FFS +17 days
May. 17th, 2008 11:37 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
the_fantastic_ms_foxMy face still feels tight. I am pleased with the results. I think.
Hair:
My hair has constricted my face, or advanced itself, depending on how you want to look at it. There is still some recession, but it's smaller and relative to a much more advanced hairline.
There are things that can go wrong still. If the scalp advance doesn't work right, I can lose hair.
I was alarmed at first: I could see more scalp than usual. Then I realized that this was because my hairline was a lot further down and foreward, and when you look at anyone's hair with your vision perpendicular to their scalp, you can see more scalp than looking at it obliquely. So it's fine, but it's still not something that I'm used to.
There is an incision running from one ear, up through the hair on the side of my head, across just in front of my hairline, and back down to the other ear. It's indented; looking in at itself. There are still some scabs; most have fallen off. In the morning, I clean it with diluted hydrogen peroxide. I put sunscreen on it during the day, and neosporin on it at night. It still feels swollena and healing, but doesn't hurt much now. It used to give an ice-prickly stab whenever I coughed.
Forehead:
I'm very happy to see that it looks a lot more female, and a bright overheard light (such as are often situated above mirrors - and which is also found in the form of "the afternoon sun") no longer highlights a brow pattern that I and likely you recognize as distinctly male. I can feel the difference too: it's flatter; smoother. There was very little swelling. This was my top priority, and I am very pleased.
Oh yeah, they lifted my eyebrows didn't they? Well they match up with my brow, now. They're just a little high, but this is because the skin is still tight. They will fall into a natural position. The only odd thing is that, becaus the skin is still healing-tight, I can't move them as much; I cannot emote as much.
Jaw:
There are two incisions in my mouth; roughly symmetrical, they run along the bottom up my lips and cheeks, starting just in front of my lower caninese, and running to either molar. My lower left lip is still numb, but movement is normal - or at least within normal ranges given the swelling. I am told that sensation should return soon. I sincerely hope that it does.
One incision was leaking a yellow-white fluid. It had no taste at first. After straining in the mirror with a flashlight and a digital camera that doesn't like to focus at close range, I sent photos to the surgeon - highlighting the offending area. Tillie took a look at it, and both she and TTT looked me dead on: see a doctor.
I did, apparantly this is "granular tissue" or something like that. It's a normal part of how one's mouth heals. Good to hear it's not an infection.
The fluid volume has decreased now. It's very salty.
It's still hard to see the results, as there will be swelling for some time, but I can feel that my jaw has changed. I would place my hand to my jaw and feel an uncomfortable that shouldn't be there. Now I do the same and think ah! that is different. Equally alarming, but the latter is welcome.
Upper Lip:
I was surprised to hear that the distance between the upper lip and the nose is a sex-marker. I can see it though: it's one of the things that we see and notice and label. And with the distance reduced; with the lip "rolled" out a bit to make it a look a bit thicker, and the distance shorter, I could see a difference in the digital projections. It's good. It's me.
After months of wavering, I opted for this at the last day. Opting to have my lip, moved up a tich, but not otherwise augmented. I think I am pleased with the results but it's a lot to take in all at once.
The incisions around the bottom of my nose are well-hidden and healing. They are stiff and puffy; I can feel them when I smile.
Hair:
My hair has constricted my face, or advanced itself, depending on how you want to look at it. There is still some recession, but it's smaller and relative to a much more advanced hairline.
There are things that can go wrong still. If the scalp advance doesn't work right, I can lose hair.
I was alarmed at first: I could see more scalp than usual. Then I realized that this was because my hairline was a lot further down and foreward, and when you look at anyone's hair with your vision perpendicular to their scalp, you can see more scalp than looking at it obliquely. So it's fine, but it's still not something that I'm used to.
There is an incision running from one ear, up through the hair on the side of my head, across just in front of my hairline, and back down to the other ear. It's indented; looking in at itself. There are still some scabs; most have fallen off. In the morning, I clean it with diluted hydrogen peroxide. I put sunscreen on it during the day, and neosporin on it at night. It still feels swollena and healing, but doesn't hurt much now. It used to give an ice-prickly stab whenever I coughed.
Forehead:
I'm very happy to see that it looks a lot more female, and a bright overheard light (such as are often situated above mirrors - and which is also found in the form of "the afternoon sun") no longer highlights a brow pattern that I and likely you recognize as distinctly male. I can feel the difference too: it's flatter; smoother. There was very little swelling. This was my top priority, and I am very pleased.
Oh yeah, they lifted my eyebrows didn't they? Well they match up with my brow, now. They're just a little high, but this is because the skin is still tight. They will fall into a natural position. The only odd thing is that, becaus the skin is still healing-tight, I can't move them as much; I cannot emote as much.
Jaw:
There are two incisions in my mouth; roughly symmetrical, they run along the bottom up my lips and cheeks, starting just in front of my lower caninese, and running to either molar. My lower left lip is still numb, but movement is normal - or at least within normal ranges given the swelling. I am told that sensation should return soon. I sincerely hope that it does.
One incision was leaking a yellow-white fluid. It had no taste at first. After straining in the mirror with a flashlight and a digital camera that doesn't like to focus at close range, I sent photos to the surgeon - highlighting the offending area. Tillie took a look at it, and both she and TTT looked me dead on: see a doctor.
I did, apparantly this is "granular tissue" or something like that. It's a normal part of how one's mouth heals. Good to hear it's not an infection.
The fluid volume has decreased now. It's very salty.
It's still hard to see the results, as there will be swelling for some time, but I can feel that my jaw has changed. I would place my hand to my jaw and feel an uncomfortable that shouldn't be there. Now I do the same and think ah! that is different. Equally alarming, but the latter is welcome.
Upper Lip:
I was surprised to hear that the distance between the upper lip and the nose is a sex-marker. I can see it though: it's one of the things that we see and notice and label. And with the distance reduced; with the lip "rolled" out a bit to make it a look a bit thicker, and the distance shorter, I could see a difference in the digital projections. It's good. It's me.
After months of wavering, I opted for this at the last day. Opting to have my lip, moved up a tich, but not otherwise augmented. I think I am pleased with the results but it's a lot to take in all at once.
The incisions around the bottom of my nose are well-hidden and healing. They are stiff and puffy; I can feel them when I smile.
Results:
Some people see me and, in surprise exclaim "Wow. You look really different." or even "Yeah - you look good."
Others say "You had surgery? I can't see any difference."
I am getting more reactions from strangers that indicate that they see me as female
All this is fine and welcome, but what is important is that I can see a difference. Moreover, I can feel it.
I look in the mirror and see a subtly different face, but, as I hoped, my mind quickly integrates the image as "that's me." I'd even go so far as to say that there's less surprise than before.
Only when I think about it - that this is not the same reflection that I am used to, do I get a moment of weird.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-05-17 07:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-17 11:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-18 09:37 pm (UTC)Click the other tab that says "photobucket" and follow the easy directions to set up a photobucket account. It is totally worth it and only takes a few minutes. Once you have an account, you can upload anything to that site from your computer following the directions they give you, then chose the pictures you want to post following the above directions.
=) Hope that helps, feel free to message me if you have questions.
-h
no subject
Date: 2008-05-18 09:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-06 08:10 pm (UTC)http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=130909&l=0aee2&id=567660606
no subject
Date: 2008-07-06 08:09 pm (UTC)http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=130909&l=0aee2&id=567660606
no subject
Date: 2008-05-17 07:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-06 08:09 pm (UTC)http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=130909&l=0aee2&id=567660606
no subject
Date: 2008-07-06 08:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-06 08:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-18 12:50 am (UTC)Overall, hon, you just look amazing. I couldn't see a single scar or sign you had recent surgery in a casual glance, but everything about your look screamed attractive, self confident, strong, and feminine.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-18 04:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-18 04:18 am (UTC)