My Face is Mine

I should have taken off my glasses, but I forgot to. When I see myself now, I feel more like myself. It’s as if before the surgery I didn’t recognize myself, but now I look like me. Remember to hydrate and please don’t buy plastic bottled water! 😡 Click photo for link

I feel like my face is beginning to narrow and tighten. Dr Calvert said that my lymphatic system will continue to drain fluid from my face, and that it’ll tighten over the next few months. My friend said it’ll be like it’s vacuum sealed, which I thought was a funny way to put it.

Right ear. The scar is practically invisible!

My left ear still has more of a line. That’s the side that has healed more slowly and hurt a little more. It’s still more uncomfortable to sleep on the left than the right. My left has always been the “problem side”, meaning the side that showed more signs of aging.

There’s a little bump/tiny scar under my chin where the stitches were. It’s in a place that isn’t noticeable, but I’ve never been bothered by scars anyway. Plus I’m not trying to pretend I didn’t have plastic surgery.

My face is much more even now, and beginning to take shape. Click on the picture (and scroll down) for before and after photo.

I felt like my face wasn’t changing enough to post daily. It’s been 10 days since my last post, and it’s apparent that my face is looking more natural. Click on the picture for before and after side-by-side.

These stitches behind my ears are sure taking their time healing. This is what makes sleeping so rough. It’s almost impossible to avoid putting any pressure on them.

It already looks like nothing ever happened! It hasn’t even been a month since those crazy Jack Skellington stitches were on my ear.

Crappy bathroom selfie is all you get. I’m getting tired of taking pictures of myself, but I’ll try to keep it up until all the stitches have completely healed.

The left side hurts more than the right, but it’s better every day over all. It mostly hurts by my earlobes, which makes sleeping pretty uncomfortable. I’m still sleeping elevated on the stupid ortho pillow because I can’t lie on the side of my face yet. Soon…

Ho hum, another day. Here’s my daily progress post. Not much to say, more of the same. Little by little, feeling better, healing more, looking more even.

Makeover Madness. Steven Meisel. Vogue Italia 2005. Out and about.

I miss feeling well and I miss feeling inspired. it’s like the end of covid when you’re not sick anymore, but still not quite right for a couple weeks, and you think “what is wrong with me?” Its Long Facelift. 😂 Here’s regular me doing regular things looking like a regular person. I went for…

I can’t believe tomorrow will be 3 weeks since the day of surgery! I look like a regular person, and these posts are becoming boring selfies now. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I took it easy again today. The visible progress is so gradual now, but I know that my body is still hard at work healing. The pain…

After a day of household chores, I’m just trying to take it easy. Healing is really tiring, it turns out. Tuna seems to like the opportunity for extra cuddles.

Ol’ Bill and ol’ me, just chilling, waiting for Kevin to finish riding. Click photo to view video.

Look how well this is healing, it’s unbelievable!

I mean whaaaat?? The ear hardly has a scar! Already!

I meannnnn! Look at me though! It’s looking so natural, and I’m not concerned about the pain or asymmetry. It is strange, though, to look so much better, but feel worse. It’s exhausting.

I’m not feeling so great today. My skin and hair follicles feel super sensitive, and there’s a burning feeling all around the edges of my face/neck/head where it was numb. It feels a little flu-like, and my energy is super low. I’m just really fatigued. My face is still lopsided, because healing is never uniform.

What’s left of the bruising/listening to TWiV. Click photo for link.

Changes are incremental now, and honestly it’s a little more boring without the drama. Also V tired today.

Horse Girl. I’m really looking forward to riding again, but since I’m healing so well, I’m determined to follow the guidelines and wait a couple more weeks. Dr’s orders.

At a horse show. I feel mostly fine now, but by mid-afternoon, I’m pretty fatigued. I’ve been experiencing shooting pains and burning sensations in my jaw and hairline, which indicates healing. The nerves are “waking up” as feeling comes back to the numb areas. According to the guide given to me at my pre op…

My ears are really healing well. I love the technique Dr Calvert uses so that my sideburn hair is still in the same place it was before.

I really like the dark circles under my eyes. Maybe I’ll get LASIK so that I don’t need to wear glasses!

The swelling and bruising has gone down significantly. But there’s a bruise on my lip now.

Makeover Madness. Vogue Italia 2005. Steven Meisel.

Orla balanced the shape of my lips today omg.

Orla works closely with Dr Calvert. Her eye for detail, and her expertise regarding fillers, Botox, and skin treatments pre and post op is an essential part of the process. Click photo for link

Today I went back to Roxspa to have Orla, Dr. Calvert’s Physician’s Assistant check my stitches. She removed the knots to help them disappear more easily.

Right side swelling. But omg my neck is so normal!

I guess the left is my good side for now. 💁🏼‍♀️ Click photo for link.

My eyelids are healing as if nothing happened at all! Omg I can’t wait for the right to match the left.

At the park. So bright it’s hard to open my eyes so they’re squinty. The right side of my face is a lot more swollen right now (your left). It’s normal and not worrisome.

Makeover Madness. Steven Meisel. Vogue Italia 2005.

I was extra tired today and my whole scalp hurts, I can’t even brush my hair. The numbness is going away so fast, I don’t like it! Car selfie is all you get today.

Well I didn’t do anything cute today, but I had my last session in the hyperbaric chamber.

Anyway, it feels so nice to have the stitches out of my ears, no pain at all, and it’s healing really well. Bruising is practically gone! 😫

And these incredible cheesy wranglers. SOMEBODY GIVE ME A HORSE.

Omg this shirt.

Found this AMAZING western shirt at a thrift store out in Norco today, so of course we had a photo shoot.

Omg the eye drops completely fixed my vision and I feel totally normal.

My stitches are all out today, except some in my scalp that will come out in their own in time.

Makeover Madness. Vogue Italia 2005. Steven Meisel.

Ear stitches out! Dr. Calvert has a podcast. It really helped me feel at ease, and to know what to expect. I listened to so many of the episodes! Click photo for link.

She admires his handiwork. She is pleased.

Dr Calvert prescribed some eye drops, and after one use, my vision is already better, and my eyes are feeling less watery.

She hastily makes her way to her late husband’s car to drive to another appointment with her surgeon. Click photo for more.

In Good Hands

I’m not afraid to admit that I’ve had a facelift. People color their hair, or wear braces, or get Lasik eye surgery, and to me it’s in the same category. It isn’t shameful. On the way home. Click photo for link.

After surgery. In case you’re curious, I’ll keep adding my daily progress for your (dis?)pleasure. Click photo to view link.