Reconstructive Surgery: My thoughts so far (1 week out)

Hell Yeah..it's worth it...You look Fabulous..even w/the swelling.  What a difference...Every time the pain hit you look in the mirror.... Stay on top of the pain...I believe in good meds.


Norma. 

Hi there,
When you refer to having your arms done, do you mean an arm lift or lipo?

I had an arm lift and the pain was unbearable. I took me a good 6 weeks where I felt good! It was way worse than my extended tummy tuck or my chin lipo.

I am having arm lipo in about 11 days. I am expecting recovery to be easy, but some here are saying they couldn't reach up and had to keep the arms elevated. I will be sure to discuss this at my preop Wednesday but I really expected arm lipo to be a walk in the park.

I think the best thing for you to do is rest and keep the arms up. I had my arm lift 5 weeks after my extended tummy tuck. It was rough but I survived.

Congrats to you! You looks great! I love your new face!

I had several inches of bat wingage removed -- the slicing is deep through my armpit to the elbow.  It hurts a lot and I do have to keep my arms elevated.

And Agha already thinks there will be some revisions needed (included in the price, but still ...).

Oh Diana: it was so good to see you on Thurs. and now you sound a little down; I don't blame you a bit but you sure are NOT a wuss!!  Please remember that all these drugs and the pain combine to make you less than yourself but the end results WILL be worth it.  It's just a matter of plodding through it.  I'm supposed to have the same (except a face lift with lower bleph. + arms) as you know and I sooo appreciate your letting us know what we can anticipate - some of us, anyway.   It really scares me, too. 

I DO have a question.  As you also know, I'm using the same Dr. and he mentioned to me about the canthopexy, in the context of his doing that, too, at the same time since I'd need the cheek/fat transfer, which can cause extra swelling, I guess.  When I went home and researched this cantho. (I wasn't aware of it), I found it to be quite alarming with a number of risks involved.  Most of my searching named numerous celebrities that have had this done (it's very "in vogue" right now), but in a negative context.  Most of those examples of the celebs were the ones that cause us to "gasp" because their eyes were changed so dramatically - typically a suddenly-smaller eye and sometimes becoming almond shaped.  So, now I'm really conflicted about having the cantho.  It's clearly too early for you to tell, but do you notice any shape/size change yet or is it impossible to tell due to swelling?  Did you have a chance to research cantho. before having it done?  Would appreciate your thoughts on this, if you're able to continue to type.  Be WELL and it won't be long before the worst is over!!!

ETA:  Forgot to mention again how GREAT your neck looks - simply amazing!!

I didn't realize there was any special risk of getting almond shaped or smaller eyes with the canthopexy -- Agha told me he was concerned that the lower blepharoplasty would pull my already slightly lax lower lid down and that was why he wanted to do the canthopexy -- to prevent my lower lid from drooping.

At the moment, I can't tell if there is any change in shape because my eyes are still quite swollen.  However, my own normal eyes are small and roundish, so I wouldn't mind if they were a little more almond shaped -- I think it would look interesting and maybe good.  My daughter has large almond shaped eyes and I think they are beauitful.

Diana-
I can tell a big difference in the before and after pics.  Remember pain is for the most part temporary.  As for the numbness.  I had the brow lift done in June and the top of my head is still numb.  But nothing else that I have had operated on is numb so there is hope.

Also remember the anesthesia can skew your perceptions of everything for a little while.  And that might be a huge factor in your thinking that you will not be ready for the next round.

Red

I had lower blepharoplasty done in June and had quite a bit of drooping and scar tissue on the left lower lid.  I am now scheduled for a corrective/ revision surgery.  The doc says that it is a tricky surgery and that it will involve tissue graphs and adjustments to the tendon.  At first I thought he was talking about a cantopexy but now I am not sure.  He wants me to see the occular surgeon and says he may have the occular surgeon assist him.  When I see him next week I will ask about the eye shape thing.

Red

Yes, I too think almond eyes are beautiful, but not when I've never had that shape.  *I* would be alarmed to suddenly have a smaller or different-shaped eye that would clearly be noticeable to my family and friends and to myself!  Common examples of cantho gone bad are:  Victoria Principal, Joan Rivers, Kenny Rogers, Jessica Lange, Wayne Newton, etc.   Maybe it only occurs under certain, specific conditions that wouldn't apply to us.  I'm writing Dr. A. to ask about this.

Diana:

I was just making a comment to my friend the other day that surgery always hurts more than I had prepared myself for. 

I am trying to prepare myself for PS and really appreciate your post describing exactly how you feel.

I hope you start to feel better soon and know you will be pleased with the results when your swelling has gone down and feeling returns.

Hang in there.

Lin