<p>The swelling is gone, except for a very little on the lids above my lashes–which I can now actually see!-- and a very little bit of bagginess on the cheek accompanied by a little discoloration that just makes it look like I have <em>really big</em> circles under my eyes. Both are really within the range of normal, especially for a person who is inclined to wake up in the morning with slight puffiness during allergy seasons. (All that assiduous icing must have helped!) I don’t have the “black eye” look, and in fact never really did. It was always reddish, not purple. I think that the slight discoloration left below could be hidden with makeup: I haven’t tried. The suture line remains very visible, although it is in the crease–I now have a crease!–of my eyelid. I have my followup appt on Monday. I think my stitches are the dissolving type, but I have no experience with how long it actually takes them to dissolve. It would appear that some have, and some haven’t. I have no experience with stitches,. (Which I guess is a good thing! 
) I think it would be fair to say that if it weren’t for the faint cheek discoloration and the stitches, I would look “normal.”</p>
<p>So I was at my eye doc today. I specifically asked him about this procedure (large practice with eye folks with varying areas of expertise). My guy said…I can get it done whenever I want to pay out of pocket. In his experience, unless extreme, insurance won’t pay. It’s about $2000 per eye.</p>
<p>You might want to look at your insurer’s web site. The Aetna site showed examples of what they would cover, and I recall that mine was worse than many of them. Basically, if your lid was resting on your eyelashes, they said they’d cover it. As I believe I said above, the vision test showed that my lids were obscuring 30% of my vision, top down. It was apparently a slam-dunk. :)</p>
<p>Guess my vision is too good!</p>
<p>Consolation…how is everything going? Are you so glad you had this done? I am still seriously considering this…I looked at a photo of myself from California this June on the PC yesterday for the first time…a close up shot. I was dressed up and I was happy with all of my face (at my age) except my eyes! I couldn’t believe how much older they looked then the rest of my face, and it’s unbelievable that they seemed too really droop this much in just a year. I know it was gradual, but it sort of tipped over this year. I’m turning 55 in November, and thinking this might just be a nice gift for myself. I saw my Mother last weekend and she said to wait a couple of years that she didn’t think they were THAT bad yet…but I’m not feeling good about them. I’m starting to look through old pictures from 30, 20 and 10 years ago to take to a doctor for a consultation. I keep telling myself it’s just a consultation…not a committment. I think if I have it done if its not horrible yet, then nobody will really realize it. Plus…we’re going to Italy in a year, and I’d like to feel really good about myself. I’m thinking of doing this perhaps before Xmas…I’ll have two weeks off of work. I’ve heard just the top lid, and not much skin taken off will result in less bruising, etc.</p>
<p>I would like to have it done without anyone knowing, but I have one son left at the house who is a senior…he’ll tell someone, it will be out. However, I’m not sure I want to wait a year until he’s gone, and who knows he might commute anyway.</p>
<p>I am VERY glad I had it done. It makes a huge difference to my sight. My only problem is that now that the top is done, I realize I could use some work on the under-eye area too! But that would cost $3K out of pocket, since it would be purely cosmetic, so it isn’t happening.</p>
<p>I’ve reached the stage where I can wear eye make up, and it’s going to be fun to experiment with something beyond eyeliner. Yesterday, I bought my first tube of mascara in years, and put some on. I have eyelashes! Who knew? <:-P</p>
<p>I would say that it is highly unlikely that you can get it done without people realizing, because it takes a lot longer than 2 wks for the eyelids to look anything close to normal, and–at least according to my dr–that is too soon to wear eye makeup. I healed quickly, but he had to take the maximum possible out, especially on my left eye, so perhaps that is a factor. (Really, I’m still healing. I’m told the scar gradually recedes more over time.) I had committee meetings and other things to do at my church that involved meeting with people, so I just went ahead and told them that I had had eye surgery, and why. No big deal. Several people were interested for themselves, actually. </p>
<p>One major reason to get it done sooner rather than later: I realized that I had developed the habit of raising my eyebrows to see better, which was causing forehead wrinkles. Sure, we will all get wrinkles, but there’s no need to accelerate the process. </p>
<p>I’ll assume that y’all were screened for a medical reason for droppy eyes (ptosis). There are some medical conditions that cause it, that should be ruled out. Hope you heal well and quickly.</p>
<p>Consoldation…I didn’t realize yours were to the point it was effecting your eyesight or that you couldn’t wear mascara. I’m nowhere near that bad right now, so do you think I might heal at least close to 2 weeks? I suppose individual cases vary of course. I’m so glad you are happy! I need to just start putting my “portfolio” of me! together to take to the doc…and get the nerve to call and make that appt. </p>
<p>@Rhandco…I haven’t been screened for ptosis. My actual eyelids themselves don’t droop at all. It’s just the skin above them that is starting to get loose, crepey and fall a bit.</p>
<p>That was the case with me, conmama. The skin was pushing down on my lashes. They did a vision test, which revealed the extent to which my vision was blocked if I relaxed my forehead. The test is necessary if you wish to qualify for insurance coverage. I didn’t have any screening tests.</p>
<p>This woman’s before lids look a lot like mine, as do the results. ( I look a <em>lot</em> younger, thankfully, although we are the same age! To me she looks like someone in her 70s.)</p>
<p><a href=“Eyelid Surgery Before and After Photos by Paul Ringelman, MD; Towson, MD - Case 7644 | ASPS”>http://www1.plasticsurgery.org/before_and_after_photo_gallery/case.aspx?id=7644</a></p>
<p>^^^At the bottom of that link it mentions that she’s 60 years old. I also think she look much much older.</p>
<p>I agree she look like she is in her 70’s. that is what I imagined your eyes looked like from your description…I bet you look fantastic. Mine are not like that, but I imagine if I waited 5more years until I was 60 it might look more like it. I have spent the last hour going through albums pulling a couple of pics from my 20, 30, 40 to take. It was getting a little sad seeing myself get older every 10 min…haha. And it wasn’t easy finding good close up clear shots of my eyes but I think I found some good ones. thankfully I love pictures, have a lot all in albums. I made up my mind to do this and I feel better, but still a little scared too. Honestly, I think besides my eyes the rest of my face looks 8 to 10 years younger than my age…but my eyes surely don’t. I’m finding I don’t want to take pics in the summer without my sunglasses because I look so much younger with them on. Not good!</p>
<p>conmama, good luck. When is your appointment?</p>
<p>I haven’t made it yet. I’m going to call today…I keep telling myself it’s just n a
Informative appointment not a commitment. </p>
<p>I made my appt. this morning! That was a big step for me to even do that. The consultation and imaging are both free. I can’t believe I’m actually doing this, but excited that I am. My appt. is 9/30 and I’ll let you all know how it goes after I’m finished with Step 1!</p>
<p>Wondering if those who’ve had this surgery (or seriously considered it) would weigh in on how you chose your surgeon: plastic surgeon or ophthalmic plastic surgeon?</p>
<p>The reason I have chosen this surgeon for a consultation is because I have a friend that needed both areas done, and she looks fantastic. Doesn’t look like she’s had surgery at all, very natural. Plus, there are a few that seem to be more well known in my area and he is one of them. I am in the Midwest and he also works in California.</p>
<p>I chose an oculofacial plastic surgeon at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. I’m lucky to live near the # 1 eye hospital in the USA and this doctor came highly recommended by a good friend. The local ophthalmologist that I used to go to did the surgery on my father years ago and I don’t think he did such a great job so I wanted to go elsewhere. I’m so glad I did – I think I got a better result by using a plastic surgeon. I had pretty severe ptosis but I didn’t want to end up looking too different. I just wanted to SEE better!</p>
<p>Mine was an oculoplastic surgeon, like YoHoYoHo. Take a look at post #53 for description of the differences. </p>
<p>^^^Oops! I missed that post–very helpful.</p>
<p>Mine also was an oculoplastic surgeon. I had a friend who consulted with 6 different doctors, had the same procedure I wanted (eyelids AND bags) and looked fabulous afterwards. Since she had done all the due diligence, I just made an appointment. Thrilled with the results.</p>