Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Facial feminization surgery => Topic started by: Sarah on February 07, 2015, 01:03:03 AM

Title: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: Sarah on February 07, 2015, 01:03:03 AM
Hi Everyone,

I have been on hormones now for nearly 8 months and have just booked the date (30st April) for getting FFS.
I was wondering what the average time period was post surgery until you can get back to doing regular activities and later some sports.

BTW what I am getting is (idk the technical terms but) my adams apple removed, shaving my brow ridge and jawline (mostly around the chin) and fixing my hairline.

Thx ♡  ;D
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: calicarly on February 07, 2015, 12:12:13 PM
It's different for everyone, it took me at least 2 months to be presentable at all, from all the bruising, but some people out there look fine in 2 or 3 weeks.

Good luck!! :)
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: Eveline on February 07, 2015, 12:54:26 PM
Quote from: calicarly on February 07, 2015, 12:12:13 PM
It's different for everyone, it took me at least 2 months to be presentable at all, from all the bruising...

I had the same experience. I couldn't believe how long it took for the bruising to go away, especially for any work around the eyes.
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: Violet Bloom on February 07, 2015, 01:13:06 PM
  Two months is a bit troubling to hear but is useful information for me.  My job requires me to be presentable, so I have to give them a pretty good sense of how long my medical leave might stretch-out.  I hardly want to be plastering my face with concealer every day just so I don't scare away my customers.
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: mmmmm on February 07, 2015, 01:25:33 PM
Two months should be somewhat appropriate time to be visually presentable and in terms of physical well-being.
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: Sarah on February 07, 2015, 01:43:47 PM
Quote from: calicarly on February 07, 2015, 12:12:13 PM
It's different for everyone, it took me at least 2 months to be presentable at all, from all the bruising, but some people out there look fine in 2 or 3 weeks.

Thanks Everyone.
I honestly didn't think it would take that long. Lets just hope I don't scare too many people while I recover lol.
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: Yasmeen on February 08, 2015, 03:11:51 PM
Quote from: Violet Bloom on February 07, 2015, 01:13:06 PM
I hardly want to be plastering my face with concealer every day just so I don't scare away my customers.

Which wouldn't conceal swelling. I bought rather expensive consealer sticks before I had ffs and once I was post-op I figured why bother consealing bruising when there is so much swelling. Bruising may look scary, but  swelling can make someone look very VERY weird. Both bruising and swelling can take forever to go down. When I had SRS dr Suporn said it takes a year for swelling to go down and I can now confirm that he was right. For FFS I think 2- 3 months before looking presentable isn't rare, but it probable takes a year too before everything has settled completely.
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: warmbody28 on February 08, 2015, 06:27:02 PM
i took off three weeks from work and i felt ready to return to work by then.
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: gingerbread on February 08, 2015, 09:39:12 PM
I agree the swelling takes forever... bruising went away around 4 week


Quote from: Yasmeen on February 08, 2015, 03:11:51 PM
Which wouldn't conceal swelling. I bought rather expensive consealer sticks before I had ffs and once I was post-op I figured why bother consealing bruising when there is so much swelling. Bruising may look scary, but  swelling can make someone look very VERY weird. Both bruising and swelling can take forever to go down. When I had SRS dr Suporn said it takes a year for swelling to go down and I can now confirm that he was right. For FFS I think 2- 3 months before looking presentable isn't rare, but it probable takes a year too before everything has settled completely.

Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: misty2 on February 09, 2015, 08:20:02 PM
Quote from: Sarah on February 07, 2015, 01:03:03 AM
Hi Everyone,

I have been on hormones now for nearly 8 months and have just booked the date (30st April) for getting FFS.
I was wondering what the average time period was post surgery until you can get back to doing regular activities and later some sports.

BTW what I am getting is (idk the technical terms but) my adams apple removed, shaving my brow ridge and jawline (mostly around the chin) and fixing my hairline.

Thx ♡  ;D

Your brow will be ready for prime time in a few days. Your jaw and chin will be very swollen even after 30 days. - Danielle
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: Sophiabutterfly09 on February 16, 2015, 03:04:08 PM
The rhinoplasty takes FOREVER to settle in, literally it takes a solid 6 months. jaw and Chin swelling takes a little while, the forehead recovery is pretty quick. Sound advice; SPF, sunscreen is crucial it will allow the incisions to heal seamlessly.
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: mmmmm on February 16, 2015, 03:23:02 PM
Quote from: Sophiabutterfly09 on February 16, 2015, 03:04:08 PM
the forehead recovery is pretty quick.

Yes, just make shure to NOT accidentally or intentionally hit anything for months. It's probably better to be really careful for at least a year. And those who had forehead remodeling/shaving done by one of those who don't know how to do a proper forehead reconstruction, well, make shure you NEVER EVER hit anything and avoid being hit by anything. Because even though 0,8 mm of bone seems like a lot, it really isn't.   
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: Violet Bloom on February 16, 2015, 10:13:20 PM
Quote from: mmmmm on February 16, 2015, 03:23:02 PM
Yes, just make shure to NOT accidentally or intentionally hit anything for months. It's probably better to be really careful for at least a year. And those who had forehead remodeling/shaving done by one of those who don't know how to do a proper forehead reconstruction, well, make shure you NEVER EVER hit anything and avoid being hit by anything. Because even though 0,8 mm of bone seems like a lot, it really isn't.   

  This sounds terrifying.  By your phrasing it seems as if you speak from personal experience - sure hoping not!  I can barely stomach the image. :P
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: mmmmm on February 17, 2015, 06:13:34 AM
Luckily not from my own experience. But I am careful as anyone could possibly be, you just need to have that kind of mindset, when something happens is too late. Everytime I'm doing something; for example open doors of upper cabinet can be very dangerous, as you forget you left them open... or going in and out of the car, and many many other situations. You just really don't want to create accident by yourself, and compromise FFS result by your own carelessness. I did read though, and seen pictures, when people let anything like that happen to them. Its extremly sad. I can imagine how would I feel. Even though something can be done, and things can be fixed (al least mostly) it still means paying for revision surgery, hospital costs again, flights and other expenses, and going through another recovery.. all this after you've already been through this, paid all you had for your FFS, and should instead be finally happy and just enjoy life.
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: Julia-Madrid on February 17, 2015, 06:36:04 AM
Hi Sarah

Here's how my recovery went, and it was pretty similar surgery to yours.

Consider around two weeks of recovery until you feel quite strong and ready to get back to 90+% of your day-to-day activity.  I'm not including sport here - you need to go easy here.

After two weeks I looked ok and, with a bit of makeup I looked decent enough.

The bruising took around 6 weeks:  from jaw work it gradually goes yellow and in my case slowly moved downwards into my neck.

Be aware that you may have reduced mobility to chew for some weeks, as well as a possible temporary weakness in swallowing - a week or so.

Swelling took around 3 months for almost all of it to disappear.

Good luck!
Julia
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: Dodie on February 17, 2015, 03:13:02 PM
Hey Girl
My profile is me about 6 weeks post op.  I had a 10 hour surgery.
My face looks ok but I still have swelling under chin and so I have to wear a scarf..
Also, I have to hide my bruises under my eyes
Here is my photo bucket added a pic without makeup at 6 weeks... <iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://s1382.photobucket.com/user/asbbrinleepilot32659/embed/slideshow/"></iframe>
Dodie
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: Tori_Chi on March 04, 2015, 01:30:06 AM
So from what people are saying, the chin and jaw is the longest?  I am only doing forehead/rhino, but have travel plans 5 weeks after surgery where I need to be presentable.  Is that cutting it too close?
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: Dodie on March 04, 2015, 11:50:51 AM
Tori I do not think you are cutting it too close at all.
Don't expect things to be perfect by then but you should look fine..
Dodie
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: Erica_Y on March 04, 2015, 08:53:56 PM
Hi recovery from FFS is like a marathon and not a sprint type of thing it takes time and mental persistence with many ups and downs. Genetics, predisposition, procedures and such all play into it and everybody seems to respond so different in the recovery stage. Swelling does seem to collect in the lower face thanks to gravity so it takes the longest to clear up.

Good luck and all the goodness post healing is so worth the effort to get there.
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: TerriT on March 05, 2015, 03:50:55 PM
Eek, just had my ffs on Tuesday. Hairline, brow bossing, eyebrow lift, nose, cheeks and trach. I feel very sore. At least I'm regaining some awareness. I work for myself so there's no rush, but I am looking forward to regular life. I look like hell!!! Black eyes, my head is all stapled up and stuff. I had a lot of swelling. My mom is going to wash my hair in a little bit. We just got back to her house an hour ago. It's about 48 hrs postop.
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: Dodie on March 05, 2015, 05:38:49 PM
Excited for you. Hope you recover fast.
Time sure does fly by before u know it you will be lookin wonderful
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: TerriT on March 05, 2015, 11:10:56 PM
Gosh I hope so. I think I really underestimated how long recovery would take. Stupid me
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: Dodie on March 06, 2015, 11:45:40 AM
Me too
I was thinking in three weeks I would be good to go
At 11 weeks doing ok except for under chin area is puffy
U will do fine
Dodie
Title: Re: Recovery Time for FFS
Post by: Sarah on March 06, 2015, 04:11:28 PM
Thx everyone for all the replies. Its been really helpful. I was able to discuss with my surgeon ways to minimize scars and nerve damage and it turns out I have been able to reduce the size of the cuts for remodeling my supra orbital rim to two small incisions in the widows peak part of my hairline which he had to cut anyway for my hairline. Also with my chin he is going to make the incision through my mouth rather then have two scars on my throat (one for the chin and another for the trechea).
So thanks everyone for all the replies, they have been super helpful ♡♡
Hugs
Sez