Question:
help! my face has fallen and it can't get up!!!!!!!!!!!

I am 4 months out, down 75 lbs. and made the mistake of loking in the mirror while bending over.... the skin on my face looks horrible!!! it's sagging all over...what can i do to help firm it up? tighten the skin? or should i just start saving for the facelift now? HELP, i'm so bummed, i've never looked my age and i am afraid i'll end up looking 10 years older than i am (46).    — glblgal (posted on April 8, 2004)

April 7, 2004
Just wanted to let you know it's got company. I never looked my age when I was MO, the fat filled out all the wrinkles. The good news is that your skin will tighen up SOME. How much is just a wait and see thing. I use a retinol/alpha hydroxy product that has helped. I make sure I get plenty of water and sleep, but although it's improved, I'm still jowly. My weight has been stable for over a year and a half, so I guess this is as good as it gets.
   — mom2jtx3

April 8, 2004
I laughed so hard when I read your question. I too have sagging face! I read somewhere in the message boards that Preparation H might help, shrinks tissues? I don't know, it sounded kind of expensive for a face creme, but the image was funny! Let me know if you find a good exercise to tighten things up.
   — doglover

April 8, 2004
Well, there is an exercise, I'm just not sure how to give you the instructions, I'll try. I met with a PS and he was amazed at how firm my face/neck was compared to the rest of my body. Said the self-invented exercises were working and to keep them up. First you look straight ahead in the mirror and scrunch your face up like you've stomped your toe and then move just your chin so that you look like you trying to touch your chin on your chest with your mouth forming a tiny O. What you will do is tighten and extend your face muscles. I do this about 25 times 2-3 times a day when no one is looking. When you are doing this, you can see in the mirror that the skin on your neck is pulling up toward your face, and you will feel the muscles in your face get tired. Next, to pull up the "turkey gizzard" that hangs in the middle of your neck behind that bone that appeared below my mouth when I lost weight...face the mirrow with you head just barely tilted up and stick your tongue in and out and try to touch your nose. You'll know you are doing this right with the "gizzard" disappears when your tongue is out. Do this 25 times, 2-3 times a day...again when no one is looking. You might get approached with concern if anyone sees you...you'll look like you might be having some kind of seizure or are in excruitiating pain with both of these exercises. I hope you can figure out how to do them from my poor excuses for instructions...I'm just not brave enough to post pictures, but I guess if you email me, I'd be willing to take some digital pics and send them to you privately.
   — Teri D.

April 8, 2004
I am 14 months out and down 120 pounds. I have terrible skin on my abdomen and some on my arms and legs. I am in the process of dealing with denials and appeals for a TT right now. I am learning to accept the arms, legs and breasts as they are, as I cannot afford PS for them. Anyway, I feel my face and neck are really very ok. The other day, my husband came by me and touched the skin under my chin. Man was I pissed off. In my opinion, this was the only are a that was NOT a PS consideration, and was definitely acceptable to me. I told him that, and he was extremely apologetic, but I snubbed him for the rest of the day. He has been extremely suportive throughout the process both pre and post-op, and this surprised me. So now, when I look in the mirror, I have yet another area of hanging skin to check out. Oh well.
   — Fixnmyself

April 9, 2004
I'm so glad you brought this up! As long as my face was filled out,man, I was perpetually young. Not a wrinkle to be seen. Now's a different story. Wrinkles and hangy stuff both. A friend of mine had a face lift not too long ago, and she said one of the things her plastic surgeon had told her to try first was the following toning exercise for her neck. You're supposed to let your head fall backwards on your shoulders and SLOWLY repeat the vowels of the alphabet--AEIOU, for a minute or two a couple of times a day. You might feel silly doing it, and it's definitely something you don't want to do in public. People might think you're doing a halfwitted wolf impression or something, but you can definitely tell that it's working on your neck something fierce, and immediately.
   — christied