look absolutely incredible 😳
I can’t believe the difference already
well done

Excellent results already! Really happy for you.

@Choccobanana o behave ..

Wondering whether we need a Cosmetic surgery board given how many are considering and/or having procedures?

Thanks @MerryForever - I think you’re right and I’ve mis-heard on nighttime support.. Have you laid down at all yet and, if so, was it really hard lifting your head? I ask as I’m planning on having hyperbaric oxygen and my friend recommended the soft chamber which can be sat in, rather than hard which would mean I’d have to lie down, albeit with a lot of pillows. I’ll obvs check with surgeon but would be good to know realistically how much movement is restricted.

Is the hyperbaric chamber something your surgeon advised/available at the clinic? Is it meant to speed recovery?

I had local anaesthetic and ‘twilight’ sedation. The surgeon put numbing cream on first as well because he said the local anaesthetic injections were v painful otherwise.

i remember bits and pieces of the surgery. I remember discussing the music that was playing, my daughter, my PhD (!), Kate Bush (!!) and the surgeon afterwards said they’d heard my life story - dread to think. I don’t remember any pain or discomfort or awareness of what they were doing. I fell asleep for long parts and when I woke up, I saw the clock and couldn’t believe it was 4.30pm. It really hurt immediately then, especially the right side which they’d frozen first. They gave me v strong pain relief in recovery - fentanyl - didn’t touch it. I was awake then all night in extreme pain. The nurses were v good and discussed all the pain relief options - I had some oral morphine, codeine, paracetamol intravenously and eventually ibuprofen, when the surgeon approved it the next morning. Out of all those strong drugs, the ibuprofen was the only one to cut through the pain.

Hey, how did you get on? Please do PM me.

I’m a bit sleepless again - struggling with the sleeping upright, compression garment and still bits of pain around my ears and jaw.

A week ago now I was awake in agony in hospital.

I had my stitches out today and the surgeon said I can have some breaks in the daytime without the compression garment so I made it outside for a long walk.

still v swollen and my mouth moves a bit like it does after you’ e had a local anaesthetic at the dentist but the surgeon said today the majority of the bruising should go this week and the swelling in the next two weeks after that.

I can eat a bit better. One of the big problems is that I can hardly open my mouth as my jaw is so painful. When I do slide food in, I can’t chew as that is really painful. I’ve progressed from soup, smoothies and yoghurt to mashed potato, v soft small pasta and some soft cheeses.

no regrets still xxx

Yes, he says he can see the difference in healing time and very strongly recommends it. He doesn’t provide it so no commercial gain to him. He also sent me a pre and post surgery diet, exercise and supplement guide to promote healing. There are other therpies, I think, but the oxygen isnthenone he bangs on about.. Edited to add he advises one the day before surgery then 2/3 per week afterwards. They’re not cheap and I’ve shopped around so I’ll assess as I go.

They gave me v strong pain relief in recovery - fentanyl - didn’t touch it. I was awake then all night in extreme pain. The nurses were v good and discussed all the pain relief options - I had some oral morphine, codeine, paracetamol intravenously and eventually ibuprofen, when the surgeon approved it the next morning.

I would have been very unhappy that the surgeon hadn't approved additional drugs to be used if necessary during that first night.

Purely out of medical curiosity what complications/ risk were discussed with you - to OP and anyone who's had a professional consultation?

Do they quote a rate of infection or similar and has anyone here been turned down by a surgeon on risk grounds? I would hope that if you have other major health issues or unrealistic expectations a good surgeon would say no.

Why do they do this under local?