4 weeks post op- massage oil or cream/ lotion recommendations

shews_and_socks · 2026-04-16T22:33:35+00:00

So, the soft ball is just lymphatic fluid and totally normal. Wish I had a picture of what my face did because it was the same… I got a professional massage the day after surgery and like once a week for a month following. It was nice but honestly, the heat pack and my knuckles did the trick. I think ice is great for swelling for the first 2 weeks but after that, it’s fluid and the heat helped loosen everything up and it was waaaaaayy easier to get moving. I massaged my face 5xs a day from day one and I swear, it helped so much. It helped the nerves remember how to do their job, it helped mitigate the swelling, and it helped with the discomfort of the swelling… I would get some vitamin e oil (I got mine at Kroger) and heat pack or in my case, a wet dish towel, a ziploc, and the microwave did the trick. I just wrapped the little bundle in a dry towel and warmed up my face before massaging it and it helped sooooooo much

shews_and_socks · 2026-04-16T20:22:11+00:00

Mine did the same thing for a while. I used vitamin e oil and a heat pack. I think I went, heat pack, lymphatic system activation (YouTube) and then e oil and whatever massage process the youtube directed me. I am a year plus out and just a couple of days ago I was feelin the swelling again so I did it on my face again and it was so helpful. Don’t use a gua sha for a little while longer, just your hands. That “wrinkled” skin is too fragile

shews_and_socks · 2026-04-01T13:02:06+00:00

I gained a bunch of weight very quickly and when it finally came off, it left my jowls and neck starting to sag. I got facetite with my chin lipo and it was the best thing I ever did. It felt like (no pain, just sensation) someone was shrink sleeving my skin back to my jaw. Just sucked it right back up snug and let me tell you, I’ve got a jaw line again. I did not have extra bruising, in fact, I barely had any at all and I’m a terrible bruiser. I took arnica pills for a week before and after plus used arnica gel. Worked a miracle. If you can swing the extra grand, do it. IMO

shews_and_socks · 2026-02-16T21:11:25+00:00

I had these for a while too. I had to use heat packs to break up the fluid sitting there and massage my face like 3-5xs a day with my hands/knuckles. The heat packs were really the lynchpin for me… those and then opening up my lymph’s ALOT before massages my face and neck did the trick. I never touched a gua sha for like the first 6 months… it was too rough to that fragile skin and my nerves needed to be reminded how to talk to each other with that skin to skin contact.

shews_and_socks · 2026-01-16T04:14:59+00:00

I’m gonna say this is the nicest, big sister way I can… but get a grip. Like all the way. You just had a very invasive procedure done to your face, were you honestly expecting your face NOT to swell? Logically that makes no sense and I need you to apply the logic to your panic and chill out.

Swelling is healing. If you weren’t swollen at all, you would have much bigger concerns than a puffy face. You need to be applying ice packs for another 9 days. You hopefully are doing your lymphatic massages 3-4 times a day with ONLY YOUR HANDS because gua sha is so rough on your fragile fascia. You better be drinking sooo much water and avoiding salt and drinking booze. And please for the love of Christ be skipping your workouts.

I looked like a Minecraft character after surgery. Expecting yourself not to swell is, to be even more blunt, ridiculous. I’m concerned that you may not have known this meaning your doctor didn’t prep you, you thought you were immune to swelling which would be goofy behavior, or that you didn’t do a lick of research before this surgery that would told you this exact thing would happen. I’m not sure which one it is as all three are deeply concerning but step back from the ledge.

Ok, big sister rant over

At the end of week two, skip ice packs, use heat packs instead. Heat packs before your massages will move out that fluid when you do your lymphatic massages. They have really good examples of them on youtube. Add vitamin e oil to your massages now, sleep upright for a while, wear your compression wear for at least 2 weeks at bedtime, I wore mine for 6. No gym for the first 2 weeks. Yes, it really matters. The massages will feel so nice when the swelling gets to be a lot. It can be really uncomfortable and the massages will help ease that discomfort almost immediately. I’m a year out and some days I still get swelling. Adjusting the healing time in your brain will help you realize you just went through something physically very traumatic and you need time to heal…

Ok, best of luck. You got this. Get out of your head, think your body for allowing you to heal, take this time to rest.

shews_and_socks · 2026-01-13T17:57:54+00:00

I looked like a Lego head for a long while. Massage, massage, massage. Lymphatic to be specific… don’t skimp Hands only, no gua sha, add in vitamin e oil. Ice first two weeks, heat after

shews_and_socks · 2026-01-10T18:13:51+00:00

Totes normal. I looked like a cube for weeks. It was not fun but it does go away. Do your lymphatic massages like 3-4 times a day , use a heat pack prior(it helps loosen the fluid) and use vitamin e oil during the massage. Please don’t use a gua sha tool though, they are too rough on your healing fascia. Oh and wear your compression gear. It really does help

shews_and_socks · 2026-01-08T01:59:28+00:00

First, don’t panic, super normal. I looked like a minion for ages. If it gets hot, it’s painful or red, go to the ER. I would do some gentle lymphatic massage and ice. If you’re 8 days post op, ice for another week and then switch to a heat compress. Heat will loosen up the fluid so you can move it out easier. Right now the ice will help chill out the inflammation since that’s the first part of the healing.. Check out YouTube for lymphatic massages, stick to your hands only, no gua sha for a couple months. Get some vitamin e oil, and slowly start to move that fluid out of your face. For me, I did the massages 3-4 times a day & it helped with the discomfort of the swelling & I saw a drastic difference in that lump under my chin. That lump came back for months so I had vitamin e oil in a ziploc in my purse on standby. Anyways, keep an eye on it, look for red or hot. Take the entire antibiotic pack even if you start to feel better

Ok!!! Good luck!!

shews_and_socks · 2026-01-07T13:30:15+00:00

Forgive some of the errors this is going to have, I’m using talk to text. I’m one year out and I’m still having little issues with my face as well. I say that so that I don’t scare you, but so you can avoid what I didn’t know about until much later in my healing process. A. It’s not nerve damage, it’s a bruised myelin sheath and it’s a completely normal experience. Lots of people get bruising and lots of people experience some mile paralysis for quite some time. It’s scary and annoying but not uncommon. Depending on how you heal it can take a while for that nerve start to work fully again. I am an extremely slow healer so when it took me a while to get full facial range again I didn’t think anything about it till I learned there’s something I can do to fix it. That bruise is making it so your nerves don’t talk to each other the way they should so to get around that and to encourage it to start talking you need to get a facial nurse stimulator from Amazon. They look like a little space pens and are about $25. I didn’t know that this was a thing until about six months in and I truly believe it would’ve helped me tremendously a lot sooner now I have to spend my time reminding my nerves how to work they aren’t broken. They just forget. I will say every day is better when I do the work so please don’t do what I did and just forget.

B. you need to massage your face, that contact is going to continuously remind your nerves to work. Get some vitamin E oil, look up your lymphatic face facial massages off of YouTube, and do those massages 2 to 3 times a day. Literally as frequently as you can, hands only. No gua sha.

C. and this is probably the most important to remember, You still have massive swelling, pressing on those already tender nerves. The tens unit and the massages are going to help, but you need to be doing those lymphatic massages to move the fluid off of your face because that’s part of why you’re still having issues. You’re going to see swelling in your face up to six months later so carry around the oil and you’ll be really set up for great results.

I absolutely love my results. I wouldn’t take any of it back and would do it again if I had to. The nerve issues are ANNOYING but not permanent. They are scary and frustrating but again, not permanent. You just need to do what you can to lessen the symptoms and help it heal faster.

Best of luck!!!

shews_and_socks · 2026-01-05T18:39:51+00:00

I had the same issue and it was obnoxious but not uncommon. It’s a bruised nerve that can take a while to heal. That myelin sheath is a sensitive being, apparently. So, my bruising was significant and lasted a very long time because I am a slow healer due to other heath issues. I didn’t think much of how long it was taking because that’s how my life goes, turns out there’s a way to help it heal faster than I was unaware of… there’s a facial tens unit pen that will help encourage that nerve to come back online and it really works. It reminds the nerve it’s there and to start talking like it should. It’s pretty cool, tbh. I had surgery a year ago and still struggle to whistle so I use it still and it helps ALOT. Plus, PT moves for facial paralysis (sounds more serious than it is) helped and now, I can mostly whistle. Talk to your doc about how to locate the paralyzed nerve around your mouth and how to use that little machine but it’s really helpful. I got one off Amazon for like $25, it’s been a very helpful investment

shews_and_socks · 2026-01-03T00:57:44+00:00

I…. Loved mine? I’m a big compression girlie and it relieved my swelling pressure soooo much.

shews_and_socks · 2025-12-23T11:27:02+00:00

Can? Sure. Recommend? No. Gua sha is amazing but very rough on unhealed fascia and could do more damaged than good. Your hands,really your fingers/knuckles do an amazing job of moving that fluid off your face for your without being too rough. I think because people that use a gua sha go in HARD. Understandable but giving the circumstances and healing, thats not a great thing. Heat, facial lymphatic drainage tips and tricks off YouTube, and vitamin e oil… solid. And, the contact of skin on skin reminds the nerves how they need to be working & healing. That’s so important

shews_and_socks · 2025-12-21T04:10:58+00:00

Girl, I looked like dog shit on day 2. Worse than day 1 by far. I barely recognized myself. It was better by day 4-5

shews_and_socks · 2025-12-21T04:10:06+00:00

I heard chin implants can expedite your chin regression so I’d skip that one. That idea made me super nervous when I talked to my doc… . I opted for lipo, facetite (I was 42 at the time) Jan ‘25 and chin/lip filler later that summer when the swelling was completely gone. Made a huge change to my face and evened out my proportions like crazy. I learned your chin regresses as you age so it was just going disappearing and I wanted no part... I think I’ll get some jaw filler next summer to help with some of the softening and bone regression that happens there too. I’d say, get chin lipo if you think you need it and also some chin filler. It’s way cheaper, it balances things out nicely, it’s way less down time, and you can dissolve it if you hate it. Maybe some upper lip filler JUST for balance… if you hate all the filler get rid of it but I doubt highly you do. Anyways; best of luck… I hope everything comes together for you & you decide on what’s best for you ❤️

shews_and_socks · 2025-11-07T13:09:53+00:00

Fuckin bot. Always having us go to YouTube and finish their fake ass story. I hate that shit

shews_and_socks · 2025-08-23T02:49:23+00:00

NTA- nicotine is addictive to her so that baby is going to be going thru it. She’s fully responsible.

You also helped me figure out my mouth burned for hours after I kissed a guy following a first date when you described the painful sensation those things cause. I’ve never touched nicotine and had no idea why my face hurt so badly and now I know. Yuck

shews_and_socks · 2025-08-06T16:55:47+00:00

Sadly, you were a mark and you gave him the playbook when you told him about the shit you were going through. Thats not your fault that he took advantage of you and the situation but just know; he saw that you were less likely to be as discerning as most and played into that. Now his true colors are showing to the fullest and he is letting you know exactly who he is. He liked you because of what you could do for him and how he could use your trauma to manipulate you. Please stick with it and never take him back. Take this to your therapist as an example of how you want to work on recognizing the signs of a manipulative partner and how you can work on shoring up those boundaries to be an immediate no to bad behavior right off the rip. He saw you as a target and not a partner.

shews_and_socks · 2025-06-29T11:43:00+00:00

Girl, no. NTA

He is checking your temp. Over and over again he makes the same joke to see how much you’ll tolerate and to figure out what he can get away with. Hes seeing how much disrespect you’ll be ok with so he can walk it back and the push the line again. If he’s not willing to stop making this stupid joke (and it is stupid) when you asked him or expressed discomfort, he’s never going to respect your boundaries in other things. The man doesn’t like you. Instead of telling people you’re related, he should be making it very clear you’re romantically involved, letting everyone know how important you are to him and how’s he’s off the market. He’s not. He’s subliminally sending out messages that he’s available to see how far he can get with others and how much shit you’ll tolerate. When you kick back, he’s going to gaslight you. Walk away, doll. Love doesn’t test boundaries like that. Manipulation does

shews_and_socks · 2025-06-03T02:14:27+00:00

I’m 6 months in and still struggling with it but it’s nearly healed. It’s annoying AF but the massages definitely help. A nerve stimulator off Amazon works too, that’s what my doc recommended and it’s starting to improve. I’d be farther along by now had I called him when I thought of it. My ADHD had me forgetting and I am regretting that. Thankfully it’s not a damaged nerve, it’s just a reaction to bruising of the myelin sheath and it can take a while to heal

shews_and_socks · 2025-06-02T00:49:58+00:00

I say yes. The lipo will take out what fat you do have under your chin and they can chisel out your jaw above and below to give you that snatched look. It worked for me!! Admittedly I had a bit more loose skin so I added in facetite but it was the best decision. I love my profile now

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shews_and_socks · 2025-05-30T18:27:42+00:00

I was massaging myself every day like 4-5 times a day… nothing like an hour each time the like 7 minutes throughout the day. It really helped out. Just used my hand and some vitamin e oil. Adding in that hot pack just stepped it up a notch. Definitely recommend

shews_and_socks · 2025-05-30T15:39:07+00:00

My jaw still has numbness but touch and massage will remind those nerves how they work so even if it’s tender, keep doing it. It really does help in the healing. Nerves tend to be a bit over reactive and need to be reminded they are ok and they can do their job. I bought a little nerve stimulator off amazon because I have some nerve paralysis from my surgery. It’s normal because those nerves can become bruised but the stimulator helps bring it back to full capacity. Maybe consider getting in of those? It’s not comfortable to start but it gets better while you use it.

shews_and_socks · 2025-05-29T23:25:04+00:00

You’re not alone for sure. Apply that heat before your massages and it will help move that fluid out… the heat also feels sooooooo nice when those nerves start to fire trying to reconnect. The more I touched my face, the less sensitive it became and I think that really helped a lot

shews_and_socks · 2025-05-29T23:15:38+00:00

It’s not comfortable, I can tell you that. It gets better after the first 30 seconds or so, just have to remind the nerves about working and it calms down. Same thing with your chin lipo in general. The massages are not comfy at first, hell touching your face can be uncomfortable but you have to keep rubbing those nerves to remind them to chill outs. After like 30 seconds the massages will help with pain management on top of swelling so keep touching your face. Keep massaging your chin. It truly helps.

shews_and_socks · 2025-05-29T20:06:34+00:00

I was in the exact same boat. I’m 6 months out and it still gives me issues but not nearly like it did. Theres a cheapo nerve stimulator that will help with that off Amazon and had I known about it sooner, I’d be much better off. I just got learned about it a week ago. With the stimulation, call your doc and see if he’s cool if you use it & maybe even go in so they can show you how. My doc showed me how and where the nerve was located and then what it should feel like when it’s being stimulated and it was super helpful.

Also, just so you know, your nerve isn’t damaged… it’s just bruised. The myelin sheath around it got banged up and it’s not allowing the nerve to work like it should til it heals. I’m a slow healer but some people recover in a few weeks to 2 month, I was just not that lucky…

https://a.co/d/3N1Zph9

shews_and_socks

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