ANA Discussion Forum

Post-Treatment => Facial Issues => Topic started by: saralynn143 on January 03, 2009, 06:13:39 pm

Title: Progress at seven months: photos added
Post by: saralynn143 on January 03, 2009, 06:13:39 pm
Yesterday marked seven months post-op for me. I have not been checking my facial progress daily, or even weekly, because as you well know, the progress is so slow and subtle that I would never notice anything.

But also yesterday, I happened to have on a small closed-mouth smile while looking in the mirror, and I could see movement in my cheek! Not much, but it is there. Mostly around the corner of my mouth and a little upward and outward from there. I tried a big smile and while there is no perceptible change there (yet), I am still tickled pink about the movement that is there.

Anyway, that is my happy new year story, and I am sticking by it.

Best to you all,
Sara

P.S. I've added photos. Please scroll down.
Title: Re: Progress at seven months
Post by: MAlegant on January 03, 2009, 07:46:37 pm
Yay!!!!  ;D
Title: Re: Progress at seven months
Post by: wendysig on January 03, 2009, 09:18:47 pm
Hi Sara and Happy New Year!

Every victory, be it big or small is something to be celebrated!  Congratulations on getting some facial movement back.  You have a lot of will power -- I would be checking every day!

Wishing you continued good healing,
Wendy
Title: Re: Progress at seven months
Post by: mimoore on January 03, 2009, 09:26:45 pm
YAHOOOOOOOO SARAH! KEEP THE MOVEMENT COMING!!!
Title: Re: Progress at seven months
Post by: Jeanlea on January 03, 2009, 09:51:26 pm
Sara,

Congratulations to you!  It is a good feeling to notice new movement in your face.  Just think what may happen by this time next year.  :-)

Jean
Title: Re: Progress at seven months
Post by: Jim Scott on January 04, 2009, 04:23:13 pm
Sara:

Allow me to add my congratulations for - not only the small-but-significant facial movement you've noticed - but also on your patience, which is definitely being rewarded.  :)

Jim
Title: Re: Progress at seven months
Post by: leapyrtwins on January 04, 2009, 06:20:12 pm
Sara -

congratulations!

Jan
Title: Re: Progress at seven months
Post by: LADavid on January 04, 2009, 08:09:31 pm
Yay, Sara!  Keep it up!
Title: Re: Progress at seven months
Post by: Debbi on January 06, 2009, 01:22:06 pm
Sara-

I was so happy to read your post!  I got a major leap of progress between 6.5 and 7.5 months, so maybe there is something magical about this time period - let's hope so!  Are you doing facial exercises still?  I have started new ones now, based on the greater movement in my cheek (and also based on some warning signs with bunched-up muscles).  It is nice to actually be able to make something move finally.

I am sending lots of good ju-ju your way for continued progress.  Keep us posted, please.

Debbi
Title: Re: Progress at seven months
Post by: saralynn143 on January 06, 2009, 03:28:11 pm
Hey Debbi, I am not doing any facial exercise. The only thing I have ever done is massage at bedtime when I put my face cream on. The facial nerve specialist I see told me specifically not to do any type of exercises or exaggerated movement to avoid developing synkenesis. So far so good on that count.

Sara
Title: Re: Progress at seven months
Post by: saralynn143 on January 12, 2009, 04:24:30 pm
I am adding photos to compare facial paresis at three and seven months post-op:

(http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq118/saralynn143/threemonths-1.jpg)(http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq118/saralynn143/sevenmonths.jpg)

Sara
Title: Re: Progress at seven months: photos added
Post by: yardtick on January 12, 2009, 05:11:30 pm
Looking good Sara!

Anne Marie
Title: Re: Progress at seven months: photos added
Post by: Kaybo on January 12, 2009, 05:26:38 pm
Sara~
Your progress looks great!!  So excited for you!!  YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

K   ;D
Title: Re: Progress at seven months: photos added
Post by: lori67 on January 12, 2009, 05:39:28 pm
Sara -

You look awesome!  That is definitely a smile you've got there!  What good news for you!

Before long, you'll be grinning ear to ear!   ;D

Lori
Title: Re: Progress at seven months: photos added
Post by: Brendalu on January 13, 2009, 05:53:09 am
Sara,

You look awesome!!  I'm sure that before you know it you will be posting a pic with a huge smile!  Congratulations and good thoughts for continued progress.
Brenda
Title: Re: Progress at seven months: photos added
Post by: leapyrtwins on January 13, 2009, 10:21:30 am
Big improvement, Sara  :) 

Keep up the good work,

Jan
Title: Re: Progress at seven months: photos added
Post by: CROOKEDSMILE on January 13, 2009, 11:18:01 am
Awww.....Sara. You look so pretty! What a great miraculous healing. I know that we both have a ways to go but you have really come along!
Angie
Title: Re: Progress at seven months: photos added
Post by: Jeanlea on January 13, 2009, 09:09:56 pm
Sara,

What a nice picture.  The progress really shows.

Jean
Title: Re: Progress at seven months: photos added
Post by: Debbi on January 14, 2009, 12:51:21 pm
Sara-

Great pictures - thanks for posting.  I find it is so helpful have photos to track the progress - I think when we look at our own face in the mirror every day it is very difficult to see progress.  However, when I look at photos, I am always amazed.  Thanks for sharing.

Debbi
Title: Re: Progress at seven months: photos added
Post by: MAlegant on January 14, 2009, 05:02:43 pm
Sara,
You look great.   ;D
Marci
Title: Re: Progress at seven months: photos added
Post by: lifeisgood on January 14, 2009, 09:06:26 pm
Keep the faith.
I am almost 5 years post op.
I still notice improvements.
The best compliment I got today was that my son and I have the same smile.
How cool is that.
I will post another pic post botox.
My face looks better than my pic posted.
:)
Mary
Title: Re: Progress at seven months: photos added
Post by: calimama on January 16, 2009, 09:22:23 am
Hi Sara,

Very nice picture. You look great. Thanks for sharing.

I am 7.5 monhts out and have been seeing more improvement in the past month or two (same timing Debbi suggested). I can make a smile closed mouth smile and can now see about 1/2 of my front left tooth and even a bit of my second left tooth. Last week one of my work friends noticed that the line between my nose and corner of my mouth is coming back. Like you, i don't sit in front of the mirror and monitor it all on a day to day basis, but i would say it is improving slowly now and I can see improvements over where i was even 2 weeks ago. Other than slight movement in the back of my cheeck around month 5-6, i really had no improvement in the first 6 months.

Keep up the great work and thanks for letting us know how you are doing.

Trish
Title: Re: Progress at seven months: photos added
Post by: wendysig on January 25, 2009, 01:00:02 pm
Sara,
You look just wonderful.  I hope you continue to see even more improvement!

Best wishes,
Wendy