Quote from: wendy on January 29, 2012, 04:46:05 PM.
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?.

I had both major neck work and lift as well as the jaw angle reduction and masserter excision. I just assumed it was the jaw work that made it hard to open my mouth, but I guess it could be the neck work too or instead.

Quote from: wendy on January 29, 2012, 04:46:05 PM

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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?

I try to massage the scalp scar every day as hard as I can, but it hurts like hell.  I've created bumps and scabs as well, I think the best thing is just to massage with picking at the scar too much.  Just let the stitches come out when they are ready.

I've hardly had any of the ear threads come out yet, it's really annoying as they seem to be causing swelling just below my ear where the lymph drains.

Quote from: wendy on January 29, 2012, 04:46:05 PM
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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.

I'm in my 20's so I'd guess I am probably recovering faster.

I found that after the forehead lift I couldn't move the left side and couldn't feel the right side.  Movement and feeling are slowly coming back now though.  One thing that is really good is that I can now raise one eyebrow independently of the other (a neat little trick I've always wanted to be able to do).

I've found that the incision underneath my chin is still leaking fluid, I sleep with the head garment on and every morning I wake up yellowy gunk on the gauze.

What would happen if I don't do anything to forehead scar, except massage, and just let it heal? I haven't noticed any stitches or maybe I'm not looking close enough, I dunno. I'm 3 weeks and one day post op. haven't felt any pain there either.

Jeneva I think it is cut under chin that causes mouth not to move.  Grinding jaw will not bother mouth too much.  Shaving jaw muscles will make your bite weaker but still should allow mouth to open.

Quote from: atheuona on January 29, 2012, 07:59:38 PM
I try to massage the scalp scar every day as hard as I can, but it hurts like hell.  I've created bumps and scabs as well, I think the best thing is just to massage with picking at the scar too much.  Just let the stitches come out when they are ready.

I've hardly had any of the ear threads come out yet, it's really annoying as they seem to be causing swelling just below my ear where the lymph drains.

I'm in my 20's so I'd guess I am probably recovering faster.

I found that after the forehead lift I couldn't move the left side and couldn't feel the right side.  Movement and feeling are slowly coming back now though.  One thing that is really good is that I can now raise one eyebrow independently of the other (a neat little trick I've always wanted to be able to do).

I've found that the incision underneath my chin is still leaking fluid, I sleep with the head garment on and every morning I wake up yellowy gunk on the gauze.

Atheuona I am reasonably aggressive on scalp massage but I get a bump I keep rubbing it and rubbing it and if I can not feel a stitch I rub it more until it is real sore and then I start rubbing it because it is sore.  This is not working.

Today I got one of big black threads and a knot out behind my left ear.  Ear is fairly numb so that bumps behind ear are massaged but do not bother me.  It is 11 weeks and I still have several bumps behind ears that need to be worked out.  I just massage them and process seems to work.  Black thread behind ears are not stiff life monofilament in forehead.  Ear bumps take a while to surface and skin to be rubbed off to get at thread; however no one sees them and I seem to leave them alone.  I wear a hat when I leave house because I am self conscious with scalp blemishes.

I had pain on right side of my forehead when I rubbed my right eyebrow but that stopped in about one week.  I have full mobility of forehead below scalp advance.

I had yellow fluid on gauze pad for about a month but my chin was numb and it did not have pain.  I still feel stitches and knots in chin area and skin sags on edges past scars.  At 11 weeks I can see a grove in my chin and starting to see a slimmer jawline.  I had been very displeased that Dr. Z advised me not to have jaw reduction.  I still think I wanted a jaw bone reduction but now it is starting to look nicer.

Atheuona I was married to a wonderful woman and have three beautiful children in their twenties.  I am probably older than your parents and I thought these surgeries would be a cake walk even though several friends told me it would not.  Lisa Lopez helped me for three full days and then I used her for seven hours a day for another week. She said see had never seen a patient have no nausea and be very hungry next day.  She also never saw a patient down that many pain pills.  Guess no pain allowed me to eat and sleep.  I found facial surgery very painful without lots of pain meds.

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Quote from: JenJen2011 on January 29, 2012, 11:02:08 PM
What would happen if I don't do anything to forehead scar, except massage, and just let it heal? I haven't noticed any stitches or maybe I'm not looking close enough, I dunno. I'm 3 weeks and one day post op. haven't felt any pain there either.

Jen I think you have process correct.  You just massage each day and when a stitch surfaces you try to remove as much as you can.  You do not create sores but need to be patient.

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Did anyone get a rhinoplasty and have Dr. Z  pinch their nose every day after split was removed.  I would scream when he pinched my nose.  He said stop screaming you are such a sissy.  I told him it is my nose he is pinching not his nose.  He would say if it hurts that much you are not being aggressive enough on massages.  He told me I was not aggressive enough.  Actually I remain rather aggressive on massage to nose after 11 weeks.  It no longer looks like a pig nose.  My ex saw my nose after surgery and thought I would have a pig nose for rest of my life.  My nose is still larger than many female noses but it has a slope and is much smaller and might shrink in few more months.  I think Dr. Z does pretty good job with noses that have healed.  They do look like pig noses after surgery.  I do not like all this massage work and stitch popping. 

One big difference with Dr. Z and other surgeons is that many surgeons cut nerves and let them re-heal over 6 to 12 months. 
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That day I worked 16 hours straight required 10 hours sleep for next day.  I also took a vitamin tablet today which I think I am supposed to wait one more week.  I just got to get back some energy.  Funny thing is I look 10 years younger but feel 10 years older.    I colored white hairs last night and had no adverse effects.
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My nipples were extremely sensitive before second surgery and still hurt.  They were done two weeks after first surgery or about 9 weeks ago.  Left nipple area "spit" stitches as Dr. Z calls it while right nipple are did not.  Scar area is about 1 inch.
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Thanks for input.  Wendy

I never had any leaking fluid from my chin.  However I was EXCEPTIONALLY swollen after flying and it took a long time to work that all the way done.  Is that normal for everyone or just something that part of the patients experience?

My forehead is littered with sutures that are ALMOST enough to snip, but I just can't get them out enough to catch with the scissors.

Here is a HUGE tip.  DO NOT forget to take your ibuprofen regimen that he prescribes.  I forgot this morning and have had a MAJOR voice relapse.  I can't talk worth a hoot and I can definitely tell that I'm more swollen especially since my sports bra feels tight and it was fine yesterday.

Quote from: Jeneva on January 31, 2012, 04:58:16 PM
I never had any leaking fluid from my chin.  However I was EXCEPTIONALLY swollen after flying and it took a long time to work that all the way done.  Is that normal for everyone or just something that part of the patients experience?

My forehead is littered with sutures that are ALMOST enough to snip, but I just can't get them out enough to catch with the scissors.

Here is a HUGE tip.  DO NOT forget to take your ibuprofen regimen that he prescribes.  I forgot this morning and have had a MAJOR voice relapse.  I can't talk worth a hoot and I can definitely tell that I'm more swollen especially since my sports bra feels tight and it was fine yesterday.

Jeneva, I think Jen has forehead procedure correct and it sounds as if you do to.  Rub stitch area and do not pull on it until it surfaces.  I aggressively work area when I feel stitch under skin and create a sore.  Then I end up with a sore and still do not find stitch. I worked forehead gently not aggressively and then used a little concealer on scar areas.  Every thing seems a lot better and it looks better from concealer.  I did cut stitches with a nail clipper as opposed to a scissor.

I wore  surgical chin bandage for two solid months.  Only took it off to take a shower.  Then I used new gauze pad with petroleum jelly on chin and neck.  I did not fly to Chicago so that I was not on plane.  Chin is still swollen at 11 weeks and massage one or two times a day.

I found ibuprofen to really reduce swelling however I had bad stomach pains within three days with only 600mg for entire day.  Had to stop.  Can take 400mg every few days or get stomach bleeding. 

Quote from: Jeneva on January 31, 2012, 04:58:16 PM
I never had any leaking fluid from my chin.  However I was EXCEPTIONALLY swollen after flying and it took a long time to work that all the way done.  Is that normal for everyone or just something that part of the patients experience?

From what Dr Z told me it's normal to have swelling after flying.  When I told him I didn't see any increase in swelling he was very insistent that I did have swelling.  He didn't seem to believe me that I really didn't have any extra swelling, despite 30 hours of travelling.

Yeah, I always take my ibuprofen. It has helped a lot. I'm 25 days post op and my jaw area is still pretty swollen. I haven't had any chin leakage as well. I've been using mederma scar gel for my scars and it's working well. I didn't fly but the 12 hour drive back home (even though we split the hours in half for two days) swelled me up like a balloon. My lower lip was huge but is starting to look good now. It' finally looking quite normal. I was hoping all the swelling would be gone by the time I go back to work which is Monday but I'm sure makeup will help me look better. So, is everyone's forehead incision closed up by now?

Quote from: JenJen2011 on February 01, 2012, 06:49:29 AM
Yeah, I always take my ibuprofen. It has helped a lot. I'm 25 days post op and my jaw area is still pretty swollen. I haven't had any chin leakage as well. I've been using mederma scar gel for my scars and it's working well. I didn't fly but the 12 hour drive back home (even though we split the hours in half for two days) swelled me up like a balloon. My lower lip was huge but is starting to look good now. It' finally looking quite normal. I was hoping all the swelling would be gone by the time I go back to work which is Monday but I'm sure makeup will help me look better. So, is everyone's forehead incision closed up by now?

All of my incisions were pretty much closed before I left Chicago.  They are still healing of course.

Did Dr. Z ok the Mederma?  I thought they were limited to only that specific lotion.  We've got a bit here from before and if it is ok according to him them I'm going to start using it right away.

I'm glad your lip is finally down. You still got a few days before next Monday so don't panic yet 

Quote from: Jeneva on February 01, 2012, 07:45:15 AMDid Dr. Z ok the Mederma?  I thought they were limited to only that specific lotion.  We've got a bit here from before and if it is ok according to him them I'm going to start using it right away.

Yes, he okayed the Mederma. I've been using it under my nose from the lip lift for like a week so far. Today I'm going to start using it on my forehead scar and Dr. Z said it's fine.

QuoteYou still got a few days before next Monday so don't panic yet 

True.

Quote from: JenJen2011 on February 01, 2012, 10:57:57 AM
Yes, he okayed the Mederma. I've been using it under my nose from the lip lift for like a week so far. Today I'm going to start using it on my forehead scar and Dr. Z said it's fine.

Ok, that is great.  My lip/nose scar is a bit uneven looking and I was a little worried to be honest.

Thanks!

Quote from: JenJen2011 on February 01, 2012, 06:49:29 AM
Yeah, I always take my ibuprofen. It has helped a lot. I'm 25 days post op and my jaw area is still pretty swollen. I haven't had any chin leakage as well. I've been using mederma scar gel for my scars and it's working well. I didn't fly but the 12 hour drive back home (even though we split the hours in half for two days) swelled me up like a balloon. My lower lip was huge but is starting to look good now. It' finally looking quite normal. I was hoping all the swelling would be gone by the time I go back to work which is Monday but I'm sure makeup will help me look better. So, is everyone's forehead incision closed up by now?

My forehead inciscion still has the odd part that hasn't closed up, it seems that the bits that arn't healing yet have spitting stitches in them, after I pull the stitch out it heals up.

Quote from: atheuona on February 02, 2012, 12:16:05 AM
My forehead inciscion still has the odd part that hasn't closed up, it seems that the bits that arn't healing yet have spitting stitches in them, after I pull the stitch out it heals up.

Actually incision healed in two weeks but stitch spitting areas still look bad.  Did good job with concealer and people asked how did I heal up in one week.

Quote from: Jeneva on February 01, 2012, 11:50:48 AM
Ok, that is great.  My lip/nose scar is a bit uneven looking and I was a little worried to be honest.

I do not like my lip nose scar.  Dr. Z did not give me approval for anti scar cream.  Jen, Dr. Z gave you permission to use anti-scar cream after 25 days?  Well I guess I will start using it.

I also started using vitamins after 11 weeks.  I became very run down and vitamins help when you become run down.

Lower back part of ear lobes have been spitting stitches and blood.  Ears are still numb and stitches are in back of ear so that is easier.

Jen are you really pressing hard on lip scar or is it just a mild pressure and then you apply Mederma?

My neck scar still has not spit stitches.  I feel I have done something wrong.  It still swells and I still massage it but my chin remains numb and massage is in painful.

My lower right lip continues to gain mobility. 

FFS is major surgery and we each have different successes and different issues, but it does take time to heal.  For those that work how long did you take off from work for surgery?

Quote from: wendy on February 02, 2012, 10:25:41 AM
Actually incision healed in two weeks but stitch spitting areas still look bad.  Did good job with concealer and people asked how did I heal up in one week.

I remember Dr. Z told me I could wear makeup 1 week after surgery (I haven't put any on since then tho) but not to put any on my forehead incision. Did he tell you otherwise or you just wore the concealer without asking?

QuoteI do not like my lip nose scar.  Dr. Z did not give me approval for anti scar cream.  Jen, Dr. Z gave you permission to use anti-scar cream after 25 days?  Well I guess I will start using it.

The scar under my nose is not that bad. It's a bit pinkish though. Yes, he approved the scar gel.

QuoteLower back part of ear lobes have been spitting stitches and blood.  Ears are still numb and stitches are in back of ear so that is easier.

As far as I know my ears haven't been spitting anything. They are a bit numb still. My left ear is more numb than my right.

QuoteJen are you really pressing hard on lip scar or is it just a mild pressure and then you apply Mederma?

I haven't really been massaging the scar under my nose anymore. Don't know if that's a bad thing. And I just rub in the mederma gel on the scar with my finger or q-tip.

QuoteMy neck scar still has not spit stitches.  I feel I have done something wrong.  It still swells and I still massage it but my chin remains numb and massage is in painful.

The neck scar you're referring to, is that from a tracheal shave or from chin work? The scar from my chin work is healed/closed so nothing is coming out from there. I don't feel any pain when I do the massages although two days ago I did feel a sharp jaw pain on the right side but that's gone now.

QuoteFor those that work how long did you take off from work for surgery?

I go back to work this upcoming Monday. That would make it 4 weeks and 1 day off. I wish I could take more time off though since I'm still swollen. But oh well.

Jeneva and anyone else who applies, are you still swollen in the jaw area? My jaw swelling is taking forever to go down. Dr. Z told me I have thick skin therefore I need to massage really hard.

Quote from: wendy on February 02, 2012, 10:25:41 AM
Lower back part of ear lobes have been spitting stitches and blood.  Ears are still numb and stitches are in back of ear so that is easier.

I've not lose any ear stitches.  I did have a flap pop loose (somehow lost its suture) on my left side that you can see in some pictures, but it seems to be healing properly and flattening down now.

Quote from: wendy on February 02, 2012, 10:25:41 AM
My neck scar still has not spit stitches.  I feel I have done something wrong.  It still swells and I still massage it but my chin remains numb and massage is in painful.

My neck spit its thread as my week 2 swelling went down so I suspect that the swelling forced it.  They were the thread type so maybe they don't need to be removed like the forehead.

Quote from: wendy on February 02, 2012, 10:25:41 AM
FFS is major surgery and we each have different successes and different issues, but it does take time to heal.  For those that work how long did you take off from work for surgery?

I took 11 days and it was considered "inconvenient" by my boss.  But he is a micromanager and is trying to push everyone for more hours per day and to just give up time off.  I work at home though.  If someone had to see me then I'd have taken longer.  And since my laptop is the heaviest thing I have to lift once I was clear of the pain meds it wasn't too bad.  I did have a few days, but I've already spent a few sleepless mornings working extra.

Quote from: JenJen2011 on February 02, 2012, 11:01:19 AM
The scar under my nose is not that bad. It's a bit pinkish though. Yes, he approved the scar gel.

Thanks for passing that along I honestly think I can already tell a difference.

Quote from: JenJen2011 on February 02, 2012, 11:01:19 AM
The neck scar you're referring to, is that from a tracheal shave or from chin work? The scar from my chin work is healed/closed so nothing is coming out from there. I don't feel any pain when I do the massages although two days ago I did feel a sharp jaw pain on the right side but that's gone now.

Watch the lymph nodes.  Can you feel yours?  Often they'll "pop" when you move over them, but if you manage to push one out of place then it is a VERY sharp pain.

Quote from: JenJen2011 on February 02, 2012, 11:01:19 AM
Jeneva and anyone else who applies, are you still swollen in the jaw area? My jaw swelling is taking forever to go down. Dr. Z told me I have thick skin therefore I need to massage really hard.

I got the thick skin line too.  And I did in fact have to massage a LOT harder early on to move the fluid.  I'm really not moving that much fluid now.  I'm maybe a bit puffy in the jaw/chin area, but it isn't from trapped fluid.  The center of my neck scar is pretty much healed clean now, but both sides are lumpy looking and I'm trying to work them down as part of my jaw massage, but they don't respond quickly.

Also one thing we do that seems to be helping is that Shannon does my evening massage from behind me and she is able to pull the fluid around the back of my neck and down.  That way it doesn't just flow right back after the massage is over.

Quote from: JenJen2011 on February 02, 2012, 11:01:19 AM
I remember Dr. Z told me I could wear makeup 1 week after surgery (I haven't put any on since then tho) but not to put any on my forehead incision. Did he tell you otherwise or you just wore the concealer without asking?

The scar under my nose is not that bad. It's a bit pinkish though. Yes, he approved the scar gel.

As far as I know my ears haven't been spitting anything. They are a bit numb still. My left ear is more numb than my right.

I haven't really been massaging the scar under my nose anymore. Don't know if that's a bad thing. And I just rub in the mederma gel on the scar with my finger or q-tip.

The neck scar you're referring to, is that from a tracheal shave or from chin work? The scar from my chin work is healed/closed so nothing is coming out from there. I don't feel any pain when I do the massages although two days ago I did feel a sharp jaw pain on the right side but that's gone now.

I go back to work this upcoming Monday. That would make it 4 weeks and 1 day off. I wish I could take more time off though since I'm still swollen. But oh well.

Jeneva and anyone else who applies, are you still swollen in the jaw area? My jaw swelling is taking forever to go down. Dr. Z told me I have thick skin therefore I need to massage really hard.

Jen good comments.  Dr. Z told me make-up was OK but no concealer on scars.  No he did not give me approval but forehead blemishes are very embarrassing to me and I am tired of wearing a cap every time I go to group meeting.  I put on Lancome Maquicomplet without any makeup.  It looked as if my scar was near gone.  I now use it every day.  Stitches continue to spit but concealer makes things look better so that I do not keep obsessing with how bad they look.  Lancome sealer should have been used a month ago for me.

Dr. Z did not approve scar gel for me.  He approved it for you in 25 days so that I started using it on all scars today including forehead.  It is 11 weeks.  I think I should have used scar gel a month ago.

Dr, Z did not want me to use vitamins for 12 weeks.  I did not get approval and started them this week and I am feeling better.

Actually Dr. Z gave me a trac shave and reduced chin.  He did it through same incision.  I had a small Adam's apple and it was only noticeable when I swallowed so that he shaved it just because he could access it.  My chin reduction did not hurt because my chin is still partially numb at 11 weeks.  Dr. Z did not want to reduce my jaw and I listened.  I think I still would have reduced jaw but all looks nice.

I got a lip lift but my philtrum was and still is .75 inches or 18mm.  Work also looks nice but I wanted some of my teeth to show.  I wore braces as an adult to fix a cross bite and my teeth never looked this good and no one sees them.

At 11 weeks my jaw area and upper neck still swell.  I massage one or two times a day.

Wow.  I could not have gone back to work in 4 weeks.  Maybe 8 weeks.  It is 11 weeks and I am starting to do better.  It took me three months!  I guess swelling will last for six months.

Remain very aggessive with nose as that swells big each day.  Massage about two times a day and it does shrink.
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Quote from: Jeneva on February 02, 2012, 11:58:12 AM
I've not lose any ear stitches.  I did have a flap pop loose (somehow lost its suture) on my left side that you can see in some pictures, but it seems to be healing properly and flattening down now.
My neck spit its thread as my week 2 swelling went down so I suspect that the swelling forced it.  They were the thread type so maybe they don't need to be removed like the forehead.
I took 11 days and it was considered "inconvenient" by my boss.  But he is a micromanager and is trying to push everyone for more hours per day and to just give up time off.  I work at home though.  If someone had to see me then I'd have taken longer.  And since my laptop is the heaviest thing I have to lift once I was clear of the pain meds it wasn't too bad.  I did have a few days, but I've already spent a few sleepless mornings working extra.
Thanks for passing that along I honestly think I can already tell a difference.
Watch the lymph nodes.  Can you feel yours?  Often they'll "pop" when you move over them, but if you manage to push one out of place then it is a VERY sharp pain.
I got the thick skin line too.  And I did in fact have to massage a LOT harder early on to move the fluid.  I'm really not moving that much fluid now.  I'm maybe a bit puffy in the jaw/chin area, but it isn't from trapped fluid.  The center of my neck scar is pretty much healed clean now, but both sides are lumpy looking and I'm trying to work them down as part of my jaw massage, but they don't respond quickly.

Also one thing we do that seems to be helping is that Shannon does my evening massage from behind me and she is able to pull the fluid around the back of my neck and down.  That way it doesn't just flow right back after the massage is over.

I have an ear flap at bottom of each ear and right side spit a stitch a month ago and I felt my ear flap would not reconnect.  It all went fine.  Left side spit stitch about 10th week and it is healing.  Appears it takes a while to heal and I am glad each of you have shared these details.

No way could I have worked at 11 days.  I did second surgery at 2 weeks which is what I think did me in.  My pecs hurt for two months and this was too much surgery for me.  I took enough pain meds and anti-anxiety drugs to feel no pain.  I met several nice girls and had a few nice times.

Wow I had lymph node on right side of neck swell a day ago.  It hurt when I massaged.  Thanks for sharing that small detail.

At 11 weeks I still feel knots on scar line on neck.  In fact I have a big knot from neck scar that I can feel in center of my shaved chin.  These knots are not working out and I wonder when they will dissolve.  Does anyone know when neck knots dissolve?
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I am doing better and only tend to take pain meds in morning and at night.  I have stopped using pain meds during day.

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Hey I met a friend last night where I live that is going to use Dr. Z.  I am going to ask her to pinch his nose for me.  She is 57 and is going to do a less aggressive set of procedures.  I totally agree with her and will chat with her outside this forum.

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Massages are only done by me.  Jeneva it is nice that Shannon does some massages for you.

Hugs,
Wendy

Quote from: Jeneva on February 02, 2012, 11:58:12 AMWatch the lymph nodes.  Can you feel yours?

I'm not even sure what that is. What I can say is that I feel something weird just before getting behind my ears when doing the massages. Might that be what you're talking about?

QuoteI'm really not moving that much fluid now.  I'm maybe a bit puffy in the jaw/chin area, but it isn't from trapped fluid.

I'm not moving fluid either. I'm just swollen in that area. Can't wait for it to go down.

QuoteAlso one thing we do that seems to be helping is that Shannon does my evening massage from behind me and she is able to pull the fluid around the back of my neck and down.  That way it doesn't just flow right back after the massage is over.

Yeah, my mom use to do that for me as well but I've been doing them myself for the past week.

I'm thinking we're going to have to wait a good 2-3 months before most of the swelling is down and we look completely normal although I know Dr. Z said it takes up to one full year to see the final result.

Quote from: wendy on February 02, 2012, 08:35:27 PMDr. Z did not want to reduce my jaw and I listened.  I think I still would have reduced jaw but all looks nice.

I think the jaw work was the worst to deal with. And it's the one area that is still swollen and taking forever to go down. It's good that he didn't do it because he felt you didn't need it. So many people like to say that he's like a salesman and will try to get you to do everything. Obviously, not true.

QuoteWow.  I could not have gone back to work in 4 weeks.  Maybe 8 weeks.  It is 11 weeks and I am starting to do better.  It took me three months!  I guess swelling will last for six months.

Unfortunately, I have no choice. 4 weeks is all the vacation time I have.


I'm still on the fence about wearing my head garment to work or not. Dr. Z told me I could take it off for work and put it back on when I'm home but I'm so swollen in the jaw area still, I don't know if I'll be comfortable without it on. The plus side is that I don't deal with patients face-to-face, only on the phones. We'll see how I look Monday morning.

Quote from: JenJen2011 on February 03, 2012, 06:58:48 AM
I'm not even sure what that is. What I can say is that I feel something weird just before getting behind my ears when doing the massages. Might that be what you're talking about?

After surgery for a month or so I could feel two of these on each side easily.  [Upper jugular and Submandibular] The behind the ear one and the one in the middle of the jaw.  When I massaged over the one in the middle of the jaw line it often made a "popping" sound.  I did manage to mess up my right side upper jugular (behind the ear) one for a few days and when I stroked across or down its path I was in agony unless I stoked up the its path.

Now that I don't have all the fluid I can't feel them so maybe they were only enlarged to absorb the fluid.  I did see that it is supposed to take about a month for them to go down and that we shouldn't actually be squeezing or pressing on them (oops).

Now keep in mind I am NOT a doctor.  I just know that I felt lumps in the places where these nodes were supposed to be and they were pea-sized like a normal lymph node.

Quote from: JenJen2011 on February 03, 2012, 06:58:48 AM
I'm thinking we're going to have to wait a good 2-3 months before most of the swelling is down and we look completely normal although I know Dr. Z said it takes up to one full year to see the final result.

I know, I supposed at this point the massage is more about the scar tissue than fluid moving.  I've started working my side neck scars much harder.

Quote from: JenJen2011 on February 03, 2012, 07:16:56 AM
I think the jaw work was the worst to deal with. And it's the one area that is still swollen and taking forever to go down. It's good that he didn't do it because he felt you didn't need it. So many people like to say that he's like a salesman and will try to get you to do everything. Obviously, not true.

I'm still on the fence about wearing my head garment to work or not. Dr. Z told me I could take it off for work and put it back on when I'm home but I'm so swollen in the jaw area still, I don't know if I'll be comfortable without it on. The plus side is that I don't deal with patients face-to-face, only on the phones. We'll see how I look Monday morning.

Dr. Z is a salesperson for what he thinks he should do.  BA under pecs two weeks after major surgery was wrong by both Dr. Z and me.  Big saggy breasts would have been fine until face healed.  Work all looks nice and I look good for my age group. 

Actually head garment is very good for first two months but then ago I am a lot older and take longer to heal.  Head garment does not look bad.  I wore it to stores and when I visited people and when I went to group meetings for two months.  Basically i wore it for 24 hours a day for two months.  Took it off each day to shower and always did a massage after shower with some lotion.  People treat you real nice when you wear head garment.  They think you were injured and you get no negative comments.  Even if they know you had FFS they still will treat you nice because they can see you are swollen.  I could remove garment for an hour but then I would look like a chipmunk.  Take it off for an hour.  If you look like a chipmunk put it back on.

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Jeneva it was upper and midjugular chain that swelled.  Also submental triangle under chin may be lymph node instead of big knot?  Thanks for diagram.  My jaw was not shaved but my jaw still swells.

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Fading gel  "itched" today on forehead scar.  It was fine under nose, around ears, and on neck scar.  Still had stitches spit at end of day but concealer worked very well.  It had no vitamin E in products and I am at 11 weeks which is only one week from three months.