POSTED UNDER Eyelid Surgery REVIEWS
Tear Trough Implants -Austin, TX
ORIGINAL POST
My whole life I've had eye bags. My dad has them,...
lmacaNovember 18, 2013
WORTH IT$3,500
My whole life I've had eye bags. My dad has them, one of my brother's has them, my sister has them (although she has booked the same surgery I had with the same doctor, so she'll join the no bag club soon). I was constantly asked "are you tired?", "do you have bad allergies?", "have you been crying?" Sometimes I wasn't even asked, but simply told "you look so tired!". Thanks folks. I didn't seriously think about surgery until August/September of this year. Honestly, I didn't know it was truly an option. Once I found Dr. Apostolakis in Austin, TX and read all of his posts here on realself, I knew I wanted to go in for a consult. I already knew I'd want the surgery, and the consult just confirmed that. The surgery couldn't come soon enough, I bought a wedge to sleep on, read everything under the sun on how to prevent bruising, swelling, how to get the best results. I was ready. The only problem, I was a little scared. Now, I'm a nurse, so I stick people all the time, and I'm not afraid of needles. But I had never had a real IV- I say "real" because I've had friends practice on me, but I've never actually had an infusion. I've never been sedated. So I was a little nervous. But everyone put me at ease. I realize I'm kind of rambling now. So I'll try to be more concise and break things down in time line form. Week before surgery: filled all scripts. Antibiotic, Pain and Nausea. October 7th- night before surgery, nothing to eat or drink past midnight. They gave me valium if I wanted to help me sleep, but I didn't take it. October 9th- my sister picked me up and took me to the appt. I changed into a gown and washed my face twice. IV was placed, and blood drawn, not for labs, but for PRP (platelet rich plasma). basically, your blood is drawn, its spun down to separate the platelets, then Dr. A injected my platelets to the surgery site (during the surgery) to reduce bruising. Back to pre surgery info-- I was given an oral antibiotic, Dr. A marked my face and then I walked to the OR. I laid on the OR table. Arms strapped down, Hooked up to a vitals machine, Dr. A enters and starts pushing meds. Taste disgusting and then I'm out. I wake up with an ice pack on my face. No pain, I walk (with help, I can't see, ice pack on eyes) to another room. My sister arrives, I get into a wheel chair and then into my sister car and home. My sister makes me eat (mind you, still have an Ice pack on my face). I eat maybe a half an egg, then go to sleep. For the next 20 hours I'm sleeping, reapplying ice packs, sleeping, reapplying ice packs. October 9th. I wake up, somewhat in pain, but fear it might get worse so I take 2 lortab (did not take anything overnight). My sister picks me up and we head to the post op appt. Everyone is pleased. We head home, not after stopping by the store to get some more saline eye drops. I feel pretty nauseated. I get home and vomit. Then go back to sleep, ice, sleep. The next several days get better and better and I feel better and better. I spent about 10 days after the surgery sleeping on a wedge, I did not drink any alcohol, I did not take anything other than tylenol for pain (no NSAIDs), I drank approx 48ounces of fresh squeezed pineapple juice a day and really only ate "green goddess" soup (spinach, celery, brown rice, broccoli, garlic) I am so incredibly happy I did this. And like I mentioned, I used realself religiously in looking up info- so if anyone has any questions I am more than willing to be of any help! I'll try post a few pics too.
Replies (43)

November 19, 2013
I've never heard of tear trough implants. Can you tell us more about the procedure you had? You look fantastic!
November 19, 2013
Thanks Sallify! Sure! Let's see. The way Dr. A explained the anatomy of my "bags" to me was this: My orbital bone sets back (deeper) than someone who doesn't have bags, so the membrane that holds my fat pad kind of stretches back to the bone, and the fat pat herniates. The remedy according to Dr. A. Place an orbital rim or tear trough implant to "bring the bone more forward" that way the membrane no longer stretches back to the bone and there is no herniation. He did not remove or move any fat. He also explained that doing any fat transfer or removal of fat is irreversible, but implants can be removed if not satisfied.
Dr. A made a transconjuntival incision (in my lower eyelid, so no stitches or scars). When he got to my bone he pealed back the periosteum (periosteum is a thin membrane like skin that surrounds the bone) from orbital bone. Once the periosteum was peeled, he placed the solid silica implant on the bone. Then the periosteum was placed back. As he explained it to me, the periosteum acts as "shrink wrap" to keep the implant in place. So there were no screws/glue/sutures.
I did not have a single bruise (which Dr. A was surprised by) but we were both very happy about. I had some numbness from my eyebrow to my upper lip, but by about day 10 the numbness went away, every once in a while there will be a tingle. I am super happy with the procedure and like I mentioned in the original post, my sister is now going to have the surgery too! (I guess I was the guinea pig). :)

November 19, 2013
Thanks, Imaca! I am considering a lower bleph. Wondering why none of the doctors I've consulted have mentioned this procedure. Maybe not right in my case. But your results look just great! Can't wait to banish my bags.
November 19, 2013
Hey Imaca, reading your story was tremendous help. Knowing someone has been through as long understands. I have the same exact problems and it gets worse on bad days. Are there ways i can do the surgery without staying at the hospital to shorten bill cost? Im in Atlanta Ga any location recomendations?
November 19, 2013
Hi Jonni!
I didn't actually stay at the hospital- it was an out patient procedure at my surgeons office (he has an OR in the office). I'm not sure ways to lower the price- but the price I paid included all of my pre op and post op appts and the gave me the prescriptions already filled so I didn't have to pay to fill them. My total bill (I'm looking at it right now) was $3,250. The breakdown: 2000 for the surgery, 450 for the OR and 800 for the implants. I'm sorry I don't have any GA recommendations- but I highly recommend Dr. Apostolakis here in Austin! Hope this helps!
November 19, 2013
thankyou...your eyes are beautiful. What do you think abouy buying the syringe and restylane seperate online and injecting yourself? Any Opinions?
November 24, 2013
Hi Jonni- I have never had tear trough injections- just went straight to surgery, but I personally would never inject myself. I am a registered nurse and am very comfortable around needles and anatomy and various types of injections- but I think it would be way too risky- from what I've read the results really depend on the experience of the injector- I think the risk is too high! I think it's great you're thinking outside the box- but I believe tear trough injections are far too complicated and require some training- I wouldn't want someone who has never done them to inject me, therefore I'd never inject myself. :)
November 19, 2013
Hi Jonni- I have never had tear trough injections- just went straight to surgery, but I personally would never inject myself. I am a registered nurse and am very comfortable around needles and anatomy and various types of injections- but I think it would be way too risky- from what I've read the results really depend on the experience of the injector- I think the risk is too high! I think it's great you're thinking outside the box- but I believe tear trough injections are far too complicated and require some training- I wouldn't want someone who has never done them to inject me, therefore I'd never inject myself. :)

November 19, 2013
OMG, Jonni4321, you don't want to do that! I had terrible complications from Restylane injections under the eyes, and this was after being injected by a reputable and experienced plastic surgeon in NY. Injecting fillers to the tear trough is a very tricky area and should only be done by a highly experienced expert, if at all. Note that injecting fillers in the tear trough area is considered "off-label" and not approved by the FDA.
November 22, 2013
Sallify, what were your complications? I had Restylane in tear troughs, and am ready for another round if I choose to do so (by oculoplastic surgeon). Please share? Thanks!
December 5, 2013
ima gon head and do it i cant afford either operation i found the sites..after i do it myself ill put up pictures just like imaca and let you guys know how it went
December 21, 2013
I also had restylane put into my tear troughs about 3 years ago from a reputable ps. I swelled and was bruised for over a month. I hated it. I wished I never did it, but didn't want to take the chance of putting in the remover stuff so I lived with it for about a year. My eyes were never the same again. I really think the restylane ate some of my good tissue and moved orbital fat around. I looked way worse once the restylane disappeared . I must have aged 7 years I swear. I just got a lower bleph because I couldn't stand it anymore.
November 19, 2013
Don't you just hate it when people say things like "you look tired"? Glad you like your results and won't have to hear anymore rude comments! I hope you keep us posted on your continued healing :)
November 22, 2013
Imaca, you look fabulous!! It's as though you found the perfect solution with the right doctor to boot! You are very fortunate to have found a skilled doctor who assessed you individually and had a variety of tricks in his tool kit, rather than the standard "blepharoplasty" response. When I hear "fat transfer" it scares me, yet so many doctors here suggest it. I have read so many stories here of very unhappy people (mostly due to lumps).
Truly, your results are just outstanding! Having the same issue as you, I can imagine you must feel like a huge weight has been lifted off your shoulders.
Three Qs:
1). How did you find the surgeon?
2). Did you say the implants were placed via transconjunctival incision?
3). Can they move? Was an allergic reaction a possibility when you were told of possible complications?
November 24, 2013
Hi Cody21! Thanks for the kind words! Let's see, to answer your questions. 1) I found Dr. A here on Realself! I wanted someone who only did faces and I read great reviews, so I made a consult appt and was sold. 2) Yes, the implants were placed via a transconjuctival incision- no scars, no stitches. 3) the way he explained it- initially the first few days it is possible for them to move if I push on them and move them, but after a few days they are in place and will not move, even if pushed on. He placed them under the periosteum on my bone, so the periosteum acts as a "shrink wrap" and holds the implants in place- no sutures. As far as allergic reaction- I'm sure it is a possibility, as that is always a possibility :) But that was not one of the complications he addressed, so it is probably a very low possibility. One of the complications he did mention was risk of infection- he said if it gets infected he just removes the implants. He said in the 8 years he'd done this, he has only had to remove 2 due to infection. Let me know if you have any other questions!
UPDATED FROM lmaca
2 months post
2.5 months later
lmacaDecember 22, 2013
Hi All-
Sorry I'm only now posting another photo- and responding... we've moved over 2,000 miles away... So this photo is without makeup, post shower- taken about 10 minutes ago, over 2 and a half months after the surgery. Everything is smooth sailing, no issues, no complaints. Still very happy I had to procedure!
Sorry I'm only now posting another photo- and responding... we've moved over 2,000 miles away... So this photo is without makeup, post shower- taken about 10 minutes ago, over 2 and a half months after the surgery. Everything is smooth sailing, no issues, no complaints. Still very happy I had to procedure!
Replies (15)
January 13, 2014
hopefully every thing is ok now , could you please if you can explain your sergeant steps in more details and keep us with ,and keep up with the weekly or monthly results
February 28, 2014
Hi there! I just posted another picture. I'm not sure the surgeon's steps in more detail since I was asleep :)
February 4, 2014
Hi Hun :-)
Are you you still out there?
Would it be possible to see a picture of your result today? In February of 2014?
I am very much interested in having this procedure! Thank you!
February 28, 2014
Hi There! I just saw this :) So I took a picture and am posting it now- it's 630 in the morning :)
March 4, 2014
wow...6:30 in the morning..and you already have makeup on or no ..YOU LOOK Amazing..surgery took like 20 years off of your face
March 4, 2014
ha! Thanks! Yeah, 630 in the am- to be fair I did have make up on- I was on my way to work. Although 20 years?! eek, I'm only 32! :) Goes to show how the bags made me look so much older and more tired!
February 27, 2014
Hello you look BEAUTIFUL!!! Thank you for your informative post...I am considering this procedure and it is very helpful when members post all that was done it helps when going for a consult. all the pics are helpful too
Replies (74)