Sue's Face Journal

It all started in July, last year when a friend of mine decided she wanted to have her eyes done. I told her the importance of finding a good PS and one that is BAAPS registered. A few years ago I had a friend, who worked for four plastic surgeons in a NHS Hospital doing reconstructive work, they also did private work at other hospitals, and she told me if  I ever wanted my eyes or any facial work done she knew the man for the job. I gave my friend this information and suggested she make an appointment to go see him. We went together in the April and we both really liked him, he said he agreed that her eyes would benefit from having upper/lower blephs done. I asked a few questions myself and said you never know you might see me here in a few years. Anyway. my friend went ahead and had her surgery in July and was very pleased with the results.

 
April this year I looked in the mirror and thought YIKES where have my eyes gone the skin seemed to be touching my eyelashes and across my cheeks the skin seemed to be quite slack, I could not believe in a year how things had drooped, I always said I agreed the plastic surgery, but did not know whether I would have the courage to go through with it myself. Had a long think about things and decided I would go and see PS and see what he had to say. In the meantime another friend of mine went to see him about a facelift and blephs and he said he did not think she needed it doing yet and would benefit from waiting a few more years. [which I think is very reassuring, he did not want her to waste her money].
 
So in April this year my friend [the one that had the blephs done] went to see the PS, I was verynervous about seeing him, but half thought he would take one look at me and say WHAT HAVE YOU COME FOR YOU DONT NEED ANYTHING DOING COME BACK IN 20 YEARS but alas no, he said I would really benefit from having my upper/lower blephs done, but the thing that stood out to him was the loose skin across my cheeks which he said having my eyes alone would not make any difference to this area. So when I picked my jaw up off the floor and glared at my friend who was sniggering in the corner, I asked how this could be achieved, he said with something called a Temporal Lift, he told me they make an incision in the hairline, down to the top of the ear and lift the cheek back onto the cheekpad and sew in into the temple area. He told me to go away and have a think about things as he could see I looked a little surprised.
 
Next few days kept standing infront of mirror with pieces of sellotape lifting sides of my temple. Tried to find out about Temporal Lift, but could not find anything [had not yet been on to internet so did not know there were plastic surgery sites] So go back to my PS to ask him more details, he has another look, says he might take the cut further down to the mid ear, [OH HELL CHEEKS DROPPED MORE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS]. So go home talk it over with hubby and decide if I was going to have my eyes done I might as well have the Temporal Lift done and get my cheeks back where they were 20 years ago. Ring his secretary and book in for July 23rd, she said if I had second thoughts or wanted to know anything else just to give her a ring.
 
Went to hairdressers, got hair cut and coloured, had manicure and pedicure, and started taking arnica 10 days before.
 
DAY OF SURGERY
Have been awake since about 5 o clock and on the toilet 3 times, feeling very nervous, have to be at the hospital for about 10 30 they said surgery would be about 2 30. Get hubby to drop me off and leave me as I want to be alone, got shown to my room and began to watch telly. Nurse came in to take all the usual detail and gave me my gown and paper knickers [I told her about the first time I came into hospital and when given paper knickers proceeded to put them on my head making sure all my hair was tucked in, as I had seen them do on telly in theatre, she said you would be surprised at the number of people that do this. Blood taken next then photographer took some before shots. Anesthetist came in and asked me if a wanted a pre med I said YES PLEASE as I was getting more and more nervous. My PS came in next to have a chat and to have another look at what he was going to do he had a look at my cheeks again and said he might actually go down as far as the bottom of the ear, I said WHATEVER, by this time started to feel a little down thinking I have been walking around for the last year with my CHEEKS around my chin. Anyway feeling sleepy now talk to you soon.
 
7.45 pm wake up and thank God that I am still alive, but why is the room in darkness, nurse came in and said my eyes were very swollen and put ice packs on them [wonderful], she then brought me in a sandwich and a coffee, I was very disappointed I thought I have paid £1075.00 A NIGHT and I they were giving me was a tuna sandwich. Bite into the sandwich and realise can hardly open my mouth [steak and chips probably would not have been a good idea] even had to leave the crusts on the sandwich. Every half hour nurse would come in and change the ice packs, at 10 o clock she came in and gave me two sleeping pills, wished me goodnight and said if I needed anything just to ring. 12 o clock checks on me again, sees I am still awake changes ice packs again, tell her I cannot sleep on my back she said "WELL YOU WILL JUST HAVE TO TRY" 3 oclock 4, 5 6 oclock she comes in and cannot understand why the sleeping pills did not work I said "its because I am on my back", had some coffee and some breakfast.
My PS came to see me about 9.30 and prescribed some extra strong sleeping pills for when I got home and said if I could not sleep on my back, then to lie on my side as it was important I get some rest [at this point give nurse a sly grin]. He said that I had bruised quite badly but thought I looked beautiful [OH YEH]. Got up to go to the loo and look in the mirror [OH MY GOD] I looked like an alien, I only have a small face and there was this little chin with two huge swollen cheeks and two VERY black eyes, oh well things can only get better. 12 o clock hubby comes to pick me up and take me home says he has got lots of nice things in for me to eat [rack of lamb,steak, chicken] I have to thank him but say sorry I cannot eat any of that yet could he get me some eggs and bread in, hubby goes back out and makes me eggie and soldiers yummy really enjoy it. Go to bed at 8 30 with two sleeping pills and two pillows.
Hubby goes into spare room which over the next 3 weeks he converts into bachelor pad.
 
Post Op
H After settling in at home I put ice packs which they gave me at the hospital about every hour I have ointment which I have to put into my eyes morning and evening, unfortunately this means you cannot read or watch telly as my vision is very blurred. I would say the first three days were my worst there is not really any pain just discomfort. On day three my eyes are a little more open which means I can start watching all the things I have been collecting on tape, still feel very tired, friend came around to see me and was making me laugh [not recommended as your face feels as though it is going to rip] after two hours I had to ask her to leave I thought my surgery was going to be ruined by my face being stretched too much.

Day five and go to have eye stitches out feeling a little nervous about this as you feel as though they are going to poke you in the eye. Stitches coming out did hurt I found the top ones not too bad as they are one continous stitch, so it is just a case of snipping and pulling. The bottom ones hurt more because they are right between the eyelashes. Nurse looks at the stitches around the side of my face and says mmm, I ask what is wrong and she says nothing, books me an appointment to have face stitches out 10 days post op. Next few days eyes really improve very quickly each day the bruising get less. Day 10 go to have my face stitches out and nurse thinks I might have an infection and says she would really not like to take them out yet. Gives me a course of antibiotics and some ointment which I have to rub onto the scars morning and evening, tells me to come back in two days so surgeon can see me.

Go back to surgeon two days later and he said it would be too painful for me for him to take the stitches out now and to come back in another four days, this will mean I will have had the stitches in 16 days. Go home and I am feeling a bit down, will these stitches ever come out what if my skin starts healing over them? PS told me I had to get rid of the scabs that had formed over the stitches by rubbing them with a flannel, it is very difficult when you cant see properly [I wear contacts which you cannot wear for about two weeks]. Go into hubby's bachelor pad and ask him can he rub at my scabs [did not hurt much as I was still very numb in that area]
 
AT LAST day 16 and stitches come out nearly all scabs are off and I am on my way to a full
recovery, infection has gone and am feeling a little better about things. Got an appointment to see my PS in three weeks time.
 
Each day things get better and on day 18 am able to put my contact lenses in, so I can really see myself now, am putting a little make-up on and feeling YES I have made the right choice [because I think you can have doubts].
 
3 WEEKS LATER go back to my PS my eyes have healed really quickly and there is only a faint scar on top which I can hide with make-up, really have to look for the scar underneath as it is hidden in the eyelashes. The only only thing I am a bit disappointed  in is I still have some swelling on the top of my cheeks, my PS said IT WILL go down but might take 2 or 3 months.
 
Well I am seven weeks post op, the swelling at the top of my cheeks has gone down a little and I am sure with a little more time it will go down completely, back into all my activities, although cannot do too much in the gym if my heart rate goes up too much I get tingling in my face. It has given me a confidence boost  and I have had good vibes from the people I know, sorry I cannot send any photos as I kept my op a secret, hope the journal has given people an insight into my surgery and what it entails.