special K
07-26-2004, 02:19 AM
Thanks for all your encouraging pm's regarding my "recovery" from the procedure. All is definitely well, and I am SO glad I did this, you don't even know!
Procedure (CO2 laser resurfacing on face and neck) itself was painless (I was on an IV drip that made me 'unaware' but not general anesthetic...safe). First two days was uncomfortable mostly because of the huge head/face bandage-wrap. Third day, wrap came off and my face was swollen and red....felt tight, and like a mild sunburn (hot at times, prickly), but extra strength tylenol and benadryl did the trick. Eight days of vinegar/water rinses and applying vaseline...sleeping with my head elevated. Cabin fever set in a bit, but I could see progress, and I was elated by it.
Day 12, I had my final post appt. Here's where the fun starts....
The doctor and nurses are extremely happy with the results and my healing (as am I!). I get 45 suncreen to wear every day for the rest of my life, and they send me to the aesthetician for makeup....good stuff (mineral based powder that is GOOD for your skin and covers red like magic). When she's done making me up, she turns my chair around and my friend gasps. I look in the mirror and I get tears in my eyes. I look 15 years younger! Even ,clear complexion (gone are the sun damage freckles, liver spots and pre cancerous areas), everything is tight and lifted. I have NO crows feet, furrow lines on my brow or between my eyebrows. My laugh lines are diminished incredibly. My neck is tighter. Best of all, my eyelids are tight, and lifted....no more crepey, droopy lids. You guys, this replaces any need to get cut in my opinion. It took care of everything!
The nurses come in and squeal (okay, maybe they are trained to do that in order to build patient confidence...yet, they ask me to be in their office marketing brochure as advertisement for the procedure and the makeup... and the currrent brochure only has three patient's photos in it).
It's time to go OUT !!! We head to lunch...a young waiter flirts with me. That night we go to a club, just the girls. One guy sits next to me and after a bit asks how old I am (he's about 50, and I'm not interseted , but I kindly answer). I tell him 47. He laughs...genuinely, like it was a joke and says, "No, come on...okay, really, how old are you?" I can tell he doesn't believe me so I say, "How old do you think I am?" His answer?!?!?
Thirty
I smile and say, "Okay, I'm 30 then. But I have to be honest and tell you that my preference is to date younger men." He pouts, and tries to change my mind. It sinks in...he thought he was picking up on a young chick !! WOOHOO....My friends and I are recovering from laughter when a sweet 24 year old asks me to dance....and dance....and dance...and go out on the patio to talk. He's an artist and very sweet. A little young for me, and I'm not really interested for romance, but I had a ton of fun, and was flattered beyond belief. When I had to leave, he asked for my number. If he calls, I will be open to friendship. He probably has no idea how old I am...and you know what ladies....that's what I love most. I truly feel ageless now on the out side to match my ageless heart. It's like the exterior matches the interior, and it was so worth it.
My self esteem before the surgery was good, I didn't have this done to solve an esteem problem....this was just for ME, and I'm so glad I did it. I don't look different, I just look refreshed and ready to take on all those exciting things coming my way in the future. The cost of the whole thing was $4100...and you know what, if I hadn't gotten the money as a gift from my dad for Xmas, I would have put it on my credit card, that's how happy I am with the results.
A couple more months of redness (covered by makeup), some minor itchiness now....and a whole lot of smiles. Got to work on getting those smile lines back. Maybe someone will come into my life soon and help me work on those? Anything's possible!
Thanks again for all your encouragement. Email me if you are considering having this done and I can fill you in on the particulars.
best, Karen
:D
Procedure (CO2 laser resurfacing on face and neck) itself was painless (I was on an IV drip that made me 'unaware' but not general anesthetic...safe). First two days was uncomfortable mostly because of the huge head/face bandage-wrap. Third day, wrap came off and my face was swollen and red....felt tight, and like a mild sunburn (hot at times, prickly), but extra strength tylenol and benadryl did the trick. Eight days of vinegar/water rinses and applying vaseline...sleeping with my head elevated. Cabin fever set in a bit, but I could see progress, and I was elated by it.
Day 12, I had my final post appt. Here's where the fun starts....
The doctor and nurses are extremely happy with the results and my healing (as am I!). I get 45 suncreen to wear every day for the rest of my life, and they send me to the aesthetician for makeup....good stuff (mineral based powder that is GOOD for your skin and covers red like magic). When she's done making me up, she turns my chair around and my friend gasps. I look in the mirror and I get tears in my eyes. I look 15 years younger! Even ,clear complexion (gone are the sun damage freckles, liver spots and pre cancerous areas), everything is tight and lifted. I have NO crows feet, furrow lines on my brow or between my eyebrows. My laugh lines are diminished incredibly. My neck is tighter. Best of all, my eyelids are tight, and lifted....no more crepey, droopy lids. You guys, this replaces any need to get cut in my opinion. It took care of everything!
The nurses come in and squeal (okay, maybe they are trained to do that in order to build patient confidence...yet, they ask me to be in their office marketing brochure as advertisement for the procedure and the makeup... and the currrent brochure only has three patient's photos in it).
It's time to go OUT !!! We head to lunch...a young waiter flirts with me. That night we go to a club, just the girls. One guy sits next to me and after a bit asks how old I am (he's about 50, and I'm not interseted , but I kindly answer). I tell him 47. He laughs...genuinely, like it was a joke and says, "No, come on...okay, really, how old are you?" I can tell he doesn't believe me so I say, "How old do you think I am?" His answer?!?!?
Thirty
I smile and say, "Okay, I'm 30 then. But I have to be honest and tell you that my preference is to date younger men." He pouts, and tries to change my mind. It sinks in...he thought he was picking up on a young chick !! WOOHOO....My friends and I are recovering from laughter when a sweet 24 year old asks me to dance....and dance....and dance...and go out on the patio to talk. He's an artist and very sweet. A little young for me, and I'm not really interested for romance, but I had a ton of fun, and was flattered beyond belief. When I had to leave, he asked for my number. If he calls, I will be open to friendship. He probably has no idea how old I am...and you know what ladies....that's what I love most. I truly feel ageless now on the out side to match my ageless heart. It's like the exterior matches the interior, and it was so worth it.
My self esteem before the surgery was good, I didn't have this done to solve an esteem problem....this was just for ME, and I'm so glad I did it. I don't look different, I just look refreshed and ready to take on all those exciting things coming my way in the future. The cost of the whole thing was $4100...and you know what, if I hadn't gotten the money as a gift from my dad for Xmas, I would have put it on my credit card, that's how happy I am with the results.
A couple more months of redness (covered by makeup), some minor itchiness now....and a whole lot of smiles. Got to work on getting those smile lines back. Maybe someone will come into my life soon and help me work on those? Anything's possible!
Thanks again for all your encouragement. Email me if you are considering having this done and I can fill you in on the particulars.
best, Karen
:D