Mid week update, just a post here not on the site.  We'll save that for Thursday (week 4).

I talk to Dr. Z on Wednesday and have several questions for him.

Here is my biggest concern.  I still can't speak well.  I can whisper fine.  I can talk with a higher pitch (not really falsetto and with more practice might be great passable voice, but probably not for someone my size).  But if I try to talk with my usual voice it is too rough and scratchy.  I did some digging on the web and I did see that some people just have a reaction to the breathing tube and as long as 4 weeks isn't unheard of.  If it is still there Friday and/or Dr. Z suggests it I am going to ask my PCP for an ENT referral just to be sure it isn't a more serious problem.

I still can't sleep for more than a 7ish hours.  I'm been up since 5:30 today.  At around 7 I tried to go back up and doze, but the swelling behind my upper neck hadn't dissipated enough and I just got right back up in a few minutes.

No pain really at all anymore.  Still can't open my mouth more than 2 fingers wide.  Not sure if that will stretch or is like that forever.  As I joked on another thread this may just be Dr. Z's way of telling me I had better eat like a lady (small bites).

I have gathered a bit of fluid in my right breast implant cavity.  I know it isn't leaking because I noticed it yesterday afternoon and it is still full size and firm today.   Is there any special massage I can do to move that fluid or do I just need to wait a few days for it to be reabsorbed.

I am starting to see some real definition after massages now.   After seeing the chin/jawline with the swelling soothed I am VERY happy.  Over all everything he did has turned out great. 

I'd have preferred more lift on my eyebrows, but if that is how he got me 1" of new hair line then it is a fair tradeoff.  I also know that when I had them shaped the waxer too from the top instead of the bottom because she didn't want me to change too much.  I tried to tell her I was out and had been for months, and on top of that I worked from home, but she was insistent.  I wonder if I let them grow back out and wax from the bottom I can get more arch?

As far as physically I am finally being let out of the house and allowed to do some smaller things.  I was even allowed to go to the grocery yesterday and walk around with them.


**sidebar**

Quote from: Sarah7 on January 19, 2012, 09:52:47 PM
I don't think it looks stupid at all. My ex has one; she's the same age as you.

Most facial piercings are "I'm gay" tells. All those things are like critical mass though, you have enough and you are readable basically. And where I live, it gets complicated 'cause all the cute straight hipster girls have enough tells to pass as gay. This is the side effect of lesbian style getting assimilated. Mass confusion.

Also silver ring on middle finger is just a fairly standard "I'm gay" tell or did I miss something?


You are starting to look a lot better there. Especially in the shot where you are smiling.

Thanks!  I knew they were lesbian tells and that is fine with me.  I have a decent amount of metal in my ears too and the industrial is a rainbow anodized spiral.  I just wanted to make sure it didn't mean more than just that (BDSM or for rent, etc).  Speaking of lesbian style getting assimilated our waiter at a local restaurant a week before I went in for surgery had silver rings on BOTH of his middle fingers and then what appeared to be a wedding band.  We didn't realize it was LGBT friendly, but there did seem to be several alt couples there and the ones directly behind my wife were having a meet the parents dinner.  The dad kept quizzing her girlfriend and she kept saying "oh dad!".  It was so funny seeing that traditional right of passage with a non-traditional couple.
**sidebar**

I have no regrets with choosing Dr. Zukowski to do my surgery.  Yes it was a long procedure (much more than 9 hours), but I would rather gamble once than a three or four times.  So far he has been extremely communicative and my aftercare was superb.

Quote from: Jeneva on January 22, 2012, 08:02:00 AMHere is my biggest concern.  I still can't speak well.  I can whisper fine.  I can talk with a higher pitch (not really falsetto and with more practice might be great passable voice, but probably not for someone my size).  But if I try to talk with my usual voice it is too rough and scratchy.  I did some digging on the web and I did see that some people just have a reaction to the breathing tube and as long as 4 weeks isn't unheard of.  If it is still there Friday and/or Dr. Z suggests it I am going to ask my PCP for an ENT referral just to be sure it isn't a more serious problem.

I hope it's not a serious problem. My speaking has gotten better. I can even sing somewhat now. But it's definitely not back to normal yet.

QuoteI still can't sleep for more than a 7ish hours.  I'm been up since 5:30 today.  At around 7 I tried to go back up and doze, but the swelling behind my upper neck hadn't dissipated enough and I just got right back up in a few minutes.

I still wake up about 2-3 times at night, always because of pain in the jaw/neck area, even if I take my pain meds. Did this ever happened to you and if ever when did it stop? I'm 15 days post op now. I go to sleep around 10pm. Then I wake up at 2am, fall back to sleep within 30 minutes and then wake up around 5am. Then I turn on the TV and sit up because I can't stand the pain usually. And sometimes fall asleep or not. I can't wait until the pain at night goes away.

QuoteStill can't open my mouth more than 2 fingers wide.  Not sure if that will stretch or is like that forever.  As I joked on another thread this may just be Dr. Z's way of telling me I had better eat like a lady (small bites).

I can open my mouth so much more now. I can chew and eat solid foods for the most part. But I still can't yawn. Sometimes I try and it hurts.

QuoteI am starting to see some real definition after massages now.   After seeing the chin/jawline with the swelling soothed I am VERY happy.  Over all everything he did has turned out great.

Yeah me too. I'm really happy with everything. The only thing is my lower lip. Its going down but still too big. I hope it goes down to where I'll like it soon.

QuoteAs far as physically I am finally being let out of the house and allowed to do some smaller things.  I was even allowed to go to the grocery yesterday and walk around with them.

I'm still scared to go outside. I don't want to swell up. For now I'm letting everyone else run my errands, lol.

QuoteI have no regrets with choosing Dr. Zukowski to do my surgery.

+1

Quote from: JenJen2011 on January 22, 2012, 09:34:41 AM
I still wake up about 2-3 times at night, always because of pain in the jaw/neck area, even if I take my pain meds. Did this ever happened to you and if ever when did it stop? I'm 15 days post op now. I go to sleep around 10pm. Then I wake up at 2am, fall back to sleep within 30 minutes and then wake up around 5am. Then I turn on the TV and sit up because I can't stand the pain usually. And sometimes fall asleep or not. I can't wait until the pain at night goes away.

I don't really have a lot of pain.  When I wake it is because of sleeping around a 35-45 degree angle and the fluid finally builds up in my neck enough to be uncomfortable.  Not pain, but just not conducive to sleep. 

I'm not taking any Vicodin or Tylenol.  I dropped the Vicodin a day or so before the two week mark and then I had a few days of Tylenol.  But now I'm in the Motrin phase he documented in my after care instructions.  At 15 days you are too aren't you or is it a day or two more?  Or was that even soothing different he did for me.  It is 3 pills twice a day?  It works out to the max daily safe dose, but it is not going to provide 24 hour relief.  I'd guess his goal is to hit our bodies with as much anti-inflamation medicine as possible at a time.

Now in terms of getting up, I do get up three or four times, but that is a function of spiro and LOTS of water, but I can go right back to sleep after that.

Quote from: JenJen2011 on January 22, 2012, 09:34:41 AM
I can open my mouth so much more now. I can chew and eat solid foods for the most part. But I still can't yawn. Sometimes I try and it hurts.

I've been able to eat anything I want, I just have to cut it into small bites.  I should have mentioned that I don't have pianist fingers, mine are fairly larger.  I can open it between an inch and 3/4 or two inches.  I can even yawn, although I do feel the stretch in those muscles when I do.  It just makes eating things like salad a bit more work.  Where before a larger leaf might be spiked in the middle and then you let it fold over with your teeth, I actually have to cut it now or I get dressing everywhere.

Continued good luck healing and I hope your lip keeps going down.

Quote from: Jeneva on January 22, 2012, 08:02:00 AM
I just wanted to make sure it didn't mean more than just that (BDSM or for rent, etc).  Speaking of lesbian style getting assimilated our waiter at a local restaurant a week before I went in for surgery had silver rings on BOTH of his middle fingers and then what appeared to be a wedding band.

Pretty much all the BDSM/sex tags are exclusively for guys, they don't mean anything on girls. And the reverse is also true, I don't really know any of the guy's tells, but I'm pretty sure the silver ring on middle finger only has a meaning for girls.

QuoteWe didn't realize it was LGBT friendly, but there did seem to be several alt couples there and the ones directly behind my wife were having a meet the parents dinner.  The dad kept quizzing her girlfriend and she kept saying "oh dad!".  It was so funny seeing that traditional right of passage with a non-traditional couple.

That's adorable. Yay progress!


Glad the both of you are coming along and healing - I hope the voice sorts itself out, mine was raspy and breathy for the first couple of weeks, and then went back to normal. I think I got off super easy now after reading about you both going through it.

Nice to find this thread.  Used Dr. Z in November 2011 for FFS.  Had deviated septum and nose looks pretty good.

Really been having problem with scalp advance threads.  Constantly hurt.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  Threads still coming out 10 weeks later.

Wanted philtrum reduced from .75 inches to about .5 inches.  It remained .75 inches which might have been logical since my nose was reduced.

Did not get a jaw reduction which might be neither good or bad.  Dr. Z felt it did not need to be done.  Did reduce chin.

Look like a prettier male.  Excellent surgeon and Lisa was great help.

Dr. Z did oversell BA.  They look great but seem centerfold size.  They are well balanced but FFS was all surgery I should have gotten.  Too much surgery for this old human.  Had BA two weeks after full FFS and I remain on low energy side.

Bottomline:
1.  Any suggestions on forehead scalp advance stitches?  They are still bothering me.
2.  How long before your energy returned to close to normal?

Quote from: wendy on January 26, 2012, 02:19:12 PM
Nice to find this thread.  Used Dr. Z in November 2011 for FFS.  Had deviated septum and nose looks pretty good.

I thought I had a just a deviated septum, but it turns out it had been broken and healed badly.  He fixed it and I can smell and breath so much better and I also love the nose he gave me

Quote from: wendy on January 26, 2012, 02:19:12 PM
Really been having problem with scalp advance threads.  Constantly hurt.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  Threads still coming out 10 weeks later.

Are you swollen?  Perhaps they are being stretched.  I still have some loose skin at the back of my head so mine aren't tight and don't hurt.  When I was swollen they did hurt a bit.

Quote from: wendy on January 26, 2012, 02:19:12 PM
Wanted philtrum reduced from .75 inches to about .5 inches.  It remained .75 inches which might have been logical since my nose was reduced.

Did you get a vertical lip lift?  I had to look up what the philtrum was, but to me the lip lift seemed to reduce that.

Quote from: wendy on January 26, 2012, 02:19:12 PM
Excellent surgeon and Lisa was great help.

Dr. Z did oversell BA.  They look great but seem centerfold size.  They are well balanced but FFS was all surgery I should have gotten.  Too much surgery for this old human.  Had BA two weeks after full FFS and I remain on low energy side.

I agree 100% percent with Dr. Z and Lisa both being great resources.

I think that the BA he gave me matches with my body size well, but I was surprised to see today that I should be buying somewhere around 42DD (or 44C) as that is bigger than I expected.  I had been wearing a 38B simply because it fit in the cups, but it was clearly a tight fit using the last set of hooks.  I knew i would jump to a 40 band, but 42 or 44 seems more like swelling to me.  I'm going to stick with sports bras mainly for the next few months anyway and that way I will only have to buy and toss a couple of nicer bras as the swelling goes down.

Quote from: wendy on January 26, 2012, 02:19:12 PM
2.  How long before your energy returned to close to normal?

Sorry can't really help on the scalp stitches.  As far as energy level it still isn't back to normal.  These past few days I've had to break the 10 pound limit for things that just HAD to be done, but I'm always wiped out afterward.  Today it is officially over, but I'm nowhere near 100% yet.

Maybe someone else will post with some suggestions.

Today is 4 weeks to the day.  I will try to get another post on our site up later and cherry pick a few pictures for this thread.

Jeneva, thank you very much for your reply.

Actually I wanted a mastopexy to lift my very trans breasts.  They were 40c and I would have been happy with nice 40b.  They are easily 40DD and none of my 40c bras fit.  In fact all of my blouses and shirts that are female extra large have buttons on top near popping.  I am heavy but remain around 180 at 5'10".  Genetic females would rarely have breasts this balanced.  His work is excellent but I currently wanted smaller breasts.  Surgery was done about 8 weeks ago on breasts.  My nipples were super sensitive and still hurt.  He told me that would happen because he would preserve nerve sensation in nipples.
........

My forehead stitches are swollen and have little sores.  It hurts and I am not sure of proper procedure.  It was done 10 weeks ago.  When do these forehead stitches dissolve?  Jeneva are you still aggressively messaging scalp stitches?  I feel scalp skin seems loose enough.  My advance was only .75 inches.  THis is normal but I did want more since I have a receding hairline.

............
I had a vertical lip lift and I am not pleased that philtrum (space between bottom of nose and upper lip) remains male length.

All work seems nice.

thanks.

Wendy

Quote from: wendy on January 26, 2012, 04:55:32 PM
My forehead stitches are swollen and have little sores.  It hurts and I am not sure of proper procedure.  It was done 10 weeks ago.  When do these forehead stitches dissolve?  Jeneva are you still aggressively messaging scalp stitches?  I feel scalp skin seems loose enough.  My advance was only .75 inches.  THis is normal but I did want more since I have a receding hairline.

Are the sores places where your sutures are trying to pop out of the skin?  He did tell me to work more on getting them out when they start popping last call.  Maybe those bumps are what happens if the skin grows around one that is sticking up.  I think the video talks about how they can look like blood blisters or just bumps doesn't it?  Maybe it has more suggestions.  Sorry but mine have all be clear just sticking out of the skin (no bumps).


In other news I bruised one of my lymph nodes (back left jaw) with a too strong massage.  Since I can't firmly massage that side right now I didn't take pictures last night.  I may hold the month update until Saturday since I am going to henna/indigo my hair to get it back to consistent black.  I have dark brown hair, but I usually dye it black.  I was going to do it the weekend we had the stray dog so it never got done before surgery so my roots are making it all appear lighter (dark brown doesn't show through black too bad though).  Also my "new" hairline is blond because of all of the peroxide.

So I may dye my hair and use that for the month after update.  And one picture will have to have sunglasses since I can now wear those again.  I've only had a couple of days that I wished I had them, but that is more because other than walking around outside I've not gone anywhere.

My voice does seem to be finally healing up.  It isn't totally there, but it is progress so maybe in a week or two it'll be back to normal.


****EDIT****  I still don't have full hair clearance.  I have had 4 laser sessions, but some of it is clear and the laser doesn't get those.  So I have stubble.  Something happened yesterday morning and I didn't shave.  When I posted this I hadn't shaved yet because I was up before everyone yet another morning.  Magically after I shaved I could massage that area without pain.  I don't know if there is a connection or not, but it is an odd coincidence.

OK, so this evening rolled around and I'm actually in the best place I've been in a long time and really feeling good about myself.  Each time I finish a massage I look in the mirror and see more and more of the person trapped inside.  Post FFS Month 1 is up there now.  It is technically 1 month and 1 day, but "let's not quibble about who killed who" or something to that effect.  So here is another update with the best pictures picked for this thread, but again you can either use the direct link above or go to our site at www.dragonflydreamsfarm.com and choose "Family Happenings" and then the FFS entry and then the Month 1 entry.  I may do normal blog entry tomorrow about the henna/indigo since it is the first time we've used it, but I wanted to go ahead and update the FFS site now.

Lets do the "fun" picture first this time.

Frontal

Profile

Neck and Chin incision and swelling


Every day that passes I grow more and more pleased with Dr. Zukowski's work.  Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it is a nuisance, but eventually it will be just a memory while the changes remain.  So I guess I should again say Thank You to him!

I'm soooooo happy for you. Happy, happy, joy, joy!

Jeneva you look freaking good after one month!  I am 10 weeks.  Dr. Z always pinched my nose and told me you need to message like that.  He told me that I do not message aggressively enough.  I told him well I'll pinch your nose next time and see if it hurts you.  My scalp has little bumps and it appears their is a stitch under each.  My goodness I have rubbed my scalp so much that I created sores in spots.  Your scalp looks better in 4 weeks then mine does in 10.  When I work out a stitch from forehead it looks as if has not even started to dissolve.  I have watched video four times.  How much pressure do you place on forehead stitches?   Do you pull hard on stitch when it surfaces?  I pull lightly then cut it flush.  I still use a lot of pain meds because my forehead hurts.  Nothing else really hurts but forehead.  Next time I talk to him I am going to ask him if he used fishing line in my head instead of dissolving line.  Did he tell you how long it takes for thick forehead stitches to dissolve?

................
I wore surgical bandage for two months solid.  I stopped wearing it after two months or about two weeks ago.  My scar under chin still looks swollen.  I message it about one time a day.  It does not hurt but remains "droopy".  I did not get mandible shave but did get chin reduction and neck lift. 

.....................
I look ten years younger but probably am a lot older than you and do not think I am very feminized.  I am critical of myself and friends do say I look younger and my nose is nice but that is about it.  I think I look more feminine from side angle.  Breathing remains much better from nostril that was deviated and corrected.  Was your philtrum reduced from lip lift?   

People talk about pig nose but nose continues to drop and at 10 weeks is still upturned but is rather feminine.  Still message scar under nose but it is still a scar and those stitches seemed to have dissolved as thread was thinner than that in forehead.  Do you do a lot of work messaging nose?  It hurts to pinch end of nose and it hurts to try to adjust cartilage on sides.   Do have some fun with Dr. Z and tell him he has a patient that is just itching to pinch his nose real hard.
..............

Brow ridge reduction came out nice.  My left eyebrow was a little lower than right eyebrow and Dr. Z adjusted.  I am pleased with eyes.  They were rather feminine as a male and really feminine now and evenly balanced.

.............
My left side of mouth has taken longer to become mobile.  I can smile more on right side than left side at 10 weeks.  Chin still is rather numb at 10 weeks.  Have seen improvement on left side each week.
.................................

Actually I have light brown hair and it has white hair if I do not color it.  Have not used coloring since my scalp hurts and did not want to aggravate sore areas.  Am interested in how you will color your hair in one month.  It would be nice to color my hair again.

............................

Dr. Z is an excellent surgeon but I can't wait to pinch his nose.  Jeneva look forward to your updates!  Ask him if he ever used monofilament fishing line in any of his patients.  If he says only one in 14 years then we know why my forehead hurts!

Hugs,
Wendy

Wendy, the massaging and pinching of the nose is so interesting to me because I had feminizing rhinoplasty in 2007 by another surgeon and he never said anything about needing to massage/pinch it ever and it turned out perfect (at least in my eyes).

As far as stitches showing at the surface, I'm confused about that too. I mean, it looks good and there doesn't seem to be any problem but I don't know if I'm overlooking a stitch and mistaken it for my own thin hair. I feel no pain though so I guess that's a good sign.

The forehead stitches seem to be plastic to me too.  I have several that are trimmed as flush as possible, but none of those want to come out.

Now the thread on my nose seems to be totally gone and on my neck last night I pulled a huge string loose and I think that may be clear.  But the forehead stuff???   Nothing seems to be moving at all.

When he told me to watch the sutures more it was specifically about my nose because I still had some loose thread like material on either side and it just pulled right out when I tried.

Today has been a REALLY busy day.  We started the day off at the new Krispy Kreme that opened a few weeks ago.  In the past we had one for 20+ years but they just closed about it 10 years ago.  Surprisingly the sodium in their doughnuts isn't too bad.  It was a special treat for us all and everyone had a blast.  Then we ran to Sam's.  We were out of almost everything so we hit pretty much the entire store.  They had several different nice jackets marked down and I need a new medium weight jacket, but it seems I'm a 2x now after BA and most only went to 1x and then the one brand that did have a 2x was ultra short sleeves.  *SIGH*  I did have the stamina to do the entire store, but Shannon loaded the car and drove home.  We rested a while and then it was time to get feed and something to fix our kitchen sink (handle broken loose yesterday).  Tractor supply wasn't too bad, but Shannon had to load/unload the 50 lb feed bags.  But Lowe's was KILLER.  The person that was helping us at the faucets said that they probably didn't have that part, but he took us over there to look.  The problem is that he seemed to be sprinting.  They in fact didn't have the right part, but we looked for parts we could jury-rig until Moen ships us the proper replacement.  Unfortunately our kids take being in Lowe's as an excuse to be skid along the slick floors or play with the buggy.  This time they did it back and forth behind me (in and out of my personal space and almost hitting me multiple times).  And of course that is one of my major anxiety triggers.  So here I'm doing my best to find something to make do with since  a kitchen sink is important and I can just feel how tense I'm getting.  Which just wears me out even faster.  I honestly wasn't sure I had enough energy to make it back to the truck.  I don't really remember any of the ride back I was so tired and just zoned right out.

I keep spacing out as I try to type this even.  So I guess the moral of this story is pay attention to how you feel and don't try to push past it.  I see a REALLY early bed time today.

Quote from: JenJen2011 on January 27, 2012, 09:04:25 PM
Wendy, the massaging and pinching of the nose is so interesting to me because I had feminizing rhinoplasty in 2007 by another surgeon and he never said anything about needing to massage/pinch it ever and it turned out perfect (at least in my eyes).

As far as stitches showing at the surface, I'm confused about that too. I mean, it looks good and there doesn't seem to be any problem but I don't know if I'm overlooking a stitch and mistaken it for my own thin hair. I feel no pain though so I guess that's a good sign.

Jen other friends that have used other surgeons for ffs do not do all this massage work.  Dr. Z is probably one of most aggressive surgeons on soft tissue.   Patients that use Dr. Z work real hard on massage for a long time such as 6 months.  I have met several of his patients at SCC and they looked really nice.  I know a couple of ladies that are 60ish and should pass most of time.
.....................

Jeneva where are you getting all this energy?  My pecs hurt for at least 6 weeks from modest manual labor.  I now can use a gas powered push lawnmower and mow about 1/3 acre of grass will minimal effort.  Not ready to do push ups.

I am encouraged that you find forehead stitches have not dissolved.  Please quiz him on how long it takes to dissolve.  Must take several months.

I did volunteer work for reading bowl for elementary students today.  Was up at 5:30AM and will probably go to bed by 9PM.  It has been 10 weeks until I am finally starting to need less sleep.  Prior to surgery I was high energy and needed 7-8 hours of sleep.   Last week I needed 10 hours of sleep a day and still lacked energy in day.
..............................

On lip lift I actually wanted to see some of my upper teeth when mouth is relaxed.  I really have nice teeth and they do not show when mouth is relaxed.  Did anyone get some upper teeth to show from lip lift when mouth was relaxed?

Quote from: wendy on January 28, 2012, 07:55:20 PMDid anyone get some upper teeth to show from lip lift when mouth was relaxed?

I'm sorry you're not happy with the lip lift. For me, the lip lift is one of the procedures I'm most happy with. Dr. Z did a good job. When I open my mouth slightly, I can see my upper teeth where as before I couldn't.

Quote from: wendy on January 28, 2012, 07:55:20 PM
Jeneva where are you getting all this energy?  My pecs hurt for at least 6 weeks from modest manual labor.  I now can use a gas powered push lawnmower and mow about 1/3 acre of grass will minimal effort.  Not ready to do push ups.

Keep in mind that I'm really just doing a lot of walking.  Anything of any size that I reach to pick up is intercepted by Shannon.  Somehow after getting home from Lowe's and sitting for an hour I was able to gather up enough energy to rig a fix up for our kitchen faucet.  It is pretty hard to cook without water in the kitchen.  It turned out that I was able to superglue the plastic piece that broke and it seems to be working for now.  When I shut off the water I used my arms to pick myself up out of the floor and instantly was reminded that I was recovering still because it made a nice sharp ache.

If you are using a push mower than you've got a lot more energy than me.   My arms have nothing right now.  Especially over my head.

Quote from: wendy on January 28, 2012, 07:55:20 PMOn lip lift I actually wanted to see some of my upper teeth when mouth is relaxed.  I really have nice teeth and they do not show when mouth is relaxed.  Did anyone get some upper teeth to show from lip lift when mouth was relaxed?

I can see the bottom of my front teeth if I open my mouth a bit, but they are much longer than the surrounding teeth.  To me I focus more on the shape he gave me.  I think the arch and extra plumpness look so much better.


Is everyone else still having problems with full range of jaw motion?  I had to use a fork on my doughnuts this morning.  I couldn't fit the larger ones in my mouth.  Is that something that will come back with time or it is a side effect of the jaw muscle reduction?  I have no problems with chewing even hard foods, I just can't open it much.

Quote from: Jeneva on January 28, 2012, 09:24:20 PMIs everyone else still having problems with full range of jaw motion?  I had to use a fork on my doughnuts this morning.  I couldn't fit the larger ones in my mouth.  Is that something that will come back with time or it is a side effect of the jaw muscle reduction?  I have no problems with chewing even hard foods, I just can't open it much.

Yes! Definitely! I have no problem chewing solid foods but I can only open my mouth so much. I have to cut big pieces of food up into little pieces. To give you an idea, the most I can open my mouth is being able to stick my thumb between upper and lower teeth. I can't any bigger. And I'm still experiencing jaw pain. Right now on my right side. Are you?

Quote from: JenJen2011 on January 28, 2012, 10:33:37 PM
Yes! Definitely! I have no problem chewing solid foods but I can only open my mouth so much. I have to cut big pieces of food up into little pieces. To give you an idea, the most I can open my mouth is being able to stick my thumb between upper and lower teeth. I can't any bigger. And I'm still experiencing jaw pain. Right now on my right side. Are you?

I can do a bit more than that so perhaps it is getting better.  I haven't had any pain in a while so maybe yours will slowly dissipate.  I did have medium sharp pains on my right side the night before I couldn't hardly massage that side, but that turned out to me from where I had moved a lymph node.  I don't know if this is normal or just where he removed some much bulk from my neck but I can feel both the mid jaw node and the one behind the jaw.  I managed to get the one behind the jaw pushed next to the mid jaw one and until I got it gently stroked back into place it just HURT.

Everyone else is still in bed (we sleep late on weekends) so I haven't had breakfast yet so see if I can today.

The jaw opening thing gets better if you work it a lot, or at least that's what I found.  I couldn't stand baby food so after a week I was trying to force solid food into my mouth, especially really chewy things.  I'm 6 1/2 weeks post op now and I can almost open my jaw fully.

The forehead stitches are still a pain for me.  I've found that if you can pull them out until you see a knot, and then cut the knot, the rest comes out more easily.  I just pull and pull on the stitches until it either a) hurts a lot or b) comes out.

My nose stitches all came out after about 2 weeks, I've got a nasty habit of picking my nose so this may have something to do with it!

Quote from: JenJen2011 on January 28, 2012, 08:07:21 PM
I'm sorry you're not happy with the lip lift. For me, the lip lift is one of the procedures I'm most happy with. Dr. Z did a good job. When I open my mouth slightly, I can see my upper teeth where as before I couldn't.

As I stated Dr. Z did nice work.  I look 10 years younger but I look "feminized" male as opposed to "female". 

Mouth shape looks good but my space between nose and upper lip was 18mm or .75 inches before surgery and it is now 18mm after surgery.  I can see a little of my two middle upper teeth if my mouth is slightly open.  This was same for prior to surgery.  My lower lip does not show my lower teeth which is very good as prior to surgery my lower teeth were clearly visible.  I had asked Dr. Z to reduce philtrum from .75 to .5 which he said he would do.  Dr. Z works at making your face look nice as opposed to meeting a specification.  However I really wanted to have some upper teeth show when my mouth was slightly open but my face looks very nice.

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I had neck lift and chin reduction.  I wanted a mandible reduction but he said that was not needed on my face.  Again face came out very nice but I missed my chin for at least a month when I looked in mirror and my jaw looked like a chipmunk.  I had an oval face and now it is more of rounded face.  Many of my trans friends think I look more feminine with slightly rounded face.  I still think I should have had a mandible  reduction but after 10 weeks face is looking better.

I never got an upset stomach and was hungry day after surgery.  I could not open my jaw wider than a spoon and could not chew.  But I would eat scrambled eggs, pancakes, waffles, diced canned fruit, yogurt and soup every meal.  I also drank protein shakes.  I could open my mouth about .5 inches after surgery and mostly just swallowed food.  It was real boring but I did not go hungry.

After about one month I could each saugage links and chew a little.  My mouth opened about half an inch.  My left lower jaw had poor range of motion.

At 10 weeks I eat and chew foods.  I ate a whole apple a day ago without cutting it into sections.  It was first apple I had eaten unsliced in months and it was nice.

Left side of month continues to increase in mobility but still is not equal to right side.  Dr. Z said it could take six months to gain full mobility of your smile.

My chin is still partially numb.  My forehead never lost feeling but part of scalp that was advanced did lose feeling.  It is already starting to feel a little.  My nose never lost feeling and that is why it hurt when Dr. Z always pinched it hard.  My ears are still partially numb after ten weeks.

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Atheuona I did find that it was good to pull stitch out up to knot and cut knot.  At first I just cut edge of thread.  Then area would bother me again and I would work out knot a week later.  Then a I would work out a loose piece of thread a week after that.  It has been real pain (literally)!  Now I appear to be too aggressive trying to find threads and I create a sore in area of bump.  I am not pleased with this forehead thread thing!  Nose threads were problem for about one month.  Ear threads for about 5 weeks.  But scalp thread are still ugly.  Do you still message scalp scar every day?  I am going to guess you do it lightly?

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Jeneva sounds as if you got mandible shave.  Did anyone else?  I did not have mandible muscles cut or jaw shaved and I could barely open my mouth for mouth.  I did have neck lift and that is what I think lessened my mouth mobility.  Anyone not get a neck lift but a mandible reduction and have trouble opening mouth?

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Look forward to your other thoughts and ways to improve progress.  I think at 12 weeks I can restart on vitamins!  I also want to learn tricks to reduce scar reduction which I think also starts at about 12 weeks.  Also I will guess some of you are much younger than me and typically younger people recover faster than older people.