It's been almost 1 year exactly since I got off prednisone.. My face STILL looks huge! I hate it.. I weigh 125 lbs, and yet I have a double chin! It makes no sense! I know it seems vain, but it REALLY bugs me... I feel like there's nothing I can do to get rid of it, and now I'm starting to think I'm stuck with it forever

My doctor said I could try getting a facelift, but I'm a young man, and I've had enough surgeries...

Is it normal for it to take this long? I was on it for 2 years (on and off, but for a full year at the end), and on 60 mg for all of the last year basically... I run often, I exercise, and I look super fit, except for my face... I just feel like giving up.. My face has gotten about 40% back to the way it used to, but I'm starting to think this is it... I'm stuck with a giant moonface forever..

Plus, I don't even know why it's fat to begin with. I heard that prednisone redistributes fat to the face and abdomen; I've also heard that once you develop fat cells, you can't get rid of them... Arrghhhh! I am out of ideas/patience.. I've tried cutting down salt and fatty foods for months.. Nothing helps... Will I ever be fully normal again? Or do I have to settle for just better than this?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jay11,

hey sugar jay,
i would talk to some more doctors...my specialist always said that moon face and the fat redistribution thing were not permanent. and that a lot of it had to do with retaining water, not just fat.
maybe it is just going to take some time??? i was on high doses of prednisone for about 10 months and i felt like it took a year to look like my old self. i seriously looked like a pregnant lady while on steroids!!! now all i have left are the ugly stretch marks tho.
it must be frustrating, and i don't blame you for not wanting more surgeries!

Sugar Jay
Where did that name come from?
I hope you aren't putting salot of sugar in your mouth!
Chris had the prednisone acne for ages.
Dermatologist prescribed a few topicals for a daily regimen.
1. brevoxyl 8 creamy wash
2.clindamycin
3.benzaclin
and now his face is great.
I recently started buying him neutrogena blackhead eliminator and boots no 7 stay calm lotion at target.
oily skin still gets dry and the boots no 7 works great.
Lay off the sugar in any form.
Good luck and don't give up. Chris is 21 and i know how you guys feel about your appearance.

Thanks Niki and Holly.. As you mentioned Niki, the weight is supposed to be temporary, so I guess I'll just try and wait it out.. My face looks like Rodney Dangerfield though, and I'm such a skinny guy haha...

Holly, I have been really lucky to avoid the prednisone acne.. I used to take a special medicine when I was young, and it permanently got rid of it for me (funny that it's also linked to ibd now though)..

I guess I'll keep trying to exercise, and hopefully I'll look like my old self soon.. thanks again

I know how you feel! I used to chastize myself all the time for being "vain" and wanting my face to be a normal size again.
I can only tell you from my experience that it does get better. My face got back to normal after a year. Your body just may need more time to adjust; I don't think it will be permanent though.

Medrol Sucks...

I promise it will go away...check out my pictorial called "Medrol Sucks"