By The Diva

Today’s the day.

After thinking and talking about it for years, I am having my face and eyes done. All the prescriptions are filled, the shopping list complete (baby toothbrushes?!), the hair colored (can’t do it for four weeks so . . . ), lots of yogurt in the fridge (no solids for a week so maybe goodbye to the Trump 10!), button up pajamas packed (nothing over the head for two weeks). Off I go.

Day 1. 6:15 doctor office arrival, 7 am—2 pm surgery, 4 pm off to a hotel with a nurse for 48 hours (and 48 hours of icing).

Well, not quite as planned. I didn’t wake up until 6 and hotel at 7. By the time the nurse went to the store at 7 for more applesauce and rice pudding, I was fast asleep again! Amazing sleep. Up at 11:30 for meds, to walk the halls, eat a bit and then right back to sleep. All unaided and no pain meds.

Day 2. Up at 6 for change of ice, more applesauce and a walk. Even did a little email! I feel good. No pain, jut a tad of discomfort. Up for a bit, decide to try a book on tape—the dulcet tones of Ron Silver reading Plot Against America puts me to sleep! I spend the day on and off sleeping, have a chat with friend by phone, and send a few texts when the ice is changed. Look in the mirror—not a pretty sight but it will be! I no longer have an appetite—not so unhappy about that.

Day 3. Big day. I take a shower and wash my hair. A bit of a strange feeling as there is a lot of numbness on my head, face and ears—but felt good. The drains come out after the shower and I head home at 1. Will admit it is unnerving to think about being alone after the non-stop care of a nurse, but I know I can do it. I get home, my wonderful brother buys me every kind of soup under the sun (and some ice cream) (but I have no appetite) and by 5 he leaves and I am good to go! Got my meds schedule. I put the TV on to listen and doze on and off. It is possible to read a bit—but eyes get tired after about 30 minutes so I try just to listen. At 10, I take Tylenol PM and off to bed. Still no need for pain meds other than Extra Strength Tylenol.

Day 4. Wake up at 5 and feel good and completely capable of taking care of myself. I do the meds, the Aquaphor slathering (i also had dermabrasion on my upper lip and a peel on my lower lids) and swelling definitely going down—but quite unevenly. One side far more swollen than the other. I call and they tell me nothing to worry about so I won’t. Still not pretty though. I have a friend coming over for a visit and to bring a few things while I take a shower (which felt great!) I put on real clothes, too. Definitely wonderful to have great friends during this time. You need people to check in on you—you can’t talk much so they aren’t social visits really but we end up visiting for about 90 minutes (and I do talk way too much!). I am the first of my friends to do this—so I think they are as much curious as caring (smile). Watch a bit of TV—vision still a bit blurry and eyes tired, but was able to watch more than I thought.

Day 5. Slept through the night and up at 6. But by 7:30, I fall back asleep for 2 hours. I realize that I have to give in and rest more than I did yesterday—not my strong suit but going to try. So no visitors today and maybe I will stay in my pajamas! Feel good—but may have pushed it yesterday. My vision is a lot clearer today so was able to watch TV and pass the time—but back to a bit of company tomorrow I think. Swelling is also down considerably so may try to venture outside!

Day 6. This is the first morning that I got up not feeling great as I didn’t have a good night’s sleep. My neck is very tight and I had a hard time sleeping—since I have to sleep sitting up, there was no tossing and turning, just a lot of frustration. Given how well I was doing each day, feels like a setback but it is probably just normal.

So onward with the day. Took a walk outside with a friend to Dunkin Donuts for an iced coffee and some munchkins as a treat (cannot bear more applesauce or soup!) People did not run away in horror so that was a good sign. My friend said that she could not believe how smooth my skin looks—like the doctor took an iron to it. Ha! Onward.

Day 7. This afternoon, the stitches, staples and other things holding me together like Frankenstein will come off! And hopefully some of the restrictions too. Feels like a big day! Well, I have to say the removal of the staples was the most painful part of this entire process—some of the skin had healed around them. Ouch! But everything is off. And, a few of the restrictions too but v few—no more slathering of Aquaphor, no more compression socks, only one more day of meds.

And I am down almost five pounds! A bonus. Still soft food, sleeping sitting up, no driving (not sure I would feel comfortable doing that anyway right now), nothing on my face and they’d like me to keep my dog away for another week—but I don’t think I will. I miss her a lot and starting to get a little stir crazy—could use the company! So, will extend the time with the dog sitter for a couple of days but that’s it. I will just be v careful. Took a long walk after leaving doctor’s office and had a soft serve—no one screamed! Onward.

Day 8. Exactly one week since the surgery. Amazing. A bit of soreness where staples were removed but feeling really good. But, honestly, getting really bored and antsy. Another week(ish) of this. Oy. I go out and run some errands which would normally be a nuisance but is quite a thrill. And then find something to binge watch on Netflix for a couple of days.

Day 9. Wake up, look in the mirror and begin to see me in there. There is still swelling, of course (particularly on one side), bruising and the numbness, but I see what is emerging. Woo hoo! Going to venture out for lunch with my brother—I have a craving for some real food—and he will then take me food shopping. Seeing friends for dinner including a friend (also my dermatologist) who referred me to the surgeon so very curious about his take. A big day out and about!

I get a big thumbs up—particularly on the less swollen side which he says is near perfection!

Day 10. Yesterday was the most normal day so far—out for meals, with a decent appetite, and while still eating soft foods, had options. It was great. A tad tired today but … going to get my dog back so that should really help get me through the next five days or so as this is definitely tiresome. But going to be a great result—just wish I could speed it up!

Day 11. Even though I could resume sleeping normally, I have a lot of sensitivity in my ears so I continue to sleep sitting up. I don’t want to take something to sleep each night so not sleeping well. Good thing time to rest during the day (an understatement). Having the dog back is great—v normalizing. No problem caring for her and she is the best company.

Day 12. Swelling way down but still much higher on the right, lots of walks with the dog, a v normal day! Doctor visit tomorrow!

Day 13. Saw the doctor. Cause of the swelling on the right side is a hematoma—grr. He suggests a simple procedure this week to remove it—rather than spending weeks/months for it to subside and then can get puckered skin. Oh well. So going to do that today or tomorrow. Otherwise, restrictions generally off—I can drive (it is just an issue of head turning), regular toothbrush, sleeping regularly, etc but he still wants me to be v v careful. For example, if I wash my face, must be done v gently—he explained that he manipulated the skin layer by layer and a vigorous rub could cause separation. Yuck. TMI. So careful I will be!

Day 14. Drive for the first time—no problem at all! And, having the hematoma removed tonight at 5 pm. About 15% of all face lift patients get them—so not worried—just a tad aggravated. I was told it was a quick procedure—but all in, about three hours because of general anesthesia. So will do it tonight at 5 pm. Hope it does not slow me down much!

Day 15. Well, even a little bit of anesthesia can knock you for a loop for a day or so. All went well, came home by myself in an Uber at 8:30 pm and had a good night’s sleep—but they said to take it easy today. And, honestly, don’t feel so great. Also, Doc said I should stay out of the gym for another week. Oy. Even though down 6 pounds (yippee!), does not feel like it. Dog is getting a lot of walks these days!

Day 16. Months ago, had offered to co-host a baby shower today for the daughter of a dear friend—so my first public appearance. Getting make-up done professionally because still a bit of coverage/camouflaging to do—but excited to be really getting dressed and glammed up! Felt a little drag queeny as the make-up was (by necessity, not style) a bit heavy—a lot of color correction to do. But I felt confident and comfortable—no one said anything (maybe they were being kind!). In any case, seems having my make-up professionally done will be necessary for any event type of things for the next week or so—another cost of this work!

Day 17. Tried sleeping on my side last night—on the left which did not have the hematoma and is healing so well. Permissible under doc’s rules and my preferred method of sleep. Woke up with my eye swollen—maybe too soon! Going to be a lazy Sunday.

Day 18. Swelling going way down—but this is definitely taking longer than I thought. Have a work event tonight—so another make-up artist coming in. I probably could get way with doing it myself but one more treat! Make up today is much more natural and soft than Saturday’s—and, again, not a word. This is the first time where there is a lot of cheek kissing—I am a tad uneasy as my face still feels funny to me but I hope to no one else!

Day 19. A work meeting so do my own make-up and off I go. It is v passable, I think. As I start to feel a bit discouraged about how long this recovery is (two weeks is NOT true), two interesting things this morning. Someone sent me a photo they had taken of me about 5 days before the surgery—and, wow, what a difference. All those lines are gone! And, Sharon Osborne went on her TV show to talk about her five week recovery from her recent facelift and how she is still in some pain. So, I guess that two and a half weeks in and no pain is pretty good! Onward.

Day 20. Out and about again. This is getting better.

Day 21. Same.

Day 22. Three weeks from surgery and I must say that this is the first day I start to feel like myself. And starting to see myself when I look in the mirror. And tomorrow back to the gym!

Day 23. Went to a party and, because three weeks out, could finally put earrings on. Another milestone. Will say it is hard to put earrings on when you cannot really feel your ears!

Days 24-32. Healing, healing, healing.

Day 33. Follow-up with doctor today—four and ne half weeks in. Typically six weeks in but schedules didn’t mesh! He said I am healing ahead of schedule, gave me go-ahead to get eyelash extensions (then I will really feel like myself) but still another one and a half weeks for hardcore gym. He did tell me that the numbness and odd feeling (especially around my ears) could last nine to ten months. Yikes! But he seems v pleased and so am I. Will go back to see him in about five months to check scars—so seems like I am good to go and on my own!

While this has been a slightly longer recovery than I had expected, I am SO pleased that I did this. My fear was that I would not look like myself—but I do! I just look refreshed. Last night a friend (who knew) said it looks like I slept for two weeks (smile). People who don’t know ask: did you change your hair or something? They do not look at me quizzically!

So, for anyone thinking about this, I hope this has been helpful. Everyone’s process is different. I can honestly say no pain, but leave about one month to really return to being yourself!

The Diva prefers to remain anonymous, but her doctor, David Hidalgo, does not.

PS from Lustre: The Diva looks just the same, just more healthily relaxed. Fresh is the right word.

PPS from Lustre: The Diva will take questions. Submit them through the comment section, or on Facebook.