Becca's FFS with Zukowski 2018

[Allison S]

i had multiple consults with Dr Z.  He suggested and quoted early on a list of procedures, most of which i had done last week.  I also had consults with Speigel, who suggested similar procedures.

In my consults with Dr Z I told him that was looking for significant change.  His suggestions were designed to produce as good an overall result as possible. 

In my initial online consult he had suggested cheek implants.  After we met in person he decided (and I agreed) that I didn't need cheek implants. 

During our talks I told him what bothered me most about my face and what I wanted or hoped to see changed and he told me what he felt he could do and what would make the most impact.

In my opinion you will get the most out of consults if you ask a LOT of questions.  I think a lot of women don't do that and are then surprised at the complicated surgical quote they get.  FFS is not a science and each of the major surgeons doing this have their own opinions, techniques and aesthetics. 

Dr Z does not use any kind of visualization software in his consults.  One thing that initially frustrated me was that he could not show me exactly what I was going to look like.  Instead he showed me similar former patients before and after pics.

Once I was serious about using Dr Z I sought out as many of his former patients as I possibly good.  I talked to or met with almost a dozen women before my surgery.  They all helped to reasure me that Dr Z was right for me.

Thank you Becca! Yes, I met with Dr. Harrison Lee but as soon as he asked what I was there for, I completely froze lol.. He was very good at explaining things to me.
My thing is that I'm okay with my overall face shape. What I don't like are very specifics things. He mentioned type 3 forehead/brow bossing reduction which I agree with. But the 2nd thing is my nose which I don't think I need much at all. I only want the tip of my nose raised very slightly and the deviation on the bridge to be straightened.
I feel like I should try meeting with Dr. Lee one more time, but I'm seeing other surgeons too.
Hope your recovery is going well! I know each day does get better so hang in there [emoji4]

Sent from my VS501 using Tapatalk

[JudiBlueEyes]

Wow Becca you're looking great.  Best wishes for a quick recovery.
Judi

[reborn]

wow you look amazing already. Dr Z seems to have improved the nose work a lot. A perfect result. I can imagine the results as you recover. wow

[Becca Kay]

Prior to this surgery I had serious sinus problems. Lifelong nasal congestion, sinus headaches, sinus infections.  I also dealt wrih very bad eustation tube issues. So bad that 5 years ago I needed tubes in my ears and the damage of lifelong ear infections meant I now own hearing aids.

I had a deviated septum and my nasal passages were filled with polyps.  Dr Z fixed the deviation and removed the polyps.  Yesterday was the first time i have ever flown without ear pain. I have congestion from the surgery but even with that congestion I can easily breathe through my new smaller nose.



I just weighed myself and i've lost 12 pounds since the surgery

[josie76]

Becca, he opened up your nasal passages too! I so need that. I have been mostly unable to breath through my nose as long as I can remember. I also have a deviated septum. Wow. Really makes me think.

[Michelle_P]

Becca, so glad you are enjoying this little benefit from FFS.

Like you I had a bit of a problem, with a cyst in the frontal sinus, postnasal drip, and a constantly stuffed up feeling.  Away from the mirror, the greatly improved breathing from a bit of cleanout is a huge benefit of the surgery.

Of course, I'm also delighted with the change in my appearance.

[Becca Kay]

part of recovery is a three times per day facial message that involves applying a lot of pressure to the bony areas that were worked on.  like along the jaw line, across the chin, orbital rims, forehead.

Once my splint was off my nose Dr Z showed me how to do nose message.  It's really really painful.  It freaks me out a little how hard he did the message on my nose and insisted I continue to do so. 

I haven't doubted anything Dr Z has told me but every single explanation of post rhinoplasty message that I've found shows a much more gentle technique. 

[Becca Kay]

I'm ten days post op.  I've been home for 3 days.  I feel like i'm in some kind of weird limbo.  I'm in my apartment alone all day and night.  And I spend most of the day in bed. 

I think My face actually looks WORSE than the day I got home.  I'm doing the facial message as prescribed, but I have a lot of fluid around my temples.  And the skin around my temples and accross my brow is now black and blue.  It was bruised last week but nothing like this. 

The swelling around my face is uneven (it has been since day one).  And my mouth is crooked.  My lips are larger on the right side of my mouth  My right ear sticks out at an odd angle.  I've heard over and over that it can take weeks and months for these things to heal and even out.  But it's starting to freak me out.  I have to go back to work in 3 weeks or less and I look like a complete train wreck.

[Michelle_P]

Becca, that sounds pretty normal, actually. The area under the eyes gets hit the worse as fluid migrates down the face.  Take a look at the pictures I posted in my FFS thread. I think I looked like a darned chipmunk with the swelling...

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,232066.msg2172254.html#msg2172254

I think I hit peak swelling around 5-7 days after my procedure.  (No two procedures or people are quite alike, so we will all have some differences in timing.) I spent a lot of time in bed with the head of the bed raised about 18 inches, to help with drainage.

[Donica]

Wow Becca! I have been sitting in front of my computer for the past hour just trying to fine the words. Your FFS journey is quite impressive. Your first post-op picture has me thinking that I will need a 72 hour nurse. I was not expecting FFS to be so extensive. I have to admit I'm feel a bit stunned and worried about my future FFS journey. But I am also still optimistic as I believe FFS is the most important and necessary surgeries we will go through. It is the most visible and first impression that everyone sees. The rest of your post-op pictures are very encouraging to me and everyone else seeking FFS. Yes indeed Becca! I can see the big differences in your before and after pictures. You look very feminine. I'm looking forward to your updates. Thank you for sharing this with us.

Hugs girl!
Donica.

[Becca Kay]

having a rough day today.  haven't been able to nap all day for some reason.  And the swelling on my nose and temples has gotten a lot worse.  since the splint came off my nose has felt OK.  sore but not too bad. the past 24 hours it has swollen quite a bit.

I can't take Ibuprofren or any other NSAID until october 4 and in the interim all i'm taking is tramadol for pain.  Which does nothing for swelling.  I'm doing my facial message every day but it doesn't seem to be reducing swelling, which is partly the point of it. 

[Becca Kay]

Here is a laundry list of updates/progress.  Eleven days post op.  Once I get showered and cleaned up today I might take a couple of selfies to go along with this post.

Numbness!  In the 4-5 days immediately after surgery most of my face and head was numb.  My lips were numb.  My nose was numb.  I couldn't feel my ears.  My entire forehead and scalp all the way back to the nape of my neck was numb. 

Much of that numbness has dissipated or disappeared.  I have 80% sensation on my forehead now.  My scalp is only numb up to approx 2 inches behind my incision line (hair line).  sensation has returned to both ears.  Full sensation in my lips.  I have full sensation in my nose with some slight insensitivity right on the tip of my nose. 

The skin across the lower half of my face is mildly insensitive.  I wouldn't call it numb, but i don't have full sensation.  Especially along my jaw and chin where so much bone work was done.  I would characterize it as 70% sensation.

Swelling!  I have persistent  swelling and fluid at my temples.  I will be contacting the Dr about this today, since it's gotten worse and not better since I left Chicago.  Swelling around my eyes has decreased a great deal.  For two days after surgery my eyes were swollen shut.  I would characterize my eyes today as having some puffiness.  My nose is swollen, mostly at the tip and around my nostrils.  prescribed message doesn't seem to be helping with swelling,  The entire lower half of my face is still very swollen, including below my chin, jaw.  The swelling is a hard, tight type of swelling of the muscle and deeper tissue. From what I've been told this swelling will take the longest to recover from.  I have swelling around my adams apple.  Initially it was very bad.  But over the past 5 days it's gone down a lot.

Bruising!  I still have two black eyes.  But they're slowly clearing up.  I also have blackish bruising at my temples.  Bruising around my neck and jaw is still bad but has improved a lot over the past week.  Most of the skin on my face has a yellowish tint to it that you see with surgery or trauma.  It seems to be taking a long time to clear up.  My hope is that in three weeks when i return to work I'll be able to use cosmetics to cover whatever bruising is left

I also have a persistent runny nose.  It is irritating my nose and makes me look like I have a cold.  I don't.  It's simply irritation from the rhinoplasty and cauterization of sinus tissue.  My doctor said it could be persistent for months after the surgery

the incision along my hair line is kind of ugly and bumpy.  The incision around the bottom of my nose is very pink and slightly irritated but healing just the way the Dr said it would.  The incisions that trace around my ears are swollen and bumpy, in part because so much swelling at my jaw line is right where those incisions are.    I have an incision and stitches under my chin which are barely noticeable and seem to be healing very well

I am able to chew food again, as long as it's not too hard/tough.  I've been practicing opening my mouth every day to stretch the massetter muscles which were reduced during surgery.  I would guess that I can now open my mouth to 50% of normal.  Just enough to spoon in food.

[Donica]

Great updates Becca! I'm so glad that, for the most part, everything is healing as expected. Please give us an update after you talk to your Dr. if you are up to it. I know you need to get as much rest as possible.

Hugs,
Donica.

[Becca Kay]

Called Dr Z today about the fluid build up on my left temple/side of my head and he said it needed to be drained.   i have an appointment with my GP tomorrow to have it taken care of. 

[Becca Kay]

got lucky and the fluid dissipated overnight.  didn't need it drained. 

came down with a horrible case of constipation, no doubt from 10+ days of taking Vicodin.  I am no longer on opiates for pain, but the first half of the day today was a lower Intestinal Tract nightmare. 

All better now though.

I was taking something while I was in Chicago to ensure that didn't happen and I think after coming home I stopped.  Lesson learned. 

[Another Nikki]

whole psyllium husk is your friend

happy for you the recovery is going well!

[Becca Kay]

quick update.  13 days post op

I'm still sleeping inclined and on my back.  I can't side sleep quite yet.  I think i'm getting 8 hrs of sleep.  I'm in bed for more than that, but wake up frequently because I'm uncomfortable.

My energy level is noticeably better today. 

No significant changes in my face.  In fact being off opiates maybe means i'm feeling more little aches and pains.  Besides the incredibly tight sometimes painful feeling under my jaw from the neck lift and jaw work I'm getting weird little tingly pains in my lower gums.  The most noticeable place that swelling had reduced is around my adams apple.

What i'm finding most frustrating though is that i have a constant runny nose.  And my nose is very swollen.  it looks nothing like the day the splint came off.  Every time I look in the mirror I see a swollen red mess that looks like I have a bad cold.  I can't blow it.  I have to clean it with cotton swabs and keep the inside coated in Aquafor.  The incision under my nose and up around the outside of my nostrils is very noticeable and red and ugly. 

The slow slow rate that swelling and bruising and pain subsides is just awful and demoralizing.   I have to go back to work in 2 and a half weeks and I feel like I'm going to look like a train wreck when I do.

[Donica]

I think by the time you go back to work, with a little makeup, you'll look fine. Michelle_P has a few good tips for makup. I believe she as already posted about this here in your thread. I'm glad to her your recovery is going well. Not a train wreck, A beautiful women.

Hugs,
Donica.

[Becca Kay]

i have a few minutes so I'll post a few thoughts.  I shaved today (first time in 3 days).  I have maybe 10% of my facial hair left, just enough that I have to shave.  And I spent some time picking away at my face while i did.  the skin under my chin is completely numb.  zero sensation.  i have an incision under my chin too and it's healed very well. 

Getting a bit of sensation back in my ears.  there is an incision that starts in front of each ear and circles below and all the way up the back of each ear.  those incisions I think were needed to trim part of my jaw and do part of the neck lift.  I have a lot of swelling around my ears and back of my jaw and the incisions simply look ugly.  For several days after surgery both ears were completely numb.  I have 95% feeling in both ears now.  I also have sutures starting to spit out of those incisions around my ears

Earlier today I sneezed and a ball of sutures, tied in a weird knot, flew out of my nose.  these are all cotton stitches that are designed to disintegrate.  The doctor used very fine cotton sutures around the bottom of my nose which i keep mistaking for little blond hairs, but need to be pulled out with tweezers.

There are knots of stitches inside my mouth, on both sides near my back molars.  The sutures start at the base of my gums near the front of my mouth then go up the side of my mouth at the very pack of my teeth.  those incisions were made so they could cut away half of my masseter muscle.  The incisions never really hurt, even in the first couple of days after surgery i didn't have any pain inside my mouth.  But the tissue around the stitches is swollen and occasionally I will think i have food stuck in the side of my mouth but its just a ball of stitches.  Eventually I guess they'll fall out

my temples have been numb since the surgery.  part of the bone work was drilling away bone around my eye sockets and the edge of my temples.  I also got fat injections in my temples to fill in my male looking "hollows".  Part of my daily face message is rubbing very hard along the edge of my orbital rim, where the bone trimming was done.  this is to reduce fluid build up and reduce scaring. It hasn't hurt much at all.  just uncomfortable. But today i noticed that at the corner of my eye and temple it's sore.  Must be some feeling coming  back.

[Another Nikki]

You are both brave and inspiring!  even reading your story of pain and discomfort I look forward to the same.  In a few weeks to a few months you will see amazing results and a woman you want to see in the mirror!!!