POSTED UNDER Eyelid Surgery REVIEWS
61 Year Old Getting Upper and Lower Eyelid Surgery
ORIGINAL POST
I'm scheduled to have upper and lower eyelid...
$6,125
I'm scheduled to have upper and lower eyelid surgery June 2nd. I have a pre-op visit scheduled for May 16th. I'm excited and a little nervous about the pain during the procedures, but I'm determined to go through with it! I love this website. I've learned so many things. You people are so generous to share your stories and your photos. It is incredibly helpful to all of us researching a procedure! I will share my experience as well.
wisekat's provider
Replies (14)
May 12, 2017
Are you having the lower by transconjunctival technique, or incision on the outer lid?
May 13, 2017
I don't know yet. I go for my pre op visit Tuesday. I will find out & try to take notes. I'm sure Dr. Blaydon talked about the specifics but at that time I had not realized there are different techniques and procedures.
May 14, 2017
Ask a lot of questions if they do the incision on the outside. It's very risky. Removing fat from inside the lid is the preferred method these days.
May 20, 2017
The doctor is going to make incisions on both in and outside of my lower lid. Inside for a bit of fat removal, and outside on the lash line because he is removing some loose skin. Also he is going to do a chemical peel on the lower lid area for extra help with fine lines. I am getting really excited!
May 28, 2017
I had my pre op on May 16th. First I saw Dr. Blaydon and he looked over my chart and examined my eyes again. We discussed anesthesia-I will have IV sedation during the procedures. He advised me to bring zip lock bags of frozen peas in an ice chest as it may take us over 45 minutes to get back home (traffic is horrible in Austin). Then I saw the very sweet young lady, I believe her name is Serena, but not sure. I should have wrote this much sooner. Anyway, this was the lady that took my payments: One for the doctor, one for the surgery facility, located within this doctor's office, and one payment for the anesthesiologist whom she said has offices upstairs. One we finished, she walked me to the surgery waiting room where another small office was walled off in the corner. I cannot recall her name, but the very nice nurse in the little office went over medical history, medications, etc and had me sign some papers. She wanted to make sure I understood that I have to have someone drive me home and that person, while they can leave the waiting room to walk to get something to eat, cannot drive away. She was adamant about this subject. I completely understand as they do not have any room to "store" leftover patients that have been discharged, this being more of a doctor's office than a hospital or surgery center. I was told the entire time will be around 4 hours: approximately one hour for surgery prep, approx 2 hours for the procedures, and approx 1 hour for recovery. My sister is going with my husband and myself. Sis will stay, hubs will go work & then return in 4 hours to take me home. My total out of pocket was $6210.00 since my insurance will cover the repairs for the upper procedures due to my diagnosis of ptosis. I am getting very excited!
Replies (8)
May 27, 2017
I am on day 3 of recovery from upper/lower. Swelling on the lids, but minimal bruising. Zero pain. I took one hydrocodone a few hours after I got home, but I don't think I even needed that. I am convinced it's because I followed instructions carefully prior to the surgery and after, I.e., cold compresses for 20 min - then 20 off, then on again when I'm awake. Additionally, nearly a week prior, I ate greens daily - 2x a day when possible: kale, collard greens, mustard greens, etc. I even ate spinach for breakfast. I was sure that all that vitamin k would minimize the bleeding during surgery. The less bleeding, the less bruising. I was told I didn't bleed much. I also ate fresh pineapple daily for nearly a week prior, and I'm still eating it.
Follow your doc's instructions to the letter, and do eat greens and pineapple. I'm still shocked by the absence of pain. Good luck!
Follow your doc's instructions to the letter, and do eat greens and pineapple. I'm still shocked by the absence of pain. Good luck!
May 28, 2017
Congratulations! I hope mine goes as well as yours. I have not heard about the greens prior to surgery! Will do! Thank you!
May 29, 2017
I had a vector facelift and lower bleph on May 8, The pain in nothing......must ice a lot...You will love it.
May 29, 2017
Thank you! It helps to hear the pain was nothing, especially right now as I am getting a little nervous about the pain.
May 29, 2017
I was nervous too....but it is all worth it....I have to tell you, you will have two black and blue eyes for about 10-days. Each day it gets a little better.....can cover with make up after after stitches are out....Good luck....post pics
UPDATED FROM wisekat
2 days post
After surgery
Hello all. It is day 3. Due to circumstances beyond our control, in addition to recovering from upper and lower bleph surgery & upper ptosis repair, I am caring for my son's not quite 8 week old puppy. We have 2 dogs of our own and one of the, the boxer, is jealous of the new puppy so my time on the computer is limited. Anyway, I went in Friday to TOC Austin, the practice name for my surgeon Dr. Sean Blaydon. The office has it's own surgery room so the procedures were done right there. I was the second case for the morning and case 1 ran a bit over so my original start time was an hour late. Was scheduled to begin at 10 am. At 11 am, I was lead into the surgery room after changing into a gown, hospital socks, and the lovely hairnet in the first photo I believe. I layed down on the bed and the Anesthesiologist went right to work (she had introduced herself earlier & explained her plan for sedation). She inserted the needle in my hand, little prick-no pain and I went to sleep! Not general but local anesthetic! As explained earlier to me, at one point during the procedures, I was awakened just enough to follow the doctor's instructions to open my eyes, then close them, open again, and close. Then back to sleep for me! In what seemed like minutes, I was awakened and helped to sit in a recliner. My family was shown into the room and soon after that, a nurse helped me get my clothes back on and it was time to go! I was so pleased with the anesthetic! I thought I would feel the Lidocaine injections, but NO, not at all. No pain whatsoever! I also had a chemical peel applied to my face under my lower lids and top of my cheeks. That is the red on my face that you see in the photos. Also, there is purple marker still on my face below my lower lids that I am not able to get off yet. I was allowed to take a shower 24 hours after surgery. I shampooed with baby shampoo as was advised and only ran water over my eyes. So far, so good. Will post more in the next few days. Oh, and I am applying Erythromycin ointment 4 times a day for 7 days to my upper & lower stitches. I took pain pills the first 24 hours, but have not needed them since. Pain was/is minimal. Been sleeping in our recliner with puppy on my chest each night.
Replies (11)
June 5, 2017
You may want to ask about continuing the ointment on stitches. I've seen that many have been told to discontinue due to redness and irritation, including me. Upper looks a little red in photo.
June 5, 2017
I think the redness is due to the normal bright red on the upper lids after the surgery referred to in the paperwork I received from the doctor but I could be wrong. The instructions for the ointment is to apply it along the stitch lines 4 times a day, and in my eyes at night. I will take some more photos and look again. Thank you!
June 5, 2017
I'm glad you are sharing your experience. I am scheduled for upper and lowers, along with the chemical peel, on June 14, so I will be looking forward to your updates.
June 5, 2017
Thanks for sharing! Glad all went well. I'm scheduled lower lower eyelid surgery 7/5. I'm getting nervous about sedation. I will have iv sedation. Is that what you had? Were you completely unaware of procedure? Did you awaken on your own during procedure? Thanks!
June 5, 2017
Hi! Yes I had IV sedation. I was completely unaware of any part of the procedures! The only thing I remember was a pre-arranged 'wake up' to open and close my eyes for the doctor. Then immediately went back to sleep. While opening and closing my eyes, I felt absolutely no pain! Of course afterward, you have some soreness, but nothing more than a sunburn would feel and that's only when I apply ointment or move my facial eye muscles around. You will be fine!
June 5, 2017
Thank you so much! I was thinking of you on the 2nd. I'm so happy to hear from you and that you're fine. I hope your healing moves along nicely. You look good for being only days out of surgery!!
June 5, 2017
That's nice you were thinking of me on the 2nd. I will hold good thoughts for you as well on 07/05. I wish the healing process would go a little faster. I have to go back to work Thursday, June 8th! Yikes!
June 6, 2017
Hope all is going well, how are you doing?
June 6, 2017
I am doing well. Still some slight swelling in upper lids. The chemical peel feels like duct tape! It has begun to peel around some edges, but not very much. Soreness on the stitch lines. So ready for some major improvement! I have to go to work day after tomorrow & I hope I look better than this. Purple marker still showing under lower lids. I think it is covered by the chemical peel because it's not washing off. Other than these minor complaints, I'm okay. It would be really nice to see some results but I understand it could be weeks before I can see results. Thank you for asking.
the procedure is not bad even under local. Keep us all posted, thank you!