How long is off is really necessary after FFS? I know most people take three weeks, but is that because of appearance or true recovery. I telecommute to work and we don't do video. Would I be able to get away with less time off?
Does the type of FFS impact recovery significantly or is it pretty consistent? I have raised cheekbones already and my jaw isn't as wide as my cheeks so I don't know that I would bother with those procedures. I don't really feel any brow bossing until I get to my temples. I'm not unhappy with my nose.
BUT I'm very unhappy with my hairline and would like higher eyebrows. I'm unsure about my chin as well.
I want to do both My FFS and GCS next year and don't want to have to take off 6+ weeks for recovery in one year. I'm not sure I can afford both next year but I'm going to try (raiding my IRA for sure)
While I'm asking, which surgeons can work from photos since I live in the middle of nowhere.
Recovery time is dependent on the degree of the surgery and the individual. If you go for "the works" you can expect a longer recovery.
I also think the skill of the surgeon plays a part in the equation too.
For me, the first four days were hell. On day 8, I was on a plane headed for Montreal. On day 12 I did a "Risky Business slide entrance" into Julie's hospital room, feeling great. Exactly 14 days after FFS, I was being put under for BA. Now THAT was too much! Two surgeries, two general anesthesias, two weeks. I was groggy for weeks.
As far as taking a month off for FFS, I'd say, yes, a lot of that has to do with one's looks. So if you don't care your face is swollen or you don't have to appear in public, sure, you can probably work. I'd say as soon as the pain med dosage is reduced enough to allow you to think clearly.
Quote from: Jeneva on November 17, 2011, 07:58:56 AMWhile I'm asking, which surgeons can work from photos since I live in the middle of nowhere.
I know you can send your photos to Spiegel, Ousterhout, and Zukowski and they'll email or call you back with their recommendations.
i was wondering this myself. i will be off from school for 2 weeks and then back to the hospital for clinicals after mine. yiks!
You can go back to work after 2 weeks. It's doable.
It's also miserable, but it's going to be miserable no matter what, so whatever.
The time after which I felt back to normal in terms of mental and physical stamina (which is not at all the same way as back to normal aesthetically or functionally) was about 6-8 weeks. In terms of aesthetics and functionality, that took about three months before the fact that I was recovering from surgery was not immediately evident.
Quote from: Jeneva on November 17, 2011, 07:58:56 AM
How long is off is really necessary after FFS? I know most people take three weeks, but is that because of appearance or true recovery. I telecommute to work and we don't do video. Would I be able to get away with less time off?
Does the type of FFS impact recovery significantly or is it pretty consistent?
If you telecommute, you can probably return to work after two weeks but you will not be 100%. Obviously, being under for less time helps with recovery, but it still takes quite some time for the lingering effects to go away regardless of what you have done. Anaesthesia is pretty powerful stuff. I had the works, and in my case I was pretty fatigued most of the time for the first month or so. I went back to work after 2 and a half, but I pretty much just came home and laid on the couch after work until the first month was past.
So pretty much everyone stays a full week near the surgeon?
Dr. Z offered me a canceled slot on 12/27/2011, but that puts me coming back home on the 3rd. It is ultra fast, and I was already taking off most of that time so the work time off is not nearly as bad to my PTO total this way. But I proposed on Jan 1 1997 at midnight so being away on the first may be a bad move.
I would take 3 weeks minimum. Trust me, you will appreciate the time off, try not to overdo it. It sounds like you are getting some major work done. Most of my discoloration/bruising was gone at 3 weeks, but I was still plenty swollen. You don't realize how swollen you are until a few months later when you look like a different person.
Good luck and congrats! Dress warm, Chicago can be cold this time of year.
Honestly, I've had two rhinoplasties and the recovery is really no different from having a very numbing cold for around 4 days. The first day (when you wake up from surgery), you truly need someone to transport you back to wherever you're staying, in a wheelchair. You will not be awake the rest of the day, you won't be able to walk or drive, and frankly, you probably won't know where you're at. Day two, you'll wake up a couple times, bout it, you'll manage going to the bathroom. Day three, you'll feel like walking around a little, but it'll feel like your body got hit by something huge; not really painful, but extremely heavy and numbing. Day four, you'll want to get out pretty much, though if you go to town, you'll probably want to use an electric wheelchair wherever you go. Pain meds and trauma like these surgeries can be extremely impacting physically.
But overall, as long as you're able to clean yourself up, there's no reason you wouldn't look great after a week. Rhinoplasty is the worst on the appearance because it requires you wear a cast for an entire week, but the cast-wearing time for chin and forhead surgeries is probably a bit less. Also, after the casts come off, the only thing left is bruising, which doesn't last long and is gone before the week ends. I'll be honest and say that really, as far as I know, a week is all you'll need. A week and a half may be needed just in case.
I'm at day 5 since I had FFS with Dr. Spiegel, and today is probably the first day since that I've felt like an actual human. I'm basically off pain meds, mostly breathing through my nose, etc.
Swelling from jaw work is hellacious. I fully expect to wait a month or two to see my new jawline. Everything else is basically tolerable at this point.
Quote from: ril on December 13, 2011, 12:55:11 PM
I'm at day 5 since I had FFS with Dr. Spiegel, and today is probably the first day since that I've felt like an actual human. I'm basically off pain meds, mostly breathing through my nose, etc.
Swelling from jaw work is hellacious. I fully expect to wait a month or two to see my new jawline. Everything else is basically tolerable at this point.
I'm glad to know everything is going well with your recovery. Best wishes!
Quote from: ril on December 13, 2011, 12:55:11 PM
I'm at day 5 since I had FFS with Dr. Spiegel, and today is probably the first day since that I've felt like an actual human. I'm basically off pain meds, mostly breathing through my nose, etc.
Swelling from jaw work is hellacious. I fully expect to wait a month or two to see my new jawline. Everything else is basically tolerable at this point.
Thank you for your feedback. I hope your healing continues to go well and everything turns out good.
the puffed up black eyes from my rhyno took two full weeks to become coverable with makeup.