Good evening members,
As I have lots to do this weekend, I am going to go for it and post my surgery day experience (Part 3)
As you know, the night before my surgery I ate early before 8.00pm as I wanted at least a clear 12 hours before the operation and then went out with some of the other patients who were staying at 'Jenny's Nest' but was unable to eat although I did sneak a small piece of Jenny's meat and a couple of olives which was fine as the deadline was not until midnight. I drank lots of water throughout watching my friends eat and did so when we all returned home until the midnight deadline, eight hours before surgery. It is vital to be well hydrated before surgery.
I slept pretty well considering although I was nervous at what was going to happen the next day.
I woke really early ( about 6.00am ), showered, washed my hair with baby shampoo and thought at least I will not have to bother putting any make-up on. Made a change and as a result the whole getting ready for the day process was much quicker. Nicola was also up and having breakfast which I sort of envied as I did feel hungry. Then Jenny joined us and in no time at all after she took a few fotos of me at my request, the taxi arrived at 8.15a.m and Jenny and I travelled the 15 minute journey to HC Hospital. As we drove along I thought, albeit very briefly, I hope that I will see this wonderful scenery again. Silly really but I was very emotional and Jenny's wonderful company made it so much easier for me to cope. This was going to be a huge deal for me.
When we arrived Laura my patient coordinator was waiting for us and we all went to my room and I changed into an operating gown and put on the anti-embolism stockings which is always a struggle. I also unpacked my case and hung up the clothes that I had brought from 'Jenny's Nest'.
Jenny made sure that I was tucked up in bed and then Dr Capitan, Dr Simon and Dr Bellinga came in to see me for a final chat. At about 8.55 am the nurses arrived to wheelchair me through to the room where the anaesthetist chatted to me and one of the nurses put the cannula in my left arm.
I asked if I could get on the operating table rather than be lifted on as I have a minor back problem and wanted to make sure that I was comfortable and my back was in the right position. They said that's fine.
All the rest of the gadgetry was attached and I was looking forward to the rather nice feeling as the anaesthetic goes in but nothing as I went out like a light.
Oh well, maybe next time !!!!
Apparently because of my slightly enlarged aorta, there were two anaesthetists looking after me, the main three surgeons operating and another surgeon who I understand is training and just assisted. So I was really looked after during my four hours in the operating theatre, one and half hours for the complex forehead reconstruction with Dr Capitan and Dr Simon and two and half hours on my complex third rhinoplasty, second upper lip lift and removal of the inappropriate fat in my top lip by Dr Bellinga.
I don't remember the exact time I came round in the recovery room but to make sure that I was OK, they kept an eye on me for 8 hours until 9.00 pm. I tried to pee but even my asking the nurse to pour water from one jug to another, it did not work and reluctantly I agreed to be catherised. Having had this done before it's always uncomfortable ...

Oh yes, I have an old real bristle Kent hair brush that I have had for over 20 years ( they are over £80 new now) but are wonderful as they don't pull the hair out like other brushes do. So I requested if the nurse could use it to tidy my hair after the surgery as I am paranoid about my hair. This they allowed which was awesome ...

At around 9.00pm they wheeled me back ( on a bed ) into the room and while I was on my own bed the catheter slipped out and had to be put back in again and that definitely made my eyes water.
I was offered a bit of light food but refused as I was not hungry but sipped water.
I had the cooling mask on for 24 hours but had a good night's sleep with hardly any discomfort at all.
Obviously pain killers and other drugs were being fed through the cannula in my arm.
The next morning Thursday April 7th, I felt really good and had a light breakfast. Laura popped in and brought my camera and handbag that she had kept for me locked away in Facial Team's office. She took off the cooling mask and then Dr Bellinga came in around 9.15am , removed part of the upper lip lift bandage and the plugs/packing in my two nostrils which was a big relief being able to breathe again thru the nose. Then my UK friend came by who had her facelift with Dr Bellinga the week before and who was staying in the Carolina Park studio apartment that we shared before I went to Jenny's Nest. Throughout the day I walked around the grounds a lot, taking fotos which I will share with you soon. Dr Capitan & Dr Simon also came in later in the day and told me that my surgery was 100%. ( I have shared with you already what they found in my forehead and what they had to do ).
From the moment that Jenny took me to hospital, the surgery carried out, Laura my patient coordinator and her colleague Carmen's care, the hospital's staff and nursing care, the food, in fact everything was just exceptional. Best surgery experience of my life ...

It was simply a well oiled machine.
Anyway here are the fotos that Jenny took of me before we left on the previous day (Wednesday the 6th) to go to the hospital. No make up, nothing, just the bare me. You can just see the old direct browlift scars over the eyebrows that have remained ever since 1991 with the old fashioned (even back then ) procedure that I had in London !!! G'rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ...

You can really see the bony deformities in my forehead, inappropriate PEEK implants, too small 'Piggy Nose', inappropriate fat in my top lip, weak upper lip lift negated also by the weight of the fat in my top lip. The implants were also painful to the touch and I had constant nose bleeds due to foreign material in my left frontal sinus cavity still


Here is a foto taken with the cooling mask on before it was briefly taken off on Thursday morning before Dr Bellinga removed part of the ULL bandage.
These are the the fotos taken by my friend showing the wonderful new forehead shape and transition to my new nose with cartilage taken from behind both ears. Note the cooling mask indentations



Here is the view of the grounds from my bed
Seeing the bed, it's time for me to hit the decks and will be back over the weekend.
Nite all
Hugs
Paula
PS. My friends already say that I look ten years younger which is kinda nice and that's without a full face/neck lift (to be done in the next two years ).