Eating & sleeping after facial ps??? (Cross-post)

I will be having facial plastic surgery with multiple procedures including a face lift with chin agumentation in 2 weeks. I've been reading that it is difficult, uncomfortable (ie painful) & "ill advised" to chew much for 2 weeks after a face lift or chin augmentation. Is this true? Can someone who has had a face lift and/or chin implants tell me what I can eat early post op? My ps is 8 hours from my home so I will be staying in a hotel for the first week post op and need to take everything I'll need for that week with me. I will have access to a small, dorm size fridge (no freezer) & microwave in my hotel rooom. Also, since I don't know the area and will look like someone attacked me with a baseball bat, I really don't want to be trying to find restaurants & grocery stores. Any advice on what foods to stock up on would be greatly appreciated! Also - since I won't have access to a recliner that first week post-op, what is the best way to sleep without lying down flat? Prop up on the sofa, pile pillows on the bed, use a back rest "study" pillow (we called them "dorm husbands" in college). Again, any advice is welcome! Thanks! Vickie J.

Vickie, I had a face and neck lift three weeks ago, but not a chin implant. The first day I had a protein shake after I got home that evening. The next few days I tended to eat soft foods, yogurt, protein shakes, etc. I wasn't told to alter my chewing but it was a little uncomfortable just for a few days. I introduced meats, cut up in small pieces, and I sliced an apple up because I didn't want to open my mouth wide to take a bite of it. I don't know how the chin implant will be different from my experience. Best advice is to follow your PS's instructions, but as I said, I got no instruction, just went by what was comfortable. As far as suggestions for keeping food in your room, maybe yogurt, cheeses, etc. I used my Magic Bullet for protein shakes at least once a day, I wanted to be sure my protein intake was good. I slept on my usual bed with two pillows and did fine. Good luck to you, if you think of any more questions, feel free to send me an e-mail. Hugs, Connie

Oh goody!! I was hoping to talk with someone who has had their neck done. I am going to start looking into this (along with live fill for the marionette creases). The rest of me is just fine, the neck I cannot stand. How was your recovery time? and was there a particular procedure you under went or recommend? I know costs very state to state doctor to doctor but an appox $ on the neck lift would help. Thanks. V

Hey Vi, I can so relate to the neck issues, that bothered me more than almost anything. I can't separate out the cost of just the neck lift, I had all of the following at once: brow lift, upper and lower eye lift, live fill for creases, lower face and neck lift. The cost for all was $14,200 (whi*****ludes a frequent-flier discount of 20%---LOL). I'm thrilled with the results. I had the surgery three weeks ago today, and almost all of the bruising is gone, still have some swelling left. In a week or so I will post pictures of before/just after/later. The recovery was not that painful for me, it was more a question of looking bad than feeling bad! A lot of that swollen feeling. And when he took the stitches and staples out it was pretty rough but as soon as it was done, it was over. Compared to my lower body lift and arms/breast lift/augmentation, the recovery was easy. But I did scare small children for a while! Hugs, Connie

this is really useful information thanks!

Happy to help!!! If you think of other questions, feel free to e-mail me. Connie

Vickie, I had a facelift in September 2005. For that procedure I did the same thing that I did for my tummy tuck. I rented a reclyner and slept on that for a month. I was semi-sitting, as instructed, I slept on my back, as instructed, and nobody was next to me so I did not fear someone accidentally touching the face. It was great, and the rental was quite cheap. I too had protein drinks, tea, coffee, soups, and liquids for a few days, and continued with soft foods for another week. I slowly started eating again, but then I never eat great amounts in one sitting anyhow, so I did not find that a problem. As for pain, the facelif is really a surgery that does not cause much pain which is why people have a tendency to overdo it. My doc said no talking, laughing, chewing, or excessively moving my neck (had the neck lifted -- which is part of a facelift). You will do fine. Muchy food is good, yogurt, mashed banana, cottage cheese, soups, puddings, jellow, etc. Good luck to you. Missy

Thanks Missy! I'm already planning to sleep in our recliner at home and I've thought about trying to rent a recliner to use at the hotel but don't know if there would be space in the room for one. Hopefully, sleeping propped up on the room's sofa will suffice for a few days. I did book a king size bed so if I have to sleep in the bed with hubby, he is far enough away from me that I won't have to worry about accidentally getting bumped in the face during the night. Vickie J.

No talking or laughing?? I would have been in trouble, I spent the first week or so with my best friend.....I tried not to laugh much, but I did talk a lot.... Hugs, Connie

Connie, I know what you mean! I'm such an outgoing person that not talking or laughing is going to be tough! The only good thing may be that I won't be at home so probably won't get as many phone calls as I would if I were at home. I'll just have to let DH cover the phones for me for a day or 2. What kind of bandages or "head-gear" did you have to wear after your face/neck surgery? I'm going to order the cold compress you told me about but wondered if I Should also order one of the head/neck bandage/strap thingies as well? Vickie