How long until you look "presentable"

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#1 Post by **AndyH** » Tue May 08, 2007 9:40 am

I had my first consultation with the surgeon today and set the date for my surgery, 7th July. A bit further away than I was hoping but at least its finally sorted out.

One question I forgot to ask him so thought I'd turn to you lot. How long did it take before most of your swelling had gone down. Obviously there can be residual swelling for months thats only noticable to you and a select few others but how long was it until you felt you were looking like yourself again to the vast majority of people that know you?

Reason I ask is that the week after my surgery (BSSO and genio) a girl I haven't seen for 10 years is coming back to the UK and I've agreed to see her and obviously I don't particularly want to look absolutely awful.

Thanks, Andy

#2 Post by **Gem** » Tue May 08, 2007 9:55 am

I am currently 12 days out of surgery and I had someone tell me yesterday that I looked great, that you would never know I just had surgery. Fortunately my swelling wasn't so bad, but I think everybody will experience different amounts of swelling. It also did not hurt that I was taking prescription strength NSAIDS. Your surgeon will probably administer steroids post op via IV and the nurses will be icing you while in the hospital, so the outcome will be determined by your own body's reaction. Good Luck!

#3 Post by **Brandyleigh35** » Tue May 08, 2007 10:18 am

Honestly, I would say that a week is probably cutting it pretty close. Day's 3 and 4 are usually the worst for swelling, while it is pretty individual those time frames tend to be pretty across the board for everyone. I think most of my swelling from my palate expansion was gone by about day 10, however, I was pretty bruised up and looked like I had been mugged up to that point. So I wasn't particularly swollen, but still wasn't much to look at until about 2 weeks afterwards.

Not trying to discourage you. There are many things that play into how fast a person heals, and how quickly the swelling and bruising go away, but even with the best case scenario I would say that 1 week post op to be looking "normal" again is going to, or could be a bit of a stretch.

Brandy

#4 Post by **monarch64** » Tue May 08, 2007 12:15 pm

It all depends on how fast your body heals, honestly. I'm about to turn 30, just had SARPE last Tuesday so today I am 7 days post-op and most of my swelling is gone and I just have a bit of yellowish green discoloration around my jaw area and a little teeny bit under one eye. It doesn't even look like bruising it's so uniformly distributed! since I'm a woman I could probably cover it with makeup no problem.

I also had 4 wisdom teeth removed at the same time, obviously I did not go through the same surgery you will be having but just offering my experience as far as recovery time appearance-wise.

When I went to the OS for a check up yesterday everyone remarked on how well I looked and that I didn't have much swelling left at all (which pleased me to no end!) The ortho people said the same thing today. Seeing myself everyday in the mirror with only minor improvements makes me think I don't look that great, but then again I look worlds better than I did just a few days ago all of a sudden.

Try not to worry too much about whether this girl will think you look terrible or not. If she has any idea of what you'll be going through she will understand why you're swollen and bruised and probably not care one bit! She may even find you more attractive for being a little bit vulnerable, women love that stuff, lol!

#5 Post by **AndyH** » Tue May 08, 2007 4:58 pm

Thanks, well she's in the UK from my post-op day 7 until day 16. I'm thinking towards the end of that period (post-op day 12+) I should be ok being young (20) and fit I reckon I should be ok.

I've already told her all about it and she came across very supportive and sympathetic.

As for laughing about the brusing and swelling, believe me you'll never meet another person who is more comfortable taking the piss out of themselves than me.

Andy

#6 Post by **anabel** » Tue May 08, 2007 5:01 pm

Great attitude! Sounds like you'll have a great visit no matter what.

#7 Post by **MazingerZ** » Tue May 08, 2007 6:12 pm

Oh wow, great job Meryaten. I only wished I saw your pics earlier so that I could have documented my progress in the same way.

#8 Post by **science teacher** » Wed May 09, 2007 7:48 pm

Just my thoughts
I had SARPE on a Wednesday Afternoon and returned to teaching full time the next Monday 5 days later. I was still somewhat swollen but looked ok.

My OS believes in heat after 4 days and taking an NSAID really regularly for about 4 days for swelling. It worked like a charm!
kim

#9 Post by **maryjay** » Thu May 10, 2007 1:14 pm

Hi Andy,

i looked "presentable" 7 days post surgery, i would say that my swelling was 80-90% gone by day 7.
by day 14 i looked like me again and swelling was 95% gone.

i had lower jaw surgery, (broken twice) and very light brusing, hardly noticable.