LASER RESURFACING - DAY 1

I have not eaten since midnight and I'm hungry. I thought this would be difficult because I do not miss a meal unless absolutely necessary, and it is! It, however, is absolutely necessary because I am having full face laser resurfacing under light sedation this afternoon.

"What for?" is not only the question everyone else asks me, but I also ask myself. I am 45 years old and the signs of aging and years in the sun without protection when I was young have taken their toll. I not only have fine wrinkles but I have deep wrinkles around my eyes which are beginning to join to my smile lines, which I might add never go away after I have finished smiling! I have crosshatching under my eyes and my eyelids are beginning to droop. My lips appear permanently pursed from wrinkles that do not go away. Sounds frightful, doesn't it? Well it is not. I look quite normal for my age. But the lure of technology and the promise of a more youthful appearance have resulted in my decision to proceed.

For years I have been using the Retisol A and NeoStrata HQ combination and I think it has worked well to control the discoloration and texture changes that come with too much sun exposure over time. Then about 3 years ago I had a chemical peel. What an improvement - especially in colour and texture. Not so much in the wrinkles, which was a bit disappointing. After a chemical peel you look horrible for a number of days. The skin swells, crusts and peels. So I guess I am somewhat prepared for what to expect from laser resurfacing, although I am aware that I could be red for a long time after. It took my test site 3 months to fade.

I am thankful when they call me for surgery. It's now 3 o'clock and I am so hungry and thirsty. I haven't been able to drink anything for four hours. This is tough for a person who has trained themselves to drink 8 glasses of water a day.

I am a little anxious as Dr. Carle inserts the needle for the sedation and Dr. Groot takes pre-operative pictures. It's not too late to change my mind, but then again everyone is so friendly and reassuring. I know I am in competent hands.

In what seems like a flash I hear voices asking me how I am feeling and telling me it is all over. I know something is different because my face is burning and it feels a bit puffy.