What I Did On My Vacation

Posted Monday, September 10, 2007 to PATIENT STORIES > Face

Posted by The Original Anti-Aging & Cosmetic Surgery Magazine

"What are you going to do on your vacation?" "Well .... I'm not really sure." "Are you travelling somewhere?" "Perhaps .... I just haven't made up my mind yet." Questions, questions, questions! Can't a person take a vacation and not have to tell what their plans are!

Little did my inquisitors know - I was going to enter the realm of having cosmetic surgery on my face (I just can't say facelift! Sounds like I'll be walking on tip toes. Also, there is such a stigma attached to that word - aging lady, trying to recapture her youth).

Now I will admit to being 60-something (can't bring myself to say my exact age either!). But after looking in the mirror day after day, discussions with others and much prayerful consideration, I finally decided this was the route I wanted to take. My daughter who is "in the business" greatly supported me. So with much trepidation I made an appointment with the plastic surgeon she recommended.

The first time I went in we talked about laser. However, although that would smooth my skin considerably, it would not make much impact on the deep wrinkling on my cheeks and do nothing to the "wattle" under my neck - something I had had for years. Also it takes more time for laser surgery to heal completely, and I did want to get back to work in 2 weeks.

I went home to think about it and, after looking in the mirror, decided I also needed to do something about the "hooding" on my eyelids. The area under my eyes looked pretty good, but the upper area would continue to droop as time went on.

At my second appointment we confirmed I would have my upper eyelids done, plus work on the wrinkling on my cheeks and also have the skin under my neck shaped. I promised Dr G I would not look in the mirror any more. Let's face it, this kind of self-examination could go on forever. I wanted to look pretty much my old self, maybe 50-something!

My appointment was scheduled. Dr G emphasized not all my wrinkling would go away, but this would be a big help. There are other procedures that could be done to eliminate more of said wrinkling, which I could do in the future if I felt it was necessary.

Now I was really nervous. What a commitment. I wanted to do it but.... quite frankly I was scared. Is this going to hurt, am I going to look better, what are the people going to say at work when they notice a difference? I didn't think telling them I'd been at a health spa for two weeks would work!

"Have a great vacation!" "Hope you get to do some fun things!" Right.

One more consultation the day before surgery with DrG and lots of reassurance. I had a terrible stomach ache and felt I might be catching a cold. Just nerves. My good friend picked me up early that Tuesday. Off we went. Me absolutely squeaky clean from a bath the night before and that morning. No makeup. She dropped me and my urine specimen off at the surgery center. I was stepping into unchartered territory. The receptionist was quite pleasant. Another nurse showed me where I would be saying overnight. Very nice. Private room. I wondered how the food would be.

The same nurse took me into a waiting room with 4 or 5 beds and I hopped up on one. I undressed, putting on one of those designer night gowns that never quite seem to come together. The anesthesiologist came in and discussed her procedure with me. Dr G came in and drew purple lines all over my face. Gosh, did he have to have a diagram? Looked pretty obvious to me.

Everyone introduced themselves in the operating room. What a friendly bunch. And then I began breathing deeply. "Get lots of rest on your vacation!"

I woke up! Oh man, what had happened to me? Nurses and the doctor were standing around me, speaking encouraging words. Now you're going to have to take my word for it. I'm not going to go into details of this 4 1/2 hour surgery because everyone has their own experience - but let me say this: "it was not a piece of cake". One must remember that this is major surgery.

Anesthesia, catheter, IV, pain pills and nausea. Everyone said: "On Monday you'll be so much better." Hey, it was only Tuesday!

So I spent the night. Out at 1 am the next morning. Stop! I hadn't recuperated yet! I'll never know how the food was. My son-In-law was waiting and I very slowly got into his van. "Please hurry and get me HOME." I shut my eyes. I went straight to bed. He got me settled. Ice bag for my eyes. Would you believe it was a bag of frozen peas? What wonderful progress the medical field has made! Dr G called me later that day. Can't say I felt too hot. "You'll get better." Where have I heard that before?

The next day was Thanksgiving. My family ate out and brought me a "doggy bag". My little grandson would have nothing to do with me. Except that when he looked at me he just grinned. Dr G called me. He was traveling out of town for his family get - together but just wanted to know how I was doing.

Eating was not easy. The pain pills made me sick, so I got off them and took something over the counter. After two attempts in two days I finally was able to eat my turkey and dressing. "Don't eat too much over Thanksgiving!"

Friday it's back to the doctor. His assistant cleaned me up and Dr G removed some of the stitches and assured me Iwas doing well. Not as much swelling or bruising as I might have had. He said I could now wash my hair. What a relief. I just hate a bad hair day! On the way home I suggested to my daughter perhaps I should buy some prune juice. She bought what looked like a gallon! After doing my hair I felt much better. However, after spending considerable time in the bathroom (prune juice will do it every time) I took more medication, plopped the peas on my eyes and took a nap.

The following Monday Dr G said I looked good and I thought so too, considering it had only been 6 days since surgery. Some swelling, tightness and a little bruising but I had really expected more. Then came Friday, looking even better. "I have to go back to work on Monday." Dr Gsaid I was socially acceptable and to go ahead. But come Monday I was very nervous because there still was some swelling, even though you had to look closely. Would my co-workers notice?

"Hi, great to have you back." "We missed you." "What did you do on your vacation?" "Would you believe I spent two weeks at a health spa?"

Would I do it again? Most definitely. Costly? My compact car cost more. Satisfied with the doctor? He couldn't have been more capable or compassionate. Results? Even though it will be a while before all swelling is completely gone, I couldn't be happier or more grateful for the way my surgery has turned out!

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