Do I really look old or is something wrong with me

I went down to see my family in October,  I saw my grandmother and the rest of my immediate family.  I know I have put some weight on.  But I didn't think that much.  And picture I have posted is from almost 2 years ago.  But something my sister told me is driving me crazy.  I had  just got my hair cut short  just before I went to see them due to the surgeries, I have been through in the past couple of months.   My sister said I didn't look healthy, my face just looks pail and looks old and that I just looked bad, my grandmother had told everyone on Thanksgiving how bad I look, I could not go for thanksgiving do to my surgery .  What can I do to look younger or healthier.  I thought the surgery usually makes us look younger.  I have wrinkles on my face.  What can I do?

Lisa,

If I'm reading this correctly - you've had surgery in the last couple of months AND you've cut your hair short.  The anesthesia will take a couple of months to get out of your system and when that happened your face will get its color back and the dark circles will go away.  Sorry shouldn't assume you have dark circles like I did   Give yourself some time to heal.  Plus, I'm sure your family didn't mean for their comments to upset you. 

Frankie

When I receive a comment like that I use it to my advantage. 

"You're right, I'm not feeling my best.  I think I'll go lie down while y'all do the dishes."

Lisa,

I can relate completely. I look in the mirror and see my mother looking back at me and wonder when in the heck that happened! Every since my plastics (9/07) I haven't been able to tan so my face/skin looks washed out even to myself. When people see that haven't seen me for awhile, their first question is usually 'Are you feeling alright?' or 'Are you sick?'.

My face has dry patches that I've wondered is due to me not absorbing all of my nutrients right. I've been dealing with that with some lotions specifically for extremely dry facial skin. I think it's a nuetragena (Sp?). It's at home and I'm at work so I can't go look. It has helped though. About once a week I also do a facial scrub in the hopes of getting off some of that dead dry skin. I've also used firming lotion to help combat the wrinkles from the loose skin. I can't do much about my turkey gobble chin.

I keep my hair cut short...and dyed. I have found that if I wa**** comb/bru**** and then let it air-dry; it lays down flat and looks lifeless. If I instead wa**** put some moose in it, use the pick on it and let it air-dry completely before before I bru**** out; it looks much fuller and full of life & bounce. It also has a care-free look to it. Even my male boss has complimented me on it. By 3 pm. it looks like a meant-to style as opposed to 3 pm before where it would look like it was in bad need of a brush.

I think losing weight made my face not as chubby..and so to me, it makes me look older. I'm ok with that. Afterall, I'm 47...I should look older than my 27 yr old daughter. So even though I look older, I (usually) feel younger. I rarely do make-up so I just deal with looking pale and dream of the day I can enjoy our tanning bed again. Until then...I guess I'll keep seeing my mom in the mirror...

Sherri