Blepharoplasty?

Parent Cafe
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<p>@yohoyoho and all! Well, I’ve just had my 3rd consultation (1 cosmetic surgeon, 2 oculoplastic). I really like WN, Yoho. Although the 1st one listened to me, he basically said yes he would do a skin only upper bleph, needed no pictures of me from my youth, my brow was in a decent enough position and perhaps at another time if I didn’t want one now I would consider it and that was it. He seemed to know what he was talking about and I do sort of trust him. I didn’t like that he wouldn’t have a picture of me in the surgery room. Never discussed risks, or what to expect afterwards unless I asked a specific question.</p>

<p>WN was completely different. LIstened to my concerns. Took one of the pictures from my youth and took pictures of the eye portion of it. Ironically, he sort of was saying the same thing the cosmetic surgeon said. Part of the eye hooding issue was due to the lowering of the brow, but that it wasn’t much at all and what I wanted could be done with just the minor upper bleph. He said he couldn’t promise it would be all skin cut, that there is no way to know that until he starts working…but he knows it’s just for restorative purposes and is mindful of that. But what I found surprising is that he said if he had one thing that he would do rather than the upper, is a lower bleph!!</p>

<p>I don’t have “bags”, but there is a tiny bit of puffiness…but honestly it’s never really bothered me at all. He did say twice that my face is really fine and he thinks I’m attractive just the way I am. But he realized that I’m going for a more youthful appearance, and although he can’t make me look exactly like that picture I brought in (I was 25), that the lower bleph fat redistribution would give me, in his opinion, a more youthful appearance than the upper bleph. Honestly, I’m not sure I agree with him. However, I wouldn’t just do a lower. But I would consider both…but now that gives me a more cautious feeling. He did say that he uses a scalpel and would put the incision under the lashes instead of inside. I can’t remember his reasoning. To be honest, I don’t think my looks are that bad to have scars on top and bottom. Not sure I’m there yet.</p>

<p>I liked how he talked about risks and some of them were a bit scary. I asked him what he really thought and having it done now or later…of course I knew it was my decision. He said I was an attractive woman and even if I didn’t have anything done now, I would be fine. But if I was on the fence, why not enjoy it now rather than later? I felt like he was giving me an honest opinion, as I met his wife who does office work for him. While I was talking to her later, she told me some of the things he’s done on her. and she looks quite nice.</p>

<p>He also talked about post op and what things would occur week by week, month by month. How I would feel, at times I would wonder why I even had this done…my eyes might feel tight, or something. Then one day I will realize I hadn’t thought of my eyes in a couple of days. It can take up to 18 months for things to settle for once and all.</p>

<p>I felt like I had a more well rounded consultation with him. On the other hand, listening to everything (especially that he was recommended the same sort of the thing the cosmetic surgeon did) it makes me more anxious and at this point feeling like I need to back away from it for awhile to digest this new information and the lower bleph. It just surprised me how me said he’d do that rather than the upper if I was only going to do one.</p>

<p>Sigh.</p>

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<p>Re scars: I had a facelift with the eyes (but no eyebrow work. The only scars that I have are behind my ears and not much. I could wear a pony tail and no one could see the scars except if they moved my ears forward. The lids were done from the inside (a contact lens protecting my eyes from scratching. My general health is challenging so that isn’t the reason for little to no bruising.</p>

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<p>My oculoplastic surgeon commented at my last followup appt that I could do the under eye thing if I wanted. He said something about a different procedure than is often done, having to do with tweaking a tendon near the corner of the eye then, I think, going in to do something with the fat below the eye from the inside. IIRC, this avoids the lower lid pulling away from the eye, which I gather can happen. Maybe @YoHoYoHo can comment. He went on to say that it would cost $3K out of pocket, since it is purely cosmetic, but that there are a lot more fun ways to spend $3K than surgery. :slight_smile: (He is very nice.)</p>

<p>@conmama, I think that you need to find some before and after photos that really look like your level of droopiness to get a realistic picture of what the surgery can do for you. I continue to have the feeling that you may find that it is not yet worth it. </p>

<p>On the other hand, a friend of mine used to tell me that the way to get the best look was to “lift early, lift often,” rather than having one big procedure. :slight_smile: I certainly don’t claim to be anything even faintly close to an expert on that one!</p>

<p>BTW, my eyes do NOT look like myself, only younger. They look different, and it is a difference I am happy about. </p>

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<p>@Consolation‌ …I have decided I will not do a lower bleph. Yes, sometimes in the morning it might be a little puffy but not always and it recedes and isn’t an issue for me. I will only do what bothers me, not anyone else. I told DH about the first ocu doc never even commenting on a lower bleph, and he said it is because I didn’t ask for one. Possibly that is better. Or maybe he really didn’t think it looked bad to make a comment…who knows? I didn’t know about the eye pulling away from the eyeball below sometimes. I’m only going to consider that procedure if I think it hinders my looks…which I truly don’t.</p>

<p>Yes, you are correct in that I’m really riding the fence. I finally told my friend who doesn’t like elective surgery and she, although not exactly supportive, was not dismissive of my concerns. She was more interested, perhaps due to her thinking more about them also as we age. She did say she didn’t think I was that bad but didnt correct me either when i pointed out what was wrong…she sees it. It felt good to talk to a friend I wish we could attach photos here of just our eyes…we would still be anonymous,</p>

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<p>Have you looked at the photos of Renee Zellweger?</p>

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<p>Yes. I can say that in general that this is a tough town, a tougher industry where until recently one was unemployable at 35 (if you are a woman)…men have it easier. </p>

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<p>The before and after of her eyes and mine is not dissimilar, except that my lids were blocking my vision. But it is a real change in the overall look of the eye.</p>

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<p>Yes and although I think she looks pretty, I think she looked prettier and more unique before. Her eyes were quite hooded but I thought attractive., I imagine when she was young they were not crepey or saggy skinned. At 45, although we didn’t see it like she did, she was probably having the same issues we all go through and didn’t like them anymore. She might have even been having vision issues. What I’m curious about, and she’s obviously closed lipped, is if she asked for some eyelid to show, or to just reduce some middle aged sag. It’s not just her eyes that look different, her whole face sort of does and I can’t figure out why. You know…if she’s going to lie and say she’s just had a lifestyle change, just say she was having vision issues and had eyelid surgery…people would just move on.</p>

<p>Still waffling…I’m sure you guys are getting sick of hearing that. I was even thinking of maybe trying some Botox first for my frown line and maybe a teeny to lift my outer brow to see what that would look like. Then I read that a very small percentage of people have massive hair loss…like 30 out of 12,000 and then that freaked me out. I must be risk averse or something.</p>

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<p>I agree – Renee Zellweger was no great beauty before but she had a unique, appealing look; at least when she was young, her her heavy-lidded eyes were her best feature. Now she looks generic and non-distinctive. </p>

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<p>Agree…generic is the perfect word. She has nothing distinctive about her now…I loved seeing her in films because I enjoyed the way she looked. I want Bridget Jones back!</p>

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<p>@conmama,
Glad you liked Bill. Saw him at the ASOPRS mtg last week.
You should get the type of surgery that you want based on what bothers you the most.<br>
When pts come in and ask for my opinion on something, such as upper lids, I give it on the upper lids only and will only comment on the lower lids or skin quality or neck etc if it is severe. The savvy pt will ask about their upper lids and ALSO ask if there is anything else that they should consider based on my aesthetic judgment (the smartest pts ask at the beginning rather than tacking it on at the end of the visit). I answer the questions that are asked of me but generally do not upsell the pt. It is the slick, high pressured type of cosmetic surgeon will usually explain to the pt all the things that the surgeon thinks needs to be fixed in an effort to upsell. Most oculoplastic surgeons are not that way, although I do know a very few that are that way.
So bottom line, if it’s your upper lids that bother you, then just get the upper lids fixed.</p>

<p>Second, for red incision lines, I prescribe a steroid such as Lotemax ophthalmic ointment.</p>

<p>@ consolidation,
The suture that your surgeon is talking about is insurance to prevent the lid from pulling down after surgery. It’s like having suspenders which dissolve after 2 months. It’s needed if the pt has a slightly looser lower eyelid that we all develop as we become more mature.</p>

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<p>Okay this is really interesting to me. I have always had droopy eyelids, but more so as I get older. My vision has started to decline, which is awful for my job. When I pull the eyelids up, it helps a lot. Could this really be the answer to the eyesight and the droopy eyes problem? Too good to be true, I must not understand.</p>

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<p>@busdriver11 Sounds like my situation.</p>

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<p>My mom waited so long, her eyelids had to be stitched up. I had uppers done in early 50’s. Medicare paid for her procedure, and I paid out of pocket for mine. Mine came with minimal pain and I’ve never had a regret.</p>

<p>Of course, each person has different expectations. </p>

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<p>@yohoyoho…it is sort of surreal that we have met anonymously throught the internet, you are an ocuplastic surgeon and we’re having a discussion about Bill…you knowing him professionally and I having an appt. with him…and within a couple of days. I wish you I could go to you, we seem like we’re on the same page as to what I’m after. Anyway…I do appreciate the advice to just do what bothers me, and I plan on doing that. yes…I do see the very beginnings of what he is talking about. But to me it’s so insignificant and both my DH and friend say you just don’t notice anything. I’m sure with his “eyes”, it pops out at him. Plus, I met his wife who works there, and she told me he did the lowers to her…so it might be his subjectivity as to what is attractive, also.</p>

<p>I have spend hours researching this on my own, reading, looking at pictures…asking for your advice which has been just absolutely invaluable…so thanks so much. Consolation and Bookworm…and others I’ve contacted. Your stories and support, your advice and honest truths are what makes me feel much more comfortable and armed with information when I have this done. Because it really is “when” not “if”.</p>

<p>I am stepping back for awhile. But I do know it will be Bill or the other surgeon when I do have it done. I remember something Oprah (I know!) said that I read awhile back. It was something to the effect that “if you don’t know what to do, just stop and don’t do anything for the moment”. Since I’m so confused and anxious, I am going to step back and breathe for a bit. I’m not that bad (yet), but I know it won’t get any better. To be perfectly honest…the best time would be January 2016. My kids won’t be home to see me, no high school vacations or 2 week european vacation (like 2015) that eat into my vacation and downtime to recover. I know it sounds like I’m chickening out…and maybe I am a little, but I think it’s everything…timing, how bad it is…plus both the oculo surgeons sort of indicated that they didn’t think my uppers were that bad right now either. (Bill said he’d do the lower before the upper).</p>

<p>@consolation…I’m glad you’ve told me that maybe I should be realistic about many things and maybe sit on it for a bit.</p>

<p>Yoho…Again, you’ve made me feel so much better about this procedure when i decide to have it. I hope that you don’t feel I’ve wasted your time since I’m not going ahead with it within the next few months. I never would have known about oculoplastic surgeons if it weren’t for you.</p>

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<p>@conmama, I think that waiting is the right thing for you. </p>

<p>Meanwhile, now that I am so pleased with the uppers, I keep looking at myself in the mirror and wanting to do the lowers. :slight_smile: But I can’t afford it.</p>

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<p>The first doc I went to was a plastic surgeon. His office just called me and offered to knock off $1,000. No thanks…this type A personality (that’s what he called me) did her homework with CC! </p>

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<p>That would definitely turn me off, big time!</p>

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<p>I went from no glasses to no-line bifocals, I’lI get hearing aids when I need them, but I never thought I would have cosmetic surgery. However, my droopy eyelids were really aging me. Earlier this year, I had two consults with oculoplastic surgeons. The first surgeon was recommended by my SIL, and the second surgeon was recommended by YoHoYoHo. Overall, I felt more comfortable with the oculoplastic surgeon that YoHoYoHo recommended, but I didn’t have time in my life to schedule surgery until now. (Thank you, YoHoYoHo.)</p>

<p>On Friday, Halloween, I had bilateral ptosis repair, upper and lower blepharoplasty of both eyes and laser resurfacing of my whole face. I was really quite a fright when I left the surgery center. Fortunately, my DH could deal with the few trick-or-treaters that we had that evening, because I certainly would have scared them all away!</p>

<p>It is now 3 days post surgery, and I can say that pain has been minimal, but the self-care is all-consuming. Jokingly, DH said that if he had known what care was involved that he would have hired a nurse to handle at least the first 24 hours.</p>

<p>The surgeon who performed my surgery works in a large eye center in my city. Coincidentally, DH needed semi-urgent laser surgery on both eyes for narrow angle glaucoma – different physician, same eye center. One eye was done 2 days before my surgery, and the other eye was done this morning. Fortunately BIL drove DH to today’s appointment. Yup, we are now frequent visitors with our surgeries and follow-up appointments.</p>

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<p>Congratulations, cincy gal. I’m eager to hear how you feel about everything once you’re all healed.</p>