Liquid Face Lift for Facial Paralysis. Helps with Drinking and Speech

[CROOKEDSMILE]

Had the Liquid Face Lift yesterday. Had about 30 injections under the eyes, down the cheeks, under the lips, in the chin. These weren't just under the skin but into the subcutaneous fat. All I got was a little numbing cream. She put in Juvaderm so when she would push in the gel it was big lumps of stuff then she would mold it and conform it. I kept wanting to pass out from the pain and spent most of my time turned upside down in her reclining chair with my legs up in the air and in ice packs. I will say that it wasn't worth the money BUT she did build up the area around my eyes which does help with my eye closure and she injected under my lip on the weak side which gave me nice lift when I smile and make drinking out of a glass much easier and makes speech easier. I do like the big crease down my nasolabial fold being gone.  They say you can have this done and go "right back to work" The lunchtime facelift. Yeah right. I looked like I had stuck my head in a hornets nest or been in the ring with Mike Tyson (although my ear went unscathed). Swollen, red, bruised. I still hurt 24 hours later. I wouldn't think that it is worth the money to do it again..It should last 9 months to a year and we will see if I'm dumb enough to do it again.
Angie

[EJTampa]

It should last 9 months to a year and we will see if I'm dumb enough to do it again.
Angie

Well, 9 months is apparently enough time for mothers to forget the pain of child birth, so....
 
Ernie

[nancyann]

You're certainly not dumb Angie.   My feeling is,  I'm for any surgery that enhances one's life.

Always good thoughts,   Nancy

[MAlegant]

Sounds like it was worth the pain and discomfort.  Good for you for doing it.  I hope it gives you some pleasure!
M

[alwaysthere]

Okay, I must be the dumb one. What is a liquid face lift? Is it botox?

Patty

[Kaybo]

Don't worry, patty - I had never heard of it either.  I'm not really into all the stuff that plastic surgeons offer...which makes it even more ironic that I had my eyebrows done last year!  It is a BIG joke around here - & I only did it because of my facial paralysis!

K

[CROOKEDSMILE]

It is done not just for cosmetics but to help people like myself with facial paralysis. They inject Juvaderm into the skin which is a firming gel and it gives you the needed support to drink from a glass and to pronounce words easier and to assist in eyelid closure. Some ladies like Kay is talking about has it done purely to remove wrinkles. This is not the case. I have limited facial movement from paralysis and it helps me to drink, blink and talk by building up the tissue in those areas. It doesn't necessarily look better but it feels better. Some people have T3 surgery, some have nerve grafts, some get botox and other treatments to assist us with our paralysis. Thank GOD for what the medical field offers. I don't know that I'll have it done again because it hurt but I am blinking easier since we rebuilt my eye tissue back up with the collagen and rebuilt the bottom lip back up so that I don't pour liquids down my shirt.
Angie

[leapyrtwins]

Okay, I must be the dumb one. What is a liquid face lift? Is it botox?

Patty -

you are certainly not dumb.  Like Kay, I haven't heard of this either.  But then again, I would have had no reason to, since I don't have facial paralysis.

As Angie mentioned, some with facial paralysis have T3 surgery, nerve grafts, or botox.  Another common surgery is referred to as 7/12 jump.

Nancyann and Kaybo had incredible results with the T3 surgery; Lori had incredible results with the 7/12 jump.

I'm not sure why Angie chose this treatment, but I'm sure she had her reasons and it sounds like it's brought her some good results.  However, it doesn't sound like it was too pleasant (which would be a mute point if she had something a little stronger than numbing cream) nor does it sound like it's a permanent solution. 

Speaking as some one who admittedly knows nothing about facial paralysis - or the various treatments - I'm a little puzzled why Angie didn't seek a more permanent, and a less painful, solution. 

Angie, can you give us some input here?   Help me understand this, please.

Thanks,

Jan 

[Kaybo]

Jan~
I wouldn't say that the T3 was "painless"... but it was permanent!!    Actually, it was probably more painful for Nancy than me since I have no feeling on the paralyzed side of my face....

K

[leapyrtwins]

K, you are right!  I should clarify the "painless" part of my remark.

I was referring to the fact that for surgery you are at least knocked out and don't feel the pain of the procedure. 

Like we always say about AN surgery; those actually having the surgery don't feel a thing - they sleep through it.

Post op pain is another issue altogether.

[nancyann]

Painful doesn't describe the T3 for me - but I also had all the other facial work done along with it.
I do remember screaming for someone to kill me, so yes,  it was pretty painful ! !
Always good thoughts,  Nancy

[saralynn143]

Jan - My understanding is that Angie is still getting improvement in her facial nerve and is looking for treatments that will help function and appearance during the slow healing process.

Sara

[Kaybo]

Nancy~
But look how great it turned out for you??

K 

[nancyann]

Absolutely K, I'd do it all over again,  but I think I would ask for more pain killers post op....

[Kaybo]

 

K