Jim Parry, DO

I’m on Day 2 since my procedure. The first 24 hours were the worst. I could not keep any food down despite taking anti-nausea meds and a had a low grade headache. Sleeping in a lounge chair recliner with the back set up to keep my head elevated.

I had a drain for the first 24 hours and when it was pulled out it hurt like hell! It felt like a tube of fire being pulled out of my scalp. I screamed at the top of my lungs. I was not prepared for that pain. The doctor was sorry for how much it hurt.

I have a high forehead and hairline so that’s why he chose to do the Pretrichial style surgery. He said my hairline should come down 1cm.

He gave me eye drops since my eyelids did not quite close when the tube was in.

I definitely feel better, more clear minded and no nausea since getting the tube out. I’m off the past n meds he gave me and that has probably helped. He said everything looked good at the appointment I had with him yesterday.

Later today I get to remove this head & gave bandage and wash my bloody hair. Looking forward to that.

I have a little bit of bruising under one eye. Stitches get taken out on Thursday morning, that’s in 5 days.

Updated on 1 May 2023:
Removed the wrap and washed my hair. It was so knotted up from the dried blood that it took 2+ hours to try to get the knots out. With the eyebrows lifted and the hairline a little lower, in the comparison pics you can see the “reduction” of my forehead.

There are something like 4 different kinds of brow lifts and this one was definitely the right call for me as I have always been self conscious of my big forehead.

I am off all meds except the antibiotics. My eyes and forehead are sore where the stitches are but otherwise seem to be doing fine. I do need plan on taking a pain pill an hour prior to my appointment to get the stitches and staples removed.

There is swelling but so far, I like what I see.

Updated on 4 May 2023:
Week 1 completed. Had stitches taken out this morning. I took an anxiety & pain pill an hour before my appointment as the skin around the stitches and staples is still sore and tender.

Happily, Michelle Maria was gentle and made it the best experience it could be. She gave me packets of Bromelain and Arnica to start taking for the bruising. The hairline cut is raised with divots. I’ll be interested to see how this scar heals. I bought a special cream that Michelle said I start using on Sat.

Next week I’ll have to go to Ulta to pick up Dermablend to cover what’s left of these bruises around my eyes as I have to start seeking people again.

Everything looks great. I do have a bump on one side of my forehead above and to the side of my left eye. Maybe just swelling? Next appointment in a week with Dr. Parry.

Updated on 8 May 2023:
I am glad I don’t have to see people for another few days. Hoping that will give time for bruising & eye scars to improve. I am taking Bromelain /Quercetin & Arnica Montana that I was given by my doctor.

For the scar that goes across my forehead, I plan on wearing hats and headbands to cover. I have not really seen it since they applied this tape after stitches were removed. I can feel there are still dimples/divots and hope those will all smooth out with time. My next doctor’s appt is at the two week mark, so might see it then.

Updated on 9 May 2023:
First day going out. Tried covering bruises and incisions. Not too bad. I am using a green correction to cover the bruises and incision. Applied oil first which helped with the little dried scabs that are still on the incisions.

Updated on 18 May 2023:
Thankfully I wear hats, wigs, and hairbands because there is no way I would be able to go out in public with these scabs on my brow. This is not that much of a surprise and I planned for it.

Doc says the big scab and my brow is from where the wound opened up from its stitches. He said at 6 weeks (my next appt), he will evaluate. May need to cut this out and re-stitch. Said it’s a 20-min procedure. He thinks my brow on that side is a little lower than where he put it. You can see the indents in my forehead from the deep stitches. He said those will smooth out and has me taping the all the incisions (including eyes) at night with a skin tape.

The incisions of my lower pinch bleph are red as they heal. I bought a little coverup kit and can generally camouflage these incisions pretty well. I have read that they are at their worst at 6 weeks.

I had a family get together over the weekend and no one suspected anything. My mom (who knows I had this procedure done) said she could not tell I was covering up bruises and incisions. My sister who also knows I had this surgery said my eyes look nice and open and my forehead is smooth. I’m 58 and yesterday when we went out for dinner, our waitress asked me how I did my makeup as it was so pretty. She was shocked when I told her my age. She thought I was in my 40s. I always feel a little bad not fessing up to having had nips and tucks, but I don’t advertise.

This weekend I will be seeing friends who I have not seen in a month. I’ll be curious as to how that goes.

Updated on 29 May 2023:
Last week was one month and I took these photos on that very day. I wear tape on the incisions per my doctor overnight or longer when I am staying at home for the day.

I continue to sleep in a recliner to keep my head elevated.

The eye scars are still red and a little fibrous. I have read that 6 weeks is when they are typically at their worst. So, two more weeks to go. It is getting a bit easier to cover them up but I look forward to the day when I no longer have to be concerned about hiding them. I had an upper bleph 18 years ago. Wish I would have written down how long it took to recover.

I continue to be so happy I wear hats as it is easy to keep the brow lift scars/scab covered because bangs would not do the job. It’s too bad that the stitches didn’t hold in this one area as otherwise the incision idéeme to be healing. The divots from the deep stitches are smoothing out..

My scalp is still partially numb and when I have an itch, it never feels like I can satisfyingly scratch it. Sometimes I feel a zing in my forehead/scalp but that is supposedly normal.

Updated on 10 Jun 2023:
I had my 6-week appt and the doc said everything looks great. I still have the big scab from my brow lift that he offered to remove but I prefer to let it come off naturally.

The I cannot lift the brow on the same side as the big scab. He said it could be from shock to the nerve from the surgery and that it typically resolves within 3/6 months.

The brow on that side is also lower. At my 1-week appt he noticed it and said it was dehiscence (from where the wound opened.) When I put my eye makeup on, I have a noticeable difference in the space I have to work in.

The scars from the lower pinch lift are getting easier to cover with makeup.

Generally I think my eyes look more open and bright but I want to get the brow that is lower lifted up to be even with the other one. Hopefully it well heal so I regain movement.

My scalp is numb. It only bothers me when I can feel an itch but can never really satisfactorily relieve the itching feeling.