FFS Surgery - swelling :-( help

[notffs]

Hi people,

I've just had FFS surgery, however not because I am transitioning or anything like that. I love being masculine and quite happy but I just wanted frontal bossing reduced with some jaw augmentation, rhinoplasty, etc.

My face blew up like a baloon 2 days after my op. It's coming down slowly, it's now been 5 days and it's getting there slowly but still significant swelling.

Is this normal? I just wish I could talk to someone who has been through what I'm going through at the moment.
My forehead is swollen, looks shiny and always sweating. This might be due to the trauma of breaking the sinus bones and flattening them a bit more (still masculine).

I've also been told any jaw procedures whether implant or removal create a huge amount of swelling more so than others i.e rhinoplasty.
Does this mean that it will take a bit longer? I am back to work a week on Tuesday should it be ok by then? My jaw looks huge but the implants were only 3mm not that much projection. It looks like 1cm projection at the moment. In fact I think it's safe to say I look like a chip munk.

Can someone advise? Should I take Arnica? Too late for cold compress? Thank you.

[Rachel]

Welcome to Susan's.

I took a lot of Arnica Montana 200X. Every day all day for 2 weeks. (under the tongue )

If you are swollen then use ice packs and compression bandages (ace bandages). I wore compression bandages for 9 days straight then at night for 2 more weeks. The first 3 days I had ice on my face 24/7. I later reduced the icing.

Do not exercise or raise your blood pressure. Rest, Rest and more rest. Rest your jaw and drink your food.

I had major FFS and went to work 10 days after with bruises and swelling. I had to because I only get 12 weeks FMLA and I have GCS and BA in 29 days. I really should have been out another week.

[EmilyMK03]

Immediately after my FFS (in fact, even before I woke up from surgery), the surgeon placed bandages covering my entire head, which managed the post-op swelling.  After several days, the surgeon replaced the bandages with a new set of bandages, which were slightly less constrictive.  But they still covered my full head, to continue to help manage the swelling.  After a week, they were taken off and I started wearing a compression garment for my head.  These were all done by my surgeon and I received precise instructions on what to do.  Oh, and I never used any ice packs during my recovery period.

Frankly, I am surprised that you are asking these questions here.  Did your surgeon not tell you what to do?  Have you tried contacting him and asking him these questions first, before coming here?  I recommend you follow the post-op instructions given by your surgeon rather than asking us here, since we are not medical health professionals.

As for Arnica, I took Arnica Montana several months ago, after a full-face laser skin resurfacing procedure (done with an erbium glass laser).  Someone (not my doctor) recommended I take Arnica Montana to help reduce bruising and swelling.  So I tried it for the first time.  After 2 days, my stomach hurt like crazy.  The worst stomach pain I've ever experienced.  I also had a severe rash covering my entire neck.  After I stopped taking Arnica, these side effects went away completely.  Maybe Arnica works for some people, but for me it was poison.  Take it at your own risk.  Here is an LA Times article about the potentially dangerous side effects of Arnica:  http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/01/health/la-he-0301-in-practice-20100301

[Mia]

I agree with Arnica, which can also be administered topically. That and ice and resting with your head at least slightly elevated should reduce the swelling. Be prepared for unexpected swelling to occur for some time, though - for a few months I would be fine one day and then have swelling the next. My nose continues to play that game a year after surgery.

Good luck!

Mia

[Jacqueline]

Hi people,

I've just had FFS surgery, however not because I am transitioning or anything like that. I love being masculine and quite happy but I just wanted frontal bossing reduced with some jaw augmentation, rhinoplasty, etc.

My face blew up like a baloon 2 days after my op. It's coming down slowly, it's now been 5 days and it's getting there slowly but still significant swelling.

Is this normal? I just wish I could talk to someone who has been through what I'm going through at the moment.
My forehead is swollen, looks shiny and always sweating. This might be due to the trauma of breaking the sinus bones and flattening them a bit more (still masculine).

I've also been told any jaw procedures whether implant or removal create a huge amount of swelling more so than others i.e rhinoplasty.
Does this mean that it will take a bit longer? I am back to work a week on Tuesday should it be ok by then? My jaw looks huge but the implants were only 3mm not that much projection. It looks like 1cm projection at the moment. In fact I think it's safe to say I look like a chip munk.

Can someone advise? Should I take Arnica? Too late for cold compress? Thank you.

I want to take a moment to welcome you to the site.

I cannot advice you about surgery yet.

I also want to share some links with you. They are mostly welcome information and the rules that govern the site. If you have not had a chance to look through them, please take a moment to:

Things that you should read

• Site Terms of Service and rules to live by
  
• Standard Terms and Definitions
  
• Post Ranks (including when you can upload an avatar)
  
• Reputation rules
  
• News posting & quoting guidelines
  
• Photo, avatars, and signature images policy
  

Once again, welcome to Susan's. Look around, ask questions and join in.

With warmth,

Joanna

[R R H]

Welcome 'notffs' (curious choice of name  )

Are you okay with NSAIDs? If so ibuprofen reduces inflammation as does the stronger Naproxen. Both are painkillers and I find Naproxen particularly strong. If you use that you should take a stomach calming drug like Omeprazole. However, please only take them under your physician's guidance.

I've heard the same about jaw and chin work. I hope the inflammation reduces soon.

x

[Alyssa M.]

I was given very specific instructions NOT to take any NSAIDs or really almost anything else other than what was prescribed. I did have a prescription for a a drug to reduce nausea, but ended up not needing it. (Previously I had experienced nausea on prescription pain meds.) No Advil, no hormones, no vitamin supplements.

Ice helps, and rest, and time. And sheesh, yeah, you have this kind of surgery, you're going to have some serious swelling. Forehead work is like a really bad black/puffy eye. Chin work — that's even worse, because there's more soft tissue. The part that was really surprising was the swelling inside my mouth. Like, my gums puffed up and my lips inside and out and my cheeks and it was all pulling on the sutures really hard until they came out (and it's still a little weird). And this is all normal, per my surgeon and other doctors and nurses I have seen since.

Just wait a week or two, and that all comes down. I'm at a little over two weeks and my chin is still tender and slightly swollen but everything else is fine, except a little weirdness where the sutures in my cheeks were.

[R R H]

I'm assuming that the only reason you were told not to take NSAID's is the unproven belief that they delay bone healing? That's because NSAIDs inhibit prostaglandins. COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes play a key role in making prostaglandins, which cause pain and swelling by irritating your nerve endings. By blocking the COX enzymes, NSAIDs essentially stop your body from making too much prostaglandin, and therefore reduce pain and swelling. The downside post-operatively is that prostaglandin is important for bone healing.

However, not only is that inconclusive many surgeons believe there has to be a balance where pain relief and reduction in inflammation are clearly of benefit. NSAIDs achieve both of those without being opiates. This is, of course, down to your medical team and not us amateurs on here. But in the light of some of your comments, and your opening to this thread, can we please know where you went for your op?

Anyway, I'm wishing you the very best vibes for speedy healing.

p.s. I've just realised the notffs refers to not the feminisation in your case

[Alyssa M.]

Spiegel, and no, the reasons I was given had nothing to do with bone healing. I would rather not share reasons second-hand — my point in mentioning it is that if there's any question about pain management or *any* medication, you should talk to your doctor. If your doctor thinks Advil is good, then fine. As for me, I felt Spiegel's instructions for pain management and swelling were completely adequate.

But I can say that my personal experience, my pre-surgery consultations with Spiegel, and countless blogs, youtube videos, and forum posts all confirm that yes, you'll get significant swelling in the week after this sort fo surgery.

[R R H]

Hi slight cross-wires there. I thought I was replying to notffs so some of what I wrote to you wasn't pertinent, apologies. I was really asking notffs why he couldn't take NSAID's and also who his surgeon was. I'm just surprised there weren't more instructions given about inflammation management. But I'll be honest, I'm in the thick of a big report and my eye isn't as focussed as much on this thread as it clearly needs to be