Plastic surgery scheduled

[amymeri]

Hi everyone

I finally went to see a plastic surgeon (who used to be an ENT-bonus!) and scheduled my surgery.  I have several issues that I wanted addressed and we are doing everything in one surgery, on June 17th.

I am having a forehead lift on my bad side because my brow and lid droop a little.  I am having my "bad" side nostril fixed, fat injection to fix a little atrophy of my upper lip and allow me to close my mouth and sneer less but save my smile and finally botox.

He thinks 4 -5 hours in surgery and 4 weeks total to recover fully.

Now just to wrestle with insurance!  I can't wait to look more normal!

[Jim Scott]

Hi, Amy ~

Congratulations on finding a doctor that has your confidence and obtaining an 'all-in-one' surgery date.  I hope your insurance hassles will not be an obstacle and that the procedures give you the results you seek.  Thoughts and prayers will be with you as you approach your surgery on June 17th.  I've added your surgery date to our AN Treatment Calendar  http://my.calendars.net/an_treatments/d17/06/2010?authenticate=&display=M&style=B

Jim

[nancyann]

Hi amymeri:  Great news, I'm so excited for you !  BTW, what is your surgeon going to do for your nostril - mine is collapsed due to the paralysis & always feels stuffed.  Is it something to do with that ??
Always good thoughts,  Nancy

[saralynn143]

Amy I hope everything goes extremely well for you.

Post pics when you are recovered.

Sara

[moe]

Amy,
Congratulations! Surgery to get all that stuff done at once. I pray your insurance will not balk at any of this.
 I know what you mean about looking normal.
I am almost 4 years post brain surgery and getting plastic surgery in May.
I hear your excitement! Can't wait to see the results.
Maureen

[amymeri]

Thanks everyone.  Just walking out of that office I felt more confident and happy.

Moe:  what kind of surgery are you having?

Nancy:  They are actually rebuilding my nostril in a two step process.  I will see if I can find an info link for you.  I think you can also do a sling to hold it out.

One funny thing...I am getting a forehead lift only on my bad side.  He suggested doing both sides and then botoxing my good side to achieve symmetry.  When I said I didn't want to be a slave to botox, that I was having the surgery for symmetry, he said "Oh, sure.  I just thought you might want to get rid of the lines:"  So I looked and realized that on my paralyzed side I have NO WRINKLES or lines on my forehead.  The start exactly in the center of my forehead and only extend to my good side.  HILARIOUS.  I never noticed before. 

I told him that I didn't mind lines and wrinkles at all...and that I was frozen enough without adding to it!   

I guess I should enjoy that my bad side will always look a little younger.  Maybe in 10 years it will be my "good side"!   

[moe]

Amy,
Yes, it is interesting that we will always have the wrinkles on one side of the forehead only!

My surgery is "gracilis flap" for  facial reanimation and smile. It's been a long road for me, and I've finally reached this stage where I am the perfect candidate.
I don't even think anyone on this forum has had this surgery so I will be the first. Fantastic surgeon at UW in Seattle. It all fell in place, thank GOD.

13 May is the day. Basically taking a piece of gracilis muscle from inner thigh, transplanting it into cheek area, using a face lift type incision. Using masseter nerve for nerve regeneration. I will be able to smile by biting down,at first.
Woo hoo, we'll see how it goes!

Then I too will have a brow lift in the fall along with another procedure called canthopexy to bring the outer corner up. I still can't blink, so the canthopexy will help with eye function.

Our fun never ends, eh?
Hope this is it for you.
Good luck!
Maureen

[nancyann]

I am so happy for both of you !  Can't wait for the before/after pictures.
I plan on getting botox for my non AN side when the wrinkles get too much since the AN side won't age !!
Always good thoughts,  Nancy

[moe]

Hi Amy,
This week is the week of your surgery (I"m hoping it all goes as planned).
Best wishes and prayers for a successful surgery.
Am interested to see how the brow lift goes. I'm going to have one sometime in the fall.
 My face surgery went great, and I am 4 weeks post op and that one. Still with the swollen face and sore inner thigh, but hopefully movement in 2 more months.
Show us before and after shots, if you can!
Maureen

[saralynn143]

Maureen - has it really been four weeks already? Unbelievable.

Amy - best wishes on Thursday. We'll be thinking of you.

Sara

[moe]

Yep, 4.5 weeks now, but who's counting!  I posted some pre/post pics and will continue to add as time progresses.

http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=12544.0

[amymeri]

Hi everyone

I am so touched that people remembered my surgery day!  Moe, I saw your pictures and they look great!  You look a thousand times better than I did after surgery!

Okay, so I am healing now and look like a truck ran over my face.  I had my right nostril repaired (the first of two steps) my lips injected and my brow lift.  The browlift is very subtle, I only did the "bad" side, so I still look 43, but it definitely worked and left my eyes symmetrical.  Definitely worth it although I currently have stitches behind my ear and a screw in my head!  The black eyes were unbelievable and my right eye was swollen closed for a day.  My nose is a mass of stitches right now and I won't have any idea how that will come out until end of the month. 

I still need botox in my depressor muscle to see if we can get my right lower lip to stop sagging but so far I am pleased. 

I only had pain for a day or so, but now my face is black, magenta, green and yellow.  The stares in the store today were comical.

I hope I come out looking as good as Moe.  I have seen Nancy Ann's before and after pics and they are pretty amazing, too.

The best thing was the doctor and staff where I had the surgery are wonderful.  Really excellent patient care.

I will keep you all posted and be following your stories with interest!

Love
Amy

[moe]

Hi Amy,
whew that's a mouthful! Poor girl, but I'm glad the pain at least only lasted a day.

You mentioned:

Definitely worth it although I currently have stitches behind my ear and a  screw in my head! about the brow lift. Is this from your AN surgery or your brow surgery? I know, I sound blond. I'm interested to know about the brow lift. Are you going to post lovely pictures??

My face swelling is going down very slowly and then movement will hopefully occur in 2 more months. Weird that I didn't have a lot of bruising on the face. My leg incision is giving me problems though. On my second round of antibiotics for skin infection and drainage. They did a little probing yesterday (ouch) and there is no infection in the tissue, which is good. I'm paranoid I love to envision the worst. (a little knowledge is dangerous!)

So glad things went well for you, Amy!
Maureen

[Jim Scott]

Amy ~

You've been through a lot and I trust that these extensive surgical procedures will give you the outcome you're seeking and deserve.  Heal - and stay positive. 

Jim

[nancyann]

Wonderful news Amy:  so glad all went well !!!  I remember the swelling, black & blue, etc...   don't worry, it will all go away.
I'm also anxious to see how your nose turns out after a few months.  My collapsed sinus is a PIA (wish I had the nerve to wear the Breate Right strips to work !).

Take care now,  rest yourself back to health...
Always good thoughts,  Nancy