Really need some help/input regarding Face lift

OMG....my surgeon just called....they can move up the timing of my face lift which will mean it is done mid Feb instead of mid March.   I haven't sorted everything out in my head yet so I need some input from you guys.....

Did anyone feel their face changed too much and they no longer look like themselves (I don't want to lose my identify.....know what I mean)?
How long were you covered in bruises and hiding your face?
How long were you in a lot of pain (I have a pretty high threshold but I hear the face hurts)?
How long before the swelling went down?
How long before you felt you could go out in public and didn't have to try to hid scars?
How long before you could get back to a normal routine around the house....like could you cook diner the next day?
Can you eat the first few days after surgery or should I stock up on shakes and straws?
Can you read immediately after surgery?  I have a college course starting the same day of surgery (on-line course but I'll need to do a lot of reading).?
Does anyone have any regrets?
Did anyone have any major complications?
I need to make a decision this morning

Thanks so much for you input!

i sent you an email....

kim

Thanks, I'll go check it out........

Moosie,

I LOVE my mini face lift results, LOVE LOVE LOVE.  So far it's the procedure I like the most.  I look like my self just 10 or 15 years younger!

How long were you covered in bruises and hiding your face?

I used this thing called an aqua cool for the first 5 days, I wore it as much as possible and always overnight.  My bruising and swelling pretty much resolved in 7-10 days but I could cover with make-up most the discoloration after 3 days.  I went to a family party 3 days after and to a party with friends 7 days after.  I was still a bit swollen and a little stretched but not real noticeable.  I just searched for the company on the web but can't find it.  I'll find it eventually and will send you the link.

How long were you in a lot of pain (I have a pretty high threshold but I hear the face hurts)?
I wasn't in very much pain at all.  I took pain pills for the first 5 days.

How long before the swelling went down?

I had surgery on Dec 22nd and I still have a little swelling around my temples but for the most part it's gone and was gone after about 10 days.  But, I have a mini face lift so a full lift could be longer I don't know.

How long before you felt you could go out in public and didn't have to try to hid scars?

The scars are very well hidden.  If you are getting a upper and lower Bleph,  which I also did but in a separate surgery, they took about 5 days before make-up would hide the worse of it.  After 2 weeks things were looking pretty OK.  The face heals really well.  I also used gel compresses stuffed with pearl ice packs on my eyes, pretty much 24 hrs a day for the first 2 days and on and off after that, I still do.   I think it really helped.  If you rent the aqua-cool the full face lift mask should cover the eyes and face.

How long before you could get back to a normal routine around the house....like could you cook diner the next day?

I'd give yourself 24 hrs but I could have cooked dinner.  Now my mini face lift surgery was done under local anesthesia not general and no twilight.

Can you eat the first few days after surgery or should I stock up on shakes and straws?

I could eat fine but again I had the mini - no deep plane lifting which is what is suspect you will be getting and is the gold standard.

Can you read immediately after surgery?  I have a college course starting the same day of surgery (on-line course but I'll need to do a lot of reading).?

I could but didn't really want to.

Does anyone have any regrets?

NONE!

Did anyone have any major complications?

No, now my face around the sides where most of the cutting was done is still numbish but it doesn't bother me and it's normal not a complication.  You may have more of that feeling deeper into your face and perhaps longer than I.  Eventually it is supposed to go away but full healing can take up to 6 mo. to a year.

I say go for it!

Tamera

WOW, thanks for all the great info...you've given me a lot to thing about and some to research like that "agua cool".
THANKS A MILLION!!!

Just also wanted to say thank you for all of this information. I'm following this thread since I'm considering having similar procedures. This really helps a lot.

Thank you Jodi for this information and for sharing your pictures. Your results are just fantastic. I have the same issue around my mouth and lower jowl area. That seems to be where my skin laxity shows up the most. I am, along with Ruth considering having face work done and your results really encourage me. You still look like yourself but SEVERAL years younger. Just beautiful. That's exactly what I want.

Jodi,
First, SO GLAD to see you again....missed you!

Thanks for the info and I love the new picture!

Thank you for posting this Jodi!

Your results are lovely, and are making me think that some face work might be worthwhile for me. I have some laxity in my neck and around my mouth, because I carried a lot a fat in my face, but friends and family keep telling me I don't need it yet. Bah. You didn't have a lot either, but the after is so pretty that it was clearly worthwhile.