In Costa Rica for a Facelift...

 I don't blame you for wanting separate surgerys. Especially if you can easily enough come back with maybe a friend. Tell us when you add the pics  so I can check them out, sounds cool. 

Forgot to answer you about the tummy tuck. He offered to work me in while I'm here if I want it done, but I decided to wait a few months before deciding what to do with the tummy. He does do a great tummy tuck, though.

You look great! And you have beautiful skin! wow!

Delighted to hear your facelift went so well.. I would love to do one myself but terrified of the pain that comes with...Happy healing..


Michelle

Thanks, Michelle. Actually, I have been amazed at the fact that I have had NO pain other than a bad sore throat for three days (from the tubes used down the throat during my six hour surgery). They don't use narcotic meds here in Costa Rica, and, while some people bring heavy pain meds from the U.S. to use after surgery, I've only been taking liquid Tylenol from time to time since I got out of the hospital. I would not call this painful at all, but rather, "uncomfortable" because it's hard to get in a good sleeping position since you need to keep your head elevated for a week or two after surgery. I've been moving from a recliner to a bed where I prop up on three pillows. Each day I wake up, I'm like 50% better than I was the day before, so things get better quickly. The tightness as my face heals is an odd feeling, but not odd in a bad way, and certainly not painful in any way. 

If you one day seriously consider facial surgery, don't let the pain factor scare you away. It looks MUCH worse than it actually is. Dr. Lev does a lot of muscle repair, too, and even with all of that, it's been painless. He also removed my deflated saline implants during my facelift surgery, and I've had no pain with that, either. Actually, it feels wonderful to have the implants out. He said they had twisted and formed a hard capsule. They look and feel so much better now. I just can't even express how happy I am with my results. 

Hi Kim. I don't have close friends or family here, but I'm at a recovery ranch with about 15 other ladies. The owners of the ranch take us back and forth to appointments, and there is a nurse that checks on an problem cases that might pop up. We just had a nice birthday celebration for one of the ladies here, and the owners brought her a nice cake with candles. It was a lot of fun. We have all gotten to know each other, and many of us will remain friends.

I feel very safe here, and I am amazed with the efforts that the owners of the ranch go to for all of us. It's not "perfect" here, and some people compain about it being too cool in thier cottages and things like that. Still, the owners do what they can for everyone. There is a firplace and a gas wall heater in each cottage, and extra blankets. I have not found it to be cold here, but the weather is very similar to the weather that we have been having in Alabama, so I'm used to it. I'll attach a picture of my private cottage.

I'll post my before pics when I get home on the 21st, and see why I'm so proud of my results. I could not be happier. Thanks for writing.

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Day ten post-facelift picture. Still bruised, and lots of makeup covering the bruises. One eye still more swollen than the other, but I've seen enough of Dr. Lev's work while visiting post-op to know they will turn out pefectly even once the swelling resolves...

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Day Eleven post-facelift with Dr. Lev in Costa Rica. Less makeup today because the bruises were much better this morning. Still lots of healing to do, but thrilled with my results. I was born in July of 1960...

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 Wow, very nice! Thanks for sharing.