After a really poorly day on day 9 I was advised complete bed rest and cooling fans, lots of liquids etc.  Day 10 was the turning point in feeling better, more like myself.

I had upper and lower blephraplasty and facelift 11 days ago.

My swellings are going down.  I still have puffy eyelids and understand that these will continue to reduce over the next 3 months.  I have a very hard tight area under each eye and out towards my hair line - not sure if this will become high defined cheekbones ????

My eye shape still looks oriental - the lower lash shape is a little tight slight pulled shape and the upper lid crease seems to curve inwards and still some of the area below the eyebrow rests over the crease - really not sure if this is swelling or is due to a eyebrow weakness as it improves if i pull the brow up/out slightly.

I do look different.  My lower face is much improved but I am unsure how the whole eye area (sunglass area) will end up as in that area i do look very very different.

We met some of my partners family yesterday for a dinner.  They did not know about my surgery until they arrived and i was wearing sunglasses.  Later in the evening i removed the glasses and I noted the reactions seemed that they  were a little shocked and I sensed from how they looked and a few comments that they made that my eyes and area were a bit concerning.

I am looking forward to the time that I can apply makeup and having some mascara and liner to define the eye - how many people look good eye naked anyway?  most do look piggy eyed!

I am seeing my surgeon tomorrow for removal of my head staples and looking forward to asking lots of questions.

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Yesterday I was unwell with sore eyes and feeling low.  I phoned the surgeon centre and advised to travel there.  My PS saw me early evening and decided to remove stitches, steri strips and gave advice re massage of swelling and bruising and prescribed antibioic eye drops.  It was a relief to get the stitches out and ley my face and eyes 'escape'  I did have a feeling of being trapped inside this false swollen face sitting on top of my own.

Today the healing has been going ahead full speed.  It really is amazing the capacity that the body has to heal itself and I am trying to remain so positive that eventually I will see me again in the mirror.

It has seemed that hour by hour small changes are occurring and the swellings are becoming less.  I still feel very tight in front of my ears and side of face - numb, tough feeling,  Also very hard feeling in the skin at the side of my eye socket.

My big worries continue though.  My eyes do not look my own.  They look like a chinese or asian persons eyes.  I have a pronounced lower part of my upper lid, and the scar line in the crease tails off at an angle as though the area below the brow still has weight leaning on the crease - does that make sense?  I could draw a picture.

I only briefly mentioned this yesterday when the stitches were removed - straight away I pointed out that the shape was strange.  I was assured that there was much swelling and healing to go before assessment could be made.  I am seeing the PS next Monday and I so hope that things have improved before then and that I do not have to have further surgery!  Especially when I asked my PS so many times if he felt I needed a brow lift and was assured not.

It looks to me like the brow has drooped pushing the incision line lower at the outer corner.  My other concern is that my eyes do not seem to be as wide and fully open as before the surgery?  surely they would not have stitched the end down?

Hoping for a good healing day tomorrow

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Well the deed is done!  I can't quite believe that its over and my healing journey has now begun.  The lead up to surgery was scary but exciting - although I was so worried, I was also certain that I so needed to have the surgery in order to feel better about myself and to raise my self esteem.  I was also confident in the surgeon I had chosen - but worry still seeps in.

I was given a premed and within 5 mins I just fell asleep, woke slightly when being wheeled to the anaesthesia room but chatted happily.  I was in theatre nearly 5 hours and later in my room just felt incredibly hungry - no pain, the nurses were great.

Day 1, my eyes were really red swollen and sore not helped by the witch hazel cooling pads that i had a reaction to,  The last 48 hours I have been cooling my eyes with sterile pads and ice and have seen a great improvement.

My face is swollen at the jaw/ear line so I look like a hampster - smoothed out my nose to mouth lines but cant really tell til the swelling goes down,

I expect it will be another week before I can tell how my eyes have improved as still have stitches and steri strips in.

I hope things continue to improve day by day - so far, really pleased and no regrets,

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My countdown has begun and time is ticking away.  I have my surgery just a few days away now for upper and lower blephs and lower facelift.  I have confidence in my surgeons ability but I am still experiencing great anxiety in the lead up to the day.  It has been difficult the past 2 weeks when questions and doubts have been playing on my mind as my PS has been away on holiday and I must save my questions for the morning of the surgery- I have a list....
1.  Will the upper bleph eradicate the wrinkled skin under my eyebrow?
2. Will my eyebrow continue to droop after surgery?
3. Basically, should I be having a brow lift?
It seems madness that all these additional queries have surfaced at this late stage - is this the same for everyone?  how do you sleep the last few nights?

I have had 3 months of a bad flareup of acne and have had several courses of antibiotics - madness that my skin decides to contribute to extra worry of infection as well as contributing to my disatisfaction with my appearance - fingers crossed - I will look better!
I have also had 4 days with a pulled muscle, stiff spine, making me hobble with pain - really feeling old and crabby!  it must all be stress and anxiety, I just hope that nothing else goes wrong before Wednesday!!

This surgery for me at age 53 is to correct sudden changes that have occured to my body since having a hysterectomy where I also had ovaries removed.  My experience has been that instead of getting menopause weight gain. I have had low hormone levels that has caused weight  loss from my ribcage, back, waist and face.  This was not discovered for 2 years but blood tests showed that the hrt gel i was using was not being absorbed and my levels were extremely low.  My consultant has spent 9 months gradually building my prescription amount up to a level that is correct but I cannot get back the storage pads of fat around my middle that would have been my hormone stores for old age.  I eat a very healthy diet - lots of variety foods with full nutrition.  I also love cheese and chocolate but I neither overeat or undereat.  I feel that I do everything I can to lead a healthy lifestyle - but I have been repayed with a premature aged body and face!

4 days to go..................  I have had my preassessment and paid my cash so not long now til my journey begins.  I will update as I go.....

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