I met my cosmetic surgeon Dr. Jane Weston through a friend who was a nurse for her in her surgical room. I started seeing Dr. Weston 12 years ago, and have some liposuction, Botox,fillers and a few small minimally invasive procedures with her. I have been very happy with her and her artistry, and decided to jump into upper and lower bleph for my tired eyes. She has been saying for sometime that it will make a big difference, so I went for it! My husband, which I'm sure a lot of readers experience, isn't sold on all of this,as I am. We have been married for 39 years this year, and while his option counts, this time he knew I was serious about this. He has seen enough "famous" people on TV, he is afraid I might look like some of the ridiculous looking women who have had too much. Dr. Weston is conservative on her approach and I trust her 100%. To say I was nervous the morning of,is an understatement! I started taking vit.c, bromelain and extra B12 for a couple of weeks before,I also cut out my glucosamine, tumeric,and Advil for two weeks prior. I was prescribed antibiotics of which I took one the night before. I was told to have nothing by mouth( food or water) after 10 pm the night before. I showered and washed my face the morning of the surgery, and my husband dropped me off at 7:00M, a half an hour before surgery. I removed all my clothes except for undies, and was given a gown and booties. My hair was placed in a bonnet. I was layed down on a bed where my vitals were taken and reviewed with the nurse my proceedure. My BP was much higher than its ever been(I have low BP).. As I was more scared than I thought I was! I was given a sinecch (arnica) with a small sip of water orally, then an IV was started, and Dr. Weston appeared. I was sat up, and she marked my eyes with a magic marker. I was also given a shot in my left arm..OUCH..the most painful part of the whole proceedure!!! This was a combo for pain and nausea..my arm is still sore from it..seriously! They then wheeled me into the OR, where I scooted to another bed. I was wiped down with betadine from my forehead to chest. Then the versed/fentinol combo was given to me via the IV for the conscious sedation. I remember feeling one novicane shot, maybe the first, but none after that. I kinda was in and out for a while. I remember some of my conversations with the doctor and nurse and some I don't. There were only two times anything hurt during the proceedure, and Dr. Weston told me it was while she was removing fat from the lower lid.She stated that that area tended to be painful. I felt a pain that went from the lid up into my forehead on both sides...a nerve maybe? Outside of that it was a piece of cake. I recovered for approx 35-40 min, my husband came and got me at 10:15am. I was a bit shocked at how I looked, (so was my husband)but after looking at this site for weeks, I got over it as I knew it was normal. I was given another sinecch, and was instructed to ice every 45 minutes for the first 48 hours, take the sinecch and antibiotics until finished. When we got home I iced until we went to bed and all day the following day. I tried to listen to some audio books, but they put me to sleep. Music was the better choice for me. Yesterday, which was day one post op, my eyes were small slits when I woke up. After icing and time they opened up a lot by the evening. , Today is day 2 post op, and my swelling is subsiding, no pain, as in zero pain(except my arm from the shot LOL). The eyes feel weird, and sometimes itch...which is hard not to want to scratch at them.
I use an ointment on the stitches that was provided to me, and the last two nights have placed that in my eyes to lubricate them as instructed. I use Refresh lubricating preservative free single use drops throughout the day. My eyes have not been dry, but the drops are soothing anyway. My stitches are starting to bug me. They are being removed on Tuesday, which is 5 days post op. I will continue to post how the recovery is going and photos.
Updated on 5 Jul 2015:
My swelling is going down nicely. The steri strips holding my sutures in place are falling off, and wearing glasses/sunglasses, taking them off I have tugged(by accident) on the ones nearest to my temple..OUCH! I at first cut up a bandaid to replace the strips, but found some cloth tape and am re-securing the ends to my skin using that. The bruising is getting better, but developing new areas close to either side of my nose. Very faint so far, but there. Still no pain, but Looking forward to removal of the stitches on Tuesday!
Updated on 5 Jul 2015:
I can see the bags are gone today! OMG, even with the swelling I see a huge difference! Yay!
Updated on 6 Jul 2015:
Parts of my bruising starting to turn yellow. Swelling under eyes almost gone. Still some angry dark purple. Getting stitches removed tomorrow!
Updated on 7 Jul 2015:
The stitches were removed today. To be honest, this proceedure did not hurt. It was slightly uncomfortable on 3/4, and on the final one didn't even feel it! Some antibiotic cream was placed on the holes left behind and some skin glue covered by tape. My doctor was a bit surprised by how dark my bruising still was( I bruise easily and colorfully!). It was recommended to start using heat on my cheeks to break up the pooling blood. Nadine, who assists Dr. Weston, showed me how to cover up the bruises with makeup. She had a rough time covering the close to black bruises on my cheeks. She also gave me a small pot of the cover up she used...she is just wonderful! I went grocery shopping after feeling a bit more normal! Now to watching my self heal..it can't come soon enough!
Updated on 1 Aug 2015:
I am at one month out since my surgery! I am super happy at my results. I still have a very small faint bruise at the top of both of my cheeks. My upper stitches are ropey across the lids,and the outside corners of my lids have bumps where the removable stitches were. I was instructed to massage them which I have. Time will make all of this go away. Makeup covers all, so no one notices. I have experienced times my eyes are more swollen than others..I cannot say food impacts them, but being outside getting hot while gardening or working I notice them swelling. I couldn't be happier I did this!
Updated on 3 Aug 2015:
With makeup
Updated on 29 Nov 2015:
I am just shy one week of my 5 month anniversary since I had my surgery. I love my eyes! It took 3 months for bruising on top of my cheeks to finally disappear...very stubborn! I now have no pain on any of the sutures, the scars are almost gone..but I have two areas that may have milias(little cysts). I will see Dr. Weston in January and have them removed if necessary. This was an easy surgery..and recovery. I bruise easily, and very colorfully, and from what I have read here my bruising lasted a wee bit longer than a lot of others..but I would do it again in a heartbeat because of the beautiful results. I now would like a lower facelift..convincing my husband is the next step..LOL!