Upper Blephs. 6 Days Post-op So Still Early Days but So Far, So Good (I Think!) -New Zealand, NZ

Righto, where to start? I've always had quite hooded upper lids; I started wearing contacts when I was 14 for about 25 years, until I had my eyes lasered about 5 years ago. I feel that this aggravated my upper eyelids as none of my family really has eyes as saggy as mine were. Probably for the last 10 years or so I've felt really fed up by them and just generally sick of how tired and unattractive they make me feel / look.
I have had serious misgivings about getting them done though as I have very prominent eyes and worried that I could end up looking 'bug-eyed' or like a bull frog (hmmm... pretty much how I feel right now at 6 days post-op... bugger! ;o)

I'm not making any rash statements at this early stage though as one thing I have learnt from poring over this site is that things change every day.

I live in Christchurch in New Zealand & we haven't got a massive number of surgeons to choose from. I went with an opthalmic surgeon, Dr Rebecca Stack. She specialises in cataracts, oculoplastics & reconstructive surgery and came highly recommended. I had a consult with her back in Feb this year during which time my vision / family eye history was tested / discussed. I was checked for glaucoma as a great-gran had it.
She said that I was a good candidate but that she wouldn't do anything aggressive as her first priority had to be the health of my eye (music to my ears... and eyes ;o).
I then spent the next 4 months plucking up the courage to book the procedure!

Anyway, here we are, 6 days post - op.
I've been taking pics every day which you can see for yourselves are particularly attractive (not!). Every day does bring subtle changes which I'm hoping will continue for the next few weeks!

The procedure itself:
I knew it was going to be done under local anaesthetic which was fine. I was expecting to be given a happy pill (sedative) beforehand too, not that we had ever discussed that but because I'd had one before my Lasik surgery a few years back & just made the assumption! Anyway, didn't get one! My surgeon's justification for this was that she wanted me to open my eyes mid-op to check that everything looked natural & couldn't be confident that she'd be seeing 'Kirstie in control of her faculties' or 'Kirstie, half-cut & away with the fairies' which did make sense.
In hindsight, am VERY pleased that I hadn't known about the sedative as I don't think I'd have got through the clinic door; I was sh*tting bricks beforehand (sorry to be foul but that's the only way to put it!).

I was given drops to numb my eyes as the solution they use to swab the area can sting. Then we were straight into the local being injected at points along my lids.Rebecca then marked out the incision lines while the local was doing its thing. It was a very strange sensation... similar to losing sensation at the dentist but more disturbing as it was around the eyes! I could blink and move my eyes throughout the whole procedure..... Rebecca was great at keeping me distracted; she told me everything she was about to do and when she wasn't talking medical stuff, just kept me yakking about everyday stuff (good distraction technique!!) and when she wasn't talking to me, she was to the nurse.

I had asked her about how she made the incision & she said that her choice was with a cold blade as she felt that using a heat source like a laser for the initial incision changes the appearance of the anatomy & makes her job tougher. I also felt better knowing that there are another 3 layers of 'stuff' under the skin between where she was working & my precious eyeballs! She did use a layer to cauterise stuff once she was under my lid.

I could feel some tugging and a couple of times I got her to top up the local as I felt the TINIEST pinch when she did a couple of stitches but that wasn't a problem. I have to say that the procedure itself was painless..... it was more a case of messing with my head if I started to think too much about what was being done (yeuchhh!).

The procedure took about 45 minutes. I left with one eye completely taped over and nothing at all on the other. Was great to be able to just walk out of there (albeit a bit wonkily). I left the clinic at 4pm. Home by 4.20pm. 2 paracetamol at 5pm and that's the only pain relief I've taken throughout the whole thing.

Started taking Arnica tabs the morning of surgery which was stupid...should have started weeks before.

Anyway, my bruising on my right eye has been pretty spectacular as my pics will show. Far more than I expected and have been pretty swollen too, esp in the mornings when I look like a bullfrog. Have been sleeping elevated since the op but still get swollen. I would recommend that you ice as frequently as you can. I used wee ziplock bags filled with corn wrapped in a damp hankie.
I also did NOTHING for the 3 days post-op (THANKS TO MY FAB PARTNER [RS bleep]) which was recommended. I'm back to light stuff now; I don't work so am lucky that I'm managing to hide out quite easily. Feel a dick wearing sunnies around the supermarket as that kind of thing isn't really the norm in NZ!
My eyelids feel heavy and stiff more than anything; can't say I'm in any pain. My stitches have mad itching moments so I scratch my eyebrows and pretend that feels better ;o)

Still using antibiotic ointment so eyes look permanently greasy and shiny which highlights how daft they look.

Getting stitches out tomorrow which concerns me as everything still looks so soft and goobery (yes, that IS a medical term!).

Can't say I'm delighted with results now as want to be able to get on with things without looking like a freak... this surgery was a bit of a stealth mission. Cosmetic surgery in NZ is not commonplace, esp in my circle of friends so am keeping wraps on for as long as possible. Hope to be able to socialise soonish without people falling down laughing or terrifying small children.

Anyway ladies (& gents)... hope you find this helpful. Any questions, please ask!
Cheers
Jeremiah the Bullfrog (not my real name...)

PS - perhaps should also say that I'm 44 & generally v healthy. Don't take any medications at all, non-smoker and very moderate drinker. Have 2 kids and am moderately active (we're talking brisk walk with the dog every day, not hard-core work-out nut!).
PPS... I have heaps more pics to post but have to go be a mum now!

Just trying to upload more pics & it's crashed twice on me so will just do a couple at a time I think :o/

Looking at my pics I think I've definitely bruised way more than your average upper blepher & think my swelling could well have lots to do with my naturally protruding eyes.

The reason I've put which time of day I've taken my pics is that in the morning I look like I've got 2 earthworms for eyelids. The swelling does go down during the day.... and comes back the next morning. Yippee! I am sleeping on 3 pillows plus a tri-pillow which is driving me mad as I slip down off it all the time...