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