Finally, after a couple of false starts, I got the job done and I'm home recovering from 'liposuction and facial contour reconstruction'.
Due to the damage from the reconstruction of my jaw in 2008, the length of my face had been shortened by nearly an inch, it was lopsided and crooked. I didn;t have a chin any more and my lower lip and lower face had been pulled down. With so many surgeries due to the damage from radiotherapy, I have hardly any muscle around my neck, throat and under the chin area. My skin had been pulled so tight around that area there was no room for it to stretch, so unfortunately a chin implant was not possible.
This week I had liposuction from my jowls and stomach, and also surgery to pull skin from my jaw line and lengthen my face. The fat has been injected back to contour my lower face and loosen the flap under my 'chin' (which is an extension of my tongue flap/floor of my mouth)
The surgeon was pleased with the results, and thankfully there was no damage to nerves on either side of my mouth.
Looking beyond the swelling and bandages, I can definitely see and feel a small improvement. Those of us who have had our facial appearance damaged by this dreaded disease are grateful for any improvement, no matter how small.
The swelling will take several weeks to go down. Hopefully at my appointment with the surgeon next week the stitches will be removed.
I'll update next week.
Karen
I am so happy for you Karen and pleased to read how �up� you are with this post.
It always amazes me what can be done and I know you have been waiting a long time to get this sorted. Hope the healing goes quickly and that you are happy with the results and the new you.
If you lived closer I would have been there to help you celebrate.
Love
Gabriele
Karen, I am so happy for you! Your procedure sounds interesting in that they used your own fat. Very clever. And those Plastic surgeons really are amazing in what they can do to improve appearance. Are you in any pain? Clark is having his next surgery to re-contour his jawline on the 13th of December. His flap will be debulked in day surgery. No staying overnight. He is really looking forward to having a normal face again.
Rest up and I'll be looking for your next post. Take care!
Anita
Thanks Gabriele and Anita.
No, I'm not in any pain. The areas where they did the liposuction is tender, but besides that, everything is ok. They sent me home with more pain killers, just in case. The antibiotic medicine I'm taking tastes horrible. Due to the damage from the radiotherapy and surgery I'm unable to swallow capsules anymore, I nearly choke on them, so they mixed me up some medicine. Thankfully, I only have to take it for 4 more days. For over 3 years I used the PEG for medication.
I stayed in hospital overnight. The surgeon visited me the night of the surgery, and the following morning. She was happy with the result, so that was a huge relief. Moving the fat from one area to another is called 'fat transfer'.
I think of everyone often, and I hope Clark is managing ok.
Bye for now
Karen
From one aussie and OCF member to another - a big get well bear hug. Hope your recover well and quickly!
Minh
YEA Karen Rose!!!!!!!!!!I completely understand what you are going thru. Im so excited for you that your face and jawline is better than it was. Im so happy you posted this, this made my day!!!! I will be having a small lipo done on my neck/jawline area in a couple months. My plastic surgeon said it is very minor, nothing at all as intensive as what Ive already been thru. Im happy to hear it is relatively easy to do and that you are doing well already. Best of luck to you with the final results.
This is a surgery I've thought of many times...always been told that I need to wait a little longer. I'm glad you posted this Karen!
Karen, do you know what your doc was going to use for the chin implant? My doc is going to just lipo my neck/jaw area. He isnt going to be moving the removed fat to another spot. If you are able to already see a small improvement, in a week you will notice it even more. I still have a few stitches from my Oct 4th surgery cuz my face felt very tight and like it was pulling. Please dont rush on getting the stitches out too quickly. How many stitches do you have?
Eric, I had to wait for a year after my initial operation for reconstruction. Now my doc told me to tweek what he did, I should wait for 6 months. By that time, all the swelling will be gone and tiny blood vessels will have grown and be intact. My doc is extra careful with me cuz of the very first free flap surgery failing. How long ago was your reconstruction surgery?
Anita, best of luck to Clark with his upcoming surgery. Im surprised that he doesnt have to stay overnight even just for observation. Hope it turns out exactly like he wants.
Thanks Minh, David, Christine and Eric
Four days on, and everything seems to be going smooth. As expected, my lower face and neck is a little tight and stiff, which is due to swelling, the bandages pulling around my face, not doing my neck stretching exercises for the last couple of days, or a combination of these. It's not a big deal, I know it will get better.
There's a lot of bruising around the incision in my stomach. The incision itself is covered with waterproof bandages, and isn't visible or painful.
Christine, I don't have a lot of information on the chin implants. Four plastic surgeons advised me there was insufficient skin to stretch and hold a chin implant. Also, I have way too many screws and metal plates around my reconstructed jaw, therefore the possiblity of infection was to risky, so I wasn't a candidate for one.
Before my reconstruction, the surgeon indicated I might be able to get a chin implant at a later date if necessary. It didn't turn out that way.
I understand what you mean about the stitches. I won't rush to get them taken out. I'll follow whatever the surgeon recommends. After 3 years and 7 months of $#!T, what's another couple of weeks!! Not like I'm counting or anything....hmmm
Karen
Christine,
I'm at the two year mark now, but only 11 months from my Nerve Graft. When they did my reconstruction they knocked out my facial nerve, so before they do any cosmetic they wanted to try and restore function. I've got a few more months before they determine whether the graft will restore function to see what other reconstruction/cosmetic (facial sling etc..) surgery that needs to be done.
Hey Karen
i just dropped in to say how much i admire you,Christine and Eric.your ongoing battle against the worst after effects of this pernicious disease is a testament to your strength and bravery,and i am sure an inspiration to all those souls who have a never ending reminder of the deadly gift of surgery and radiation.
Thanks for your thoughtful words Liz.
So far, no dramas. The bruises are turning a dark shade of yellow - mustard.
I feel fresher today. I went to my friends Hair Studio last night and she washed my hair without getting a drop of water on any of the bandages wrapped around my lower face, neck and throat. Usually she waves the water sprayer around like a baton and I get drenched. Job well done and much easier than trying to wash it over a basin or something, we tried that when I had the trachestomy, and it didn't work.
Karen
I'm SO happy!!! Before the dressing was changed today, I got a look at my lower face. I can't believe it's symmetrical again. I'm actually beginning to look like the old me. I honestly didn't think I would ever look in the mirror and feel like I'm seeing me again.
Today the stitches were removed from my stomach where some fat was taken. Because of the many surgeries and damaged skin from the radiotherapy, the stitches around my chin, throat and neck will be in for another week.
After the jaw reconstruction in 2008, my lower lip had been pulled down so my lips didn't sit together as normal. Also, due to some nerve damage one side of my lower lip drooped more than the other side. With the skin graft and fat injected last week it has lifted up my lower lip and evened out that side of my lip, which in turn should help control the drooling. The skin around my neck isn't pulling as much as it was, it feels much better.
So far everything is looking good and feeling good.
Karen
Fanbloodytastic Karen,
I am so HAPPY that you are HAPPY
Love
Gabriele
Great news Karen! I'm so happy for you.
Its nice to hear some good news Karen. My warmest and best wishes for even better results once the healing finishes. x
Minh
Karen,
Your good news bolsters my faith that anything is possible! I just had a followup with my PS and he really shot a hole in my expectations. Told me I'm the worse case he's ever seen and I shouldn't expect much. Just the day before I met a woman who had very much the same experience as we have had and she looked wonderful (considering). My PS absolutely refused to believe it when I told him about her. I'm sure he would find your success unbelievable as well. I need to convince him to become a member of OCF so he can read these success stories for himself. You are an inspiration!!
Pat
That's so great, Karen. My ENT was telling me there was a surgery he could do that would straighten my mouth out but I wasn't in the mood for any more surgery at the time. Maybe I'll consider it now. You've gone through so much more than I have and you're an inspiration to me.
Karen,
It is so wonderful to read your post. Your excitement and happiness with the results of your surgery are so apparent. You certainly deserve a break! I am so happy for you!
Anita
Karen thats excellent news!!!! Im so happy for you
You must be on cloud 9!!!! It will get even better once the swelling is gone and the stitches are out. Im so glad that your surgery was so successful.
Pat, your doc was just plain rude. How ignorant to say something like that to you!!! Maybe go to another plastic surgeon. Anita likes the one her husband sees, maybe check him out. Dont let that guy bother you, I think you look beautiful
He should take a look at what happened to me before he says something so mean to you.
Thanks everyone for your good wishes!!
As expected, there's still some swelling. Besides the swelling and the bandages being tight around my neck and throat everything is going well. I've got another appointment at the doctors next week for the stitches etc to be checked out.
Karen
I had the stitches removed on Tuesday from my chin and neck area. Considering what my lower face and skin has been through, the Doctor's assistant who removed the stitches, was very happy with the healing. I'll continue to lightly dress the area with Micropore tape for a couple more weeks.
My jowls are still a little swollen and puffy. From previous experiences, swelling can take months to go down. My lower face is no longer lopsided and crooked. The fat injected back into the outlining area of the flap has definitely loosened my skin, the skin doesn't pull as much as it did before surgery. I'm not waking throughout the night as often as I did. It was incredinly tight and caused a lot of discomfort.
The bruising on my stomach has gone, there's only a faint incision mark under my belly button.
Depending on how everything looks once the swelling goes down, the Doctor mentioned I might require a little more liposuction on my jowls. Due to plates and screws around my mandible and obvious high risk of infection, she didn't want to over do it. My next consultation is the week before Christmas.
Knowing what I know now, liposuction and fat transfer alone wouldn't of produced a satisfactory outcome. The skin graft was necessary to help create a natural shape and move the uneven skin into position.
According to some Plastic Surgeons I met with earlier, the procedures I've had were not options available to me, and in some cases were never even mentioned. I clearly remember the words from one overrated, over priced Plastic surgeon who specialized in facial cosmetic and resconstructive surgery. After flicking through my file for 3 minutes and looking at my face for 10 seconds, he said, "There's nothing more we can do for you Karen." I was told he was one of 'the best'. I was devastated by his prognosis.
No matter how much we like and trust our doctors, it's imperative we seek several opinions before we proceed with treatments, or believe we don't have other options to improve our situation.
Karen
Karen, I am so happy for you
Its been 2 weeks so now you can really tell what the end product will look like. You are so right about doctors. Not all are willing to go the extra mile and even try to help. Plastic surgeons dont want to have someone who doesnt look perfect as their patient. It might somehow reflect badly upon them. Im glad you have found a good doctor who was able to help you. Best of luck with your continued healing.
Sounds very positive so BE HAPPY. lol
It is so great to hear that you are doing so well Karen
It�s a shame that sometimes it can boil down to pure good luck in getting that empathetic and compassionate surgeon who is more 1/2 glass full rather than 1/2 empty.
I have been seen by a few plastic surgeons at my routine checks but rarely the one that did my original operation...not even during the first 2 weeks in the hospital.
I like Christine's thoughts on that subject and the rest will be in a PM.
Best of luck with your next consultation but I hope you continue with the updates before then.
I am sure it must give a lot of hope to people in a similar situation to yours.
May you continue to heal quickly and be pleased with the results.
Love Gabriele
My thoughts exactly Christine. Thanks Gabriele looking forward to your PM.
After my first major surgery, everything was going very well. The result was first class and the team was 'terrific'. After radiotherapy and chemo, when things began to go belly up, they started to duck for cover. Their attitudes changed dramatically.
I've since taken my concerns to the CEO of the hospital, and also to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the appropriate hospital system (who I used to work with). I hoped by taking the matter further and sharing my experience with them, they would work to improve their systems, and avoid others having to deal with some of the difficulties I was continually faced with.
The result has been positive. I received correspondence earlier this month from the CEO of the Health services system which covers several hospitals in the western health system. (5 or 6 hospitals both public and private) They have now created and appointed Nurse Liaison Officer for patients with ongoing Plastic and reconstructive surgery issues like me. It's a great start. I'll keep lobbying, there's LOTS of work that needs to be done for oral cancer patients.
Once my facial appearance is sorted, my next 'mission' is to ask the Plastic Surgeon if there is any way she's able to improve the tongue flap mobility I have. Hmmm.....I sure hope so.
Karen