I'm a returning patient of Dr. Clariday, now 72 hours post Upper Blepharoplasty with Lower Lid CO2 touch up. Yick, sharp stinging, weeping and greasy after care for laser, however, I'm happy so far with being able to see my eyelids again! Wonderful nice staff, conscious sedation, and so far so good. Updated on 28 May 2014: Ahhh, the swelling has improved, but oh that nasty laser touch up under my eyes is driving me batty. The vinegar soaks do WONDERS for the redness. My sutures still feel tight, and I've got some bruising showing up on the rims of upper lids. Key words-upper lids! So glad to have them back! Taking photos each morning to show daily progress. Updated on 28 May 2014: My cost was 1650.00 because I requested conscious sedation. The cost of the Blepharoplasty was only 1400.00. The reason I chose the sedation was for the touch up laser resurfacing under my eyes. However, by the time we got to that part, I was awake, alert and talking about the stock market with staff and Dr. Clariday. The zaps of the laser mostly just felt like short pin pricks. Updated on 28 May 2014: Wow! Didn't expect to have this much improvement so soon. I'm still quite swollen in the upper lid area, and my sutures are feeling tight causing a little discomfort. At my check up yesterday, they let me know I was looking good, on track, and done peeling. I didn't peel much at all. I'm so ready to be done with the greasy stuff! I did get the ok to put the balm over my sutures. Hoping this will help with the tightness a bit. Still only Tylenol for pain. Back to work tomorrow. Shouldn't be an issue except for "filmy" vision due to the greast balm. Updated on 28 May 2014: I noticed my pictures weren't cropped into same frame, so I have reloaded them for better comparison day by day. I hope this is more helpful. Updated on 29 May 2014: My first day back at work, sutures and all. Thank goodness I'm at a desk surrounded by other nurses lol. I slept in my bed for the first time last night, and only got about 4 hours sleep. So, I attribute the swelling this morning to those two factors. I iced my eyes for about 5 minutes, and then cleaned them up. As its 10:00 now, most of the morning swelling you see has subsided. Side note-I bought a bar of Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing soap, took my shower last night, and after shampooing and rinsing VERY well, I cleansed my entire eye area (sutures included) and then let the water run down my forehead for a long time as I gently massaged the soap off. My eyes felt GREAT! That filmy, greasy feeling was gone. ***I did not ask doc if this was ok so check with your doc****. I'm beginning to think that cleaning the sutures twice a day with peroxide is now excoriating my healthy skin, so I'm putting in a call to Dr. Clariday's office today. Overall, the only painful areas now are the sutures at the outer corners, but only during cleaning. I've now started putting the greasy stuff over the sutures. Updated on 29 May 2014: Yes, I'm a serial updated right now :) I wanted to see the difference between this morning (swelling) and after being at work. Noticeable difference in swelling. Sorry about the lighting changes. It's dark when I get up. One thing I'll note too is that I think my nerves are waking up a bit. I tend to get these random little tingling sensations in different areas around my eyes/cheeks/temples. And then today, my right eye suddenly felt heavy and as if it was trying to get a "headache" behind the lid (if that makes sense) It has only eased up a bit, but nothing I need medicine for. Soon comes my favorite thing...my Cetaphil shower!! Ahhhh, just to be "greaseless" for 5 minutes is heavenly!! (I still haven't told my doc, Ooops) Updated on 30 May 2014: I almost didn't update today, because last night I had a teary night over the recent loss of my little sister. Sure miss her. So needless to say, I was very puffy eyed this morning. So puffy in fact, that I could barely open my eyes. I did a quick ice down -5 min- and hoped once I was upright and at work it would resolve. Ended up not feeling so well at work, all of this medicine-steroids, antivirals, antibiotics, etc has finally caught up with me. My stomach doesn't like medication. BUT, I still wanted a daily pic up. Not that it will help anyone but I want to stay on track and keep up with what works and what doesn't. This morning, within 2 hours of getting to work, I iced again but for 15 minutes. Seemed to help a bit. Now it's about 4pm. Also want to note that I developed a little whitehead/milia/cyst on my suture line right beneath a suture. I know this is quite common but I felt so ick earlier, I called the doc office anyway. They offered to look at it but weren't too concerned, said they usually resolve on their own, so I decided to just wait it out until sutures come out Monday. Low and behold, I got home, got the peroxide out to clean sutures, and it was gone. Good riddance. One less thing to fuss over! So here's my puffy eyes after short icing twice today after tears last night. Overall, my eyes are feeling better since day 1, but I still have a nagging bruised sensation behind my right eyeball. Updated on 31 May 2014: Still a day 7 post op photo. I iced one more time, showered and cleansed with Cetaphil Bar, and reapplied greasy stuff. Eyes are still puffy (tough day) but suddenly my left eye (right side in pic-pics reverse on camera) has decided to swell up more than the right side. And the right side pain has subsided considerably. Just goes to show, healing is relatively unpredictable, and perhaps in the morning I"ll wake up to a new surprise lol. Anyway, just keeping my progress notes and photos. Updated on 31 May 2014: Just wanted to post a couple of before pictures with make up on. Wish I had some that would better demonstrate the droopers, but I became a camera avoider a few years back! Updated on 31 May 2014: Oh well, so much for 30 minutes of warm compresses. Didn't do much to relieve the swelling. I'm going back to recliner sleeping tonight, and continuing warm compresses through the day. Increasing my fluid intake today too. Right eye pain is much more finished , so that's positive. But to hold my eyes open feels like I'm trying to bench press 200 pounds with my upper lids! Updated on 31 May 2014: This will be my next endeavor. I have static "11's" between my brows and they are ugly. This procedure is totally innovative. Instant results too once upper tissue is released from the muscle that is pulling it in. Currently looking for a PS that does this procedure. Better than trying needling on your own (which I'm very tempted to do) Updated on 31 May 2014: Been sitting upright most of day, very little activity in the house, have iced about 5 times, and other than a few new milia/whitehead/cysts popping up, I'm still very swollen on one side. It's very difficult to keeps eye open. After each icing, I would have about 5 minutes of decreased swelling, a little watering, and the it would inflate again. In other news, my under eye resurfacing is tolerating being switched from the greasy stuff to Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream. It's very soothing, but I am having to reapply after each icing. I'm only using the grease for the inner and outer corners of my eyes. I hope sleeping upright in recliner tonight will make a difference. Updated on 1 Jun 2014: So I slept in the recliner. When I woke up, I didn't feel as much weight on opening that fat eye. However, it is still markedly swollen, despite ice packs many times yesterday. This wouldn't really bother me except that I was seeing daily improvement, had a hard cry on Thursday night, and that eye just starting going bonkers on me. Do I expect to look perfect 6-9 days out? Certainly not. But to go remarkably backward overnight and stay that way for (now) 2 whole days confounds me. Meanwhile, I'm staying comfortably moisturized with the Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream. Yea, yea, I know I'm supposed to keep using the Skin Ceuticals grease but its just too suffocating if I don't need it. I am still applying it to the corners of my eyes as they are still dry. I'm going to be still again today, drink water, avoid salt, and try not to sneeze again! No real pain anywhere, just increased tightness at suture line. I don't really agree with sutures being in place for 10 days. 7 is good in my opinion. I've taken care of a lot of incisions, and that really is a good median time with insions of this nature. Heck, we even remove staples from C-sections after 3 days! So, I'm trying to decide on heat vs ice today. My gut instinct is telling me I need circulation to the eye, so I'm really leaning towards warm packs. Oh! forgot to mention that the little white bumps are still present on the suture line. Sutures come out tomorrow morning then off to work I go. I can't wait to rub my eyelids. Ill post a pic later tonight to see if any swelling resolves today. I look like an MMA fighter right now. Updated on 1 Jun 2014: I have been SO still today. Warm packs x 3. Sutures out tomorrow morning so ill see what doc says. Updated on 1 Jun 2014: Ok, so since the swelling was a bit improved, I think I found the problem causing the swelling. I have a suture that the skin has grown around and it is making a bump. Gee, can't wait for that one to be pulled out in the morning!! Suture rejection. Doesn't surprise me. Updated on 2 Jun 2014: Finally!! Sutures are coming out this morning!! I think I found the culprit of the random fat eye. Once a tad of the swelling went down with use of warm packs, I could see that a suture had an ingrown hair appearance. If you look at the swollen eye, it's towards the inner corner (little bump). I can no longer see the tip of suture so it might be closed up in there. Hope it gets yanked out today. Little boogar!! Updated on 2 Jun 2014: So apparently I had a little localized infection, so they had to drain it today when they took my sutures out. Now I'm back at home with orders for warm packs every hour and back on antibiotics. Also bacitracin ointment on bad eye, Cortisone 10 on good eye. They gave me Jane Iredale gentle cleanser and said resurfacing was awesome. SO, now to miss work ANOTHER unplanned absence, but I'm going to go after this infection with full on nurse mode. Updated on 3 Jun 2014: Well, I made it back to work. Haven't had time to put the warm sock ony eye but about to try now. Gotta keep that abscess draining. Being very compliant with new antibiotics. Everything is looking good so far. I'm still VERY happy with being able to see my eyelids again! Now for that boogar of an infection. Just really still hoping its not a retained suture!! Updated on 4 Jun 2014: Infection still apparent, and that's about all I have to say about it today. Oh, now there is a new lump on infected lid on outer portion. Updated on 4 Jun 2014: Well, here's a nice disgusting shot if the infected eye. Back to doc on Friday. Thx for the sweet comments and encouragement. I'm about to go all out 22 year veteran nurse on this thing tonight. Warm compresses and ANTISEPTICS. Back on antibiotics. Updated on 5 Jun 2014: 13 days later, I'm still battling infection, but last night I opted to use my OcuSoft wipes on my lids and forego the bacitracin. I happened to have the wipes because I used to do routine lid scrubs. DUH moment. They kill a lot of germs and some fungus stuff too. So I washed with my Cetaphil bar, massaged after lubricating with drops (ooo feels good to scratch those eyeballs) ran some H202 over the suture lines, saw minimal bubblies. Patted dry, and then used the OcuSoft Scrubs and left the residual on. ANTISEPTIC. I'm so intolerant of all of this grease and moisturizer crap. I applied a thin film of Cetaphil Moisture scream under eyes and went to bed. Got up today, warm compress for about 8 minutes, same cleaning routine and out the door to work. Updated on 6 Jun 2014: Ahhhh, after that little fiasco, I finally got sent to the doc by the follow up nurse. I just love Dr. Clariday! He looked at me and waved his hand at me LOL. Apparently not an infection, but suture inflammation and "get me out of there" reaction. So I suggested he start doing 7 day post op suture removals haha!! Anyway, he pushe on the one that popped up Wednesday, but I think it was only to make me feel more confident. What a guy! He was totally not concerned, said its not uncommon at all and I'm doing all the right things :) Supposed to see back in 3 months unless some other thing goes bonkers. Meanwhile, I've had more progress in last two days with my decision to use gentle cleansers, and OcuSoft than I saw in the 5 days preceding. Sticking with it through weekend. He said I can wear full on make up now but ehhh, think ill wait til Monday at least. Planning to catch up on everyone else's progress this evening. I've been selfish!! Updated on 6 Jun 2014: Clean it, and use antiseptic. Don't complicate it! Updated on 7 Jun 2014: I'm feeling more confident today over my little inflammation/infection/whatever the heck thing. I have some swelling today that was all but gone yesterday I think? And guess what? I don't care!! Fluid shifts and sleeping in my bed are what is causing it. Ill do a couple of warm compresses this eve and see what happens. Meanwhile, I'm still on my own regimen. Cetaphil soap cleanse, pat dry, put a tiny bit of pressure on lowers and move back and forth to scratch my EYEBALLS. Crazy to have an eyeball itch. I feel like thumping my foot like a dog when I get to do it!! So after Cetaphil and warm water cleanse, drying, scratching, I flush my eyes out with lubricant drops, dab them dry, then rub a peroxide q-tip quickly and lightly over suture line (I'm assessing where I'm still oozing from by doing this-normal tissue won't make bubbles) The oozing has decreased. Then I pat that off and do a gentle but moderate pressure lid scrub with the OcuSoft. I like that it leaves a bit of film over area to protect, and it dries pretty quickly. Then I apply my Skin Ceuticals sunscreen under eyes (love it, its liquid, not cream!) and then top that off with a very light layer of Cetaphil moisturizer applied with q-tip under my eyes where resurfacing is. So far, so good. I saw y'all talking about how weird it feels to look up. I had to go look at myself trying to look up to see if it looked as weird as it felt lol. But I couldn't see myself looking up haha!! They said it would feel tight, and well, makes sense since they removed an inch of skin!! Updated on 7 Jun 2014: Haha!! Just had to see! Shot a photo while looking up. Glad to know it doesn't LOOK as strange as it FEELS!! Updated on 8 Jun 2014: Well, I'd say not too bad for all I went through last week with BLOB eye. Still on my own regimen and doing fine. I just got through warm compressing so I'm a bit red. Cleaning comes next. My eyes still feel "bleary" but I think it's just because I'm tired most of the time right now. Ready to get back to an exercise regimen and make some other changes in my life. I think once the swelling is completely resolved in next few months, I will still have the crepe skin on upper lids. So, I might not get to wear the shines eyeshadows. Fine by me, I'm just glad the ones I wear will show! Oh! And if anyone has suggestions for a gentle eye make up remover, could you let me know? I usually wear waterproof mascara but have decided to get the regular kind for at least a month for less irritation when removing it. Updated on 8 Jun 2014: There is a free app called Cymera. You can put make up on with it. Let's go for some funny faces!! Updated on 9 Jun 2014: That blob eye just keeps trying to act stupid. Hoping it improves throughout day, but it's looking like its trying to get red on me again. I tried some cortisone on it this morning. We shall see. Updated on 9 Jun 2014: Definitely see a difference in swelling by afternoon. Duh. But just had to check!! Updated on 9 Jun 2014: Whoops! Updated on 10 Jun 2014: Slow progress, but not going backwards at the time. Ok by me! Updated on 10 Jun 2014: Scratch scratch scratch (ever so gently with a q-tip. Funky eye has begun to itch where the blobs of unknown were. They quit draining about 2-3 days ago. I think NOW I can start with the hydrocortisone cream (8 days later). Is anyone here using products like Mederma for scar massage and healing? Updated on 11 Jun 2014: I am posting from my phone 99% of the time. I get the comments and your updates messed up. Haven't figured it out yet. You are all doing so well! I'm still scratching (gently) my bum eye. Glad the cortisone with aloe helps. Woke myself up many times last night scratching. Benadryl is not an option for me as it makes my heart race. But I'm not miserable. I can't believe I'm coming up on close to 3 weeks out!! Cassandra, thanks for the tips for massage. I gently massage when applying cortisone..ahhhh. But I want to find a quality scar product to massage with once the goofy eye catches up with the other :) anyway, sweet dreams girls! We've all been on an exciting adventure together!! Updated on 12 Jun 2014: Well, about to hit three weeks and I still have more swelling in funky eye than the other. Slight but it's there. Much less itching today, still using hydrocortisone with aloe. Haven't tried make up yet, too chicken. Maybe Sunday? Just wanna be WELL past the blob eye. Don't need anymore trouble! Updated on 14 Jun 2014: I didn't update yesterday but did take pics for my own reference. No changes significant enough to post. My itchies on my uppers has resolved. I'm still using my same regimen minus the OcuSoft for the last 4 ish days because the incision finally stopped draining in those little places. Now just cleansing and applying cortisone to uppers. I massage my uppers when I apply it. I know the sooner you start doing this, the better as it helps breakdown and more evenly distribute scar formation. I'm most bumpy at the outer edges, which I fear might be more pronounced by eyeshadows, eyeliners, etc. although I've gotten the ok to wear it, I'm too chicken now. The blob changed my perspective LOL. My eyes do fell less tight as I blink and make facial expressions so that's a good thing. The laser underneath is fading very well in my opinion. I'm still more swollen on the blob side but just a tad. I've still got a couple of months for it to resolve. So I took a pic early morning today, right out of bed. I'm much more round eyed now than my youth almond shape, but I've witnessed this resolve on many others. My xMIL is Asian, and had it done this past year with same doc (she's 70). She didn't do the westernization bleph, just the one suitable for Asian folks, and when I first saw her, she was very round eyed which was weird! But after about 6 months, that roundness was gone, she looked Asian again, only very refreshed!! Updated on 14 Jun 2014: My upper lids by my lash line still puffy and purple. Worse on blob side. But these are my outer eye suture lines. Updated on 15 Jun 2014: Nothing interesting to say, but I consider that a good thing in my case. Got a haircut yesterday, it has almost been a year. There was a huge messed on the floor afterwards. My hair was easily 2 1/2 feet long. Scheduled to redo my blonde high lots July 3rd. Chickened out on make up last night. Waiting about two more weeks and going to start single needling my "11's" on my own. Poke poke poke! I don't want to look so mad anymore!! Updated on 16 Jun 2014: I took the plunge!! Today I finally applied the mineral make up, including over my uppers and put on mascara (not an easy feat as my rims are numb and I couldn't feel the mascara going on). I brought tons of "get it off fast" products as well as repair/mend/sanitize products with me to work just in case I go all 911. So, here's my somewhat Frankenstein look a little over 3 weeks out!! Updated on 22 Jun 2014: No crazy noticeable changes. Just posting for reference for others. Today ill be searching for good massage oils/creams for scars around the eyes. Don't want the cookie cutter stuff. Unsure if these bumps in the scars, especially outer corners, will flatten. I saw my xMIL who is at least 8 months out and her induction looks great. However, she does have one bump on the outer edge of one eye on the suture line. I'm unsure how bumpy her incision lines were earlier after surgery. I don't want bumps and scar tissue starts generating quickly. I'm thinking I personally would advise gentle massage to begin within 72 hours of sutures being removed. But that's just my two cents. Updated on 22 Jun 2014: Had to brighten these photos so the scars are more visible. Putting make up over bumps just seems to make them show more. Updated on 22 Jun 2014: Ok, so ill be massaging scars, but wow, new perspective on swelling. This is 8 days difference. June 14 & now June 22. Not too shabby! Updated on 22 Jun 2014: Great price too! Free shipping even better :) Updated on 25 Jun 2014: Not much notable changes, but eyes feeling a bit less tight when I open them wide. Mostly just keeping a journal at this point for those who have same procedure Updated on 26 Jun 2014: I have to update, view and look at other profiles by cell phone. It makes it hard to find the right comment or place to comment. Just wanted to say to those of you who've commented to me, Thx!! I'm technically challenged with navigating the site with my cell phone!! Updated on 2 Jul 2014: Well this was a hilarious day. Only the second time I've put make up on since surgery. First time was just mineral powder and mascara. Today I went for the gold. Eye shadow and eye liner too! Problem. Still cannot feel my eyelashes, so I had this wonderful new mascara (waterproof) get all over my lid!! (And finger nails, etc..) I looked in the mirror and thought, "Who cares"?! I went to work. My coworkers just laughed with me. They are pretty used to my hijinks. Anyway, here's my assessment. My under eyes are still pink and shiny from laser, even without moisturizer (like, right after shower). This is Texas, and the humidity doesn't help the shiney look either. So, my eyeliner moved down lol, my mascara was all over the place, but WHOLLA! I can clearly see my CONTOUR color eyeshadow!! I was used to it getting lost or having to put it way up on my brow to fake it. I have a naturally low brow so I never had much room to work with. So forgive my crossed eye (I swear I'm not) and the wreck of make up after a 10 hour day! Ready to get it off of me!! Didn't bother me much at all today. Eyes still feel tight and I'm using kelocote x 3 days now? Lots of bumpies in inner and outer corners. Updated on 26 Jul 2014: My goodness I haven't updated. Thank you Cassandra for checking on me!! Actually, I've been dealing with some health issues unrelated so I've been a bit preoccupied. In regards to my upper blepharoplasty, all that seems to be left are scar bumps. I've used several things to massage with and I'm pretty sure they aren't going to flatten anymore. I have only worn make up twice since surgery, because for some reason, my skin is no longer absorbing moisturizers, rather they sit on top of my skin. And in Texas, add a whole lot of humidity to that and I look like I've been running a race at any given time. So basically, it's not worth it yet to just have it slide off or smudge everywhere. I'm just now about 2 months out, so I'm really really hoping its true that the bumps go down. They feel so weird when I wash my face. Like little twisted knots. My uppers feel a little tight, but it's more like a tacky, sticky sensation. I catch myself raising my eyebrows a lot I guess in a effort to "unstick" them. They are still sensitive to rubbing (found that out the hard way) so maybe all will be better in a few more weeks. Hope everyone else is healing up nicely! I'm so sorry for not checking on you all! PS. I started a new review on needling and dermarolling the "11"'s. my coworkers have pretty much decided I've lost my mind. I'm not going to disagree! Updated on 17 Aug 2014: Overall, I guess I'm superficially healed. My bumps are still just as prominent on my suture line. Make up (eye shadow) seems to make it a bit more noticeable IMO. Last night I decided to do a full make up test (4th time) and I still can't feel my lids when I touch them with applicators, nor my eyelashes. However, I didn't make such a mess this time. I do have a "dog ear" scar on one side, but at this point, I'm not sure I really care. Just glad the worst of it is over, and it's a crapshoot on the bumps. I'm not having a procedure to soften them. In a year, I'll re-evaluate. Sorry again for the cross-eyed look. Phone selfies aren't my speciality LOL. Hope you all are doing well!
Very very good. I did this because at age 45 my eyes were looking heavy and tired all the time. Botox and fillers only last approx one year. I researched all pros and cons before procedures. I do not have to explain that the pros are excellent tightening and renewed skin. The cons could be hyperpigmentation (permanent or hard to correct darkening of skin especially in med to dark skinned pts) Asymmetry (uneven healing of shrinked skin), over tightening that could cause the eyelids to retract and not close! Infection or scarring. My experience was so great, I may do it a second time. I had only local anesthesia. They rubbed lidocaine into the areas and let me relax in a recliner for at least 30 minutes while the numbing process began. Gave me one valium to relax, and I asked for a second coating of lidocaine just to be certain I was as numb as I could get. (Ha. Speak up if you are scared.) In the surgical room they put numbing drops in both eyes, protective lens over my inner eyes, and gave me several numbing injections around each eye that I could not feel. I barely felt little zaps. The next day, the first shower where you must wash and gently exfoliate the dead skin, and especially the middle of the first week, when the blisters and weeping stage developed it was painful. It stung, oozed yellow drainage and ached. By day 7 it was much better, and even though I hyperpigmented because I am jewish, I was able to treat that with hydrocortisone 2.5 and vitamin c. I'm completely healed before my 2 month period. Before and immediately after the surgery I took Super B complex, Biotin 2,000 mg, I ate chewable fruit flavored 500mg vitamin C like candy (about 2,000-5,000mg per day), vitamin D3. I could only use Vitamin E after the surgery. Before my 2 month checkup, my skin has returned to flesh color with only minimal pinkness. The procedure did great tightening, feels very dry and leathery now, but that is supposed to improve over the 6 months. I would like to do it just one more time because after the swelling goes down near the second month the bottom inner eye area near my nose still needs a little tweeking. Then, I will feel beautiful. My doc will not even attempt to do it again for 6 months. He said he can not put a burn on top of a burn. I'm 45 and have zero botox or fillers. Only the CO2 done on my eyes and It made me feel instantly brighter and more awake looking. I am happy I did it. They say it takes about 2 weeks to wear makeup and be okay to go out. In reality it really took a full month caked with makeup to camouflage the redness. If I get overheated a pinkness returns. It looked skin tight the first few weeks, and first month, but then a few wrinkles come back about 1-1/2 months after the procedure when the swelling goes down. So in my case I will repeat the process a second time. People say it looks excellent now, but I am a perfectionist. People say just get botox or fillers, but why when this is instant permanent tightening. The downtime is worth it. Updated on 22 Apr 2011: I wanted to add add'l notations that this procedure looks worse than it hurts. I was given 20 narcotic pain pills,and only took 4 of the whole prescription. The first 1-2 day is not so terrible. I just took Tylenol. On the third day when the blisters appeared and started to ooze, crack and slightly bleed ...I will admit I needed to take some of the narcotic pain pills. The skin started to sting, and itch and throb. It hurt to put the Aquaphor on it. I took one pain pill in the morning, one at night the 3rd and 4th day then was okay on the 5th day with minimal pain. 16 of the unused pain pills sit in my cabinet. I never needed them. I was hyperpigmenting (developing a dark reddish purple color around my eyes. I was given Hydroquinone 4% (skin bleach), and Hydrocortisone 2.5. The Hydroquinone (skin bleach) irritated the skin more, and the hydrocortisone really stung and only slightly changed the redness. So I took it upon myself to research would healing. I came across one woman's story of being a medical student and her research with topical Vitamin C (absorbic acid) healing wounds and burns mostly because of it's anti-inflammatory properties, and that absorbic acid is also a natural skin lightener. So I took a small jar and squeezed the hydrocortisone 2.5 in it, and crushed 1,000 mg of dry Vitamin C and made my own compound paste to apply around my eyes. The absorbic acid stung the skin a lot, but I had faith if I could tolerate that it would heal. Within 24 hours of wearing this paste, I saw significant reversal of the hyperpigmentation, and within 48 hours of wearing the paste nearly all of my hyperpigmentation and irritation was gone. When I went to Dr. Clariday for my 45 day follow-up he said the healing was great and my idea might help other pts. I have heard that collagen continues to build over the 6 months, so I will be excited if I get more improvement as he months go by. Dr. Clariday's price may be slightly more, but not much more. This was a price for local anesthesia. If you choose to be asleep it would cost more. It was so easy, I can't imagine anyone needing to go under. Also, I love that the CO2 laser resurfacing tightens, but does not give you the traditional scar of eye-life surgery. Updated on 30 Apr 2011: I am posting photos of 60 days (2 months) after CO2 Laser Eye Resurfacing. Here is what happens, when your swelling goes down from the first month and a half, some wrinkles come back. I will repeat this procedure one more time in August when a full 6 month healing is finished. I want my eyes tighter than this. I guess this is not terrible for a 45 yr old. Updated on 1 Jun 2011: It's a few days past my 3rd month of having the Co2 laser eye resurfacing. I am healed. No problems. The Co2 laser did improve my eyes, but I don't really see any increasing improvement or quality like I have read about where some pts say in the 3-6 to one year after the collagen gets better and the eyes look even better. In my opinion this is as good as they are going to be. I posted the 3 month photo. I have zero botox or fillers. I use sunscreen daily, I avoid tanning of any sort. I never drink alcohol or use drugs or smoke. The only thing I've done is tattoo permanent makeup to my eyebrows, eyeliner, and full lips, and then do this Co2 laser. I think it looks pretty good for 45 yr old eyes. It did not fix the sunken in area below my eyes, so I am thinking of re-doing the Co2 lasering around my eyes one more time at the 6 month waiting period this August. Trouble is that I just signed a contract for a new job at the hospital and I don't want to get fired for showing up with Red Raccoon Eyes. I quit my last position to stay home when I had the 1st laser treatment. So, if my supervisor frowns on me doing this, I might have to ask the realself docs what is the next best laser treatment that I could do and not have to camouflage redness and be able to return to work? I'll have to ask if other lasers can really tighten as well as the Co2? I might try filler in the lower lid for the first time, but will still want laser treatment done too. I'll have to ask the realself docs if I can get filler then do lasering on top of that? All these questions need to be answered so I can make the best decision. Updated on 22 Jun 2012: Nearly one yr later...I followed up with tear trough injections and awesome lip-injections. I love the result. I do want to re-do the CO2 or hope for technology to create the same effect with a better laser, less down time. See my current photo, 6/2012 posted below. Not terrible for late 40's.
As soon as the large padel was placed on the stomach I had such intense pain to my naval. so much so I could not talk. I felt as thou my entire body was being lifted by a hook on my naval. I was instructed to breath deep but do not hypervinalate. I was with a friend that just had the same procedure and she said the pain would only last ten minutes and would get better. My pain in my naval lasted the entire hour, but not as severe in the last 30 minutes. The stinging and tenderness in the skin is tolerable and I have not needed pain meds for that. I am still having pain in my naval and fear my previous hernia surgery may have been damaged. There had been no questions as to any of my previous surgerys or even a examination of my naval by the technician. I never saw the doctor. My stomach is so swollen and hard, I do too feel as though I am six months pregnant. I ,too, am unable to wear my slacks due to the swealing. II have had to purchase some loose fitted dresses. I just keep praying the results will be worth the discomfort.
