Upper & Lower Blepharoplasty, Fat Injection, & Laser Resurfacing - Beverly Hills, CA

After having Restylane injected to my tear troughs in October 2012, I developed an unfortunate biofilm infection. (You can read about it here: http://www.realself.com/review/new-york-ny-disastrous-result-injecting-restylane-tear-troughs.) Seven months later, I had the Restylane dissolved with hyaluronidase, which got rid of the infection, but left my undereye area saggier and baggier than before, with asymmetrical lumps and bumps, from repeated episodes of swelling.

After more than a year of feeling miserable about my eyes, I sought out a consultation with Dr. Kami Parsa, an oculoplastic surgeon in Los Angeles, who has lots of glowing reviews on Real Self and other sites to discuss my options for addressing my hollowing and undereye bags. While most dermatologists and plastic surgeons are as yet unfamiliar with the risk of biofilm infection from temporary fillers, Dr. Parsa had written a paper on the subject.

I liked Dr. Parsa very much, his credentials are impressive, and he is known for performing complicated revision surgeries successfully. Most impressive is that he donates his services to perform surgeries on third world children with eye deformities. Considering how much my procedures will cost, I feel good about paying the money to a surgeon who gives back to the world.

Dr. Parsa recommended an upper and lower blepharoplasty with fat repositioning, along with midface fat injections to treat the hollowing, and SmartXide DOT laser resurfacing.

I have no qualms about the lower bleph, but I am nervous about the other procedures. With the upper bleph, I am worried about not looking like myself afterwards, and think of all the photos of bad plastic surgery with the deer-caught-in-the headlights look. I do not want to look different. I do not want to look younger. I only want to look refreshed and well-rested, without the bags. The before-and-after photos and Dr. Parsa's website have a very natural look, so I am not too worried about this.

As for the other procedures, I've read many horror stories on RealSelf of bad experiences with fat transfers and laser resurfacing, and I am most nervous about the laser resurfacing. It sounds like a very aggressive procedure, deliberately damaging the skin, that is painful and looks horrible during recovery. I am nervous about being red for weeks or months, and some people report permanent scars and marks. Many people report no improvement afterwards. Apparently, one treatment is not usually enough, and this is not something I want to do to myself repeatedly (nor can I afford repeated treatments). I would love to hear from anyone who has had experience with this procedure.

Since I live out-of-state, I will meet with Dr. Parsa the day before my procedures. I'm debating whether I should opt out of the laser. Or will I be left with crepe-y skin after the procedure, and wish I'd done it?

I will continue to update after the surgery and recovery process. Would welcome any feedback!

I arrived in Los Angeles yesterday and hardly slept last night, questioning my decision to have surgery, my choice of doctor, worried about possible complications, pain, healing time, etc.

This afternoon I met with Dr. Parsa my fears were allayed. As other people have written about Dr. Parsa, he is kind, caring, patient, and compassionate. He listened to all my concerns, and I never felt rushed. He wanted to make sure that he had addressed every single one of my questions.

I told him that I was most worried about the laser resurfacing, and fears I had based on accounts I've read on RealSelf. He told me that he uses a very low setting on the SmartXide DOT laser and is very conservative with the treatment, and that most of the horror stories are due to overly aggressive treatment.

I still wasn't convinced that I wanted to do the laser, and he reassured me that it could always been done at a later date, should I so choose, but that it was likely I'd be left with some loose crepey skin under the eyes after the transconjunctival lower bleph.

He mentioned that the other way to address the loose skin would be with a "skin pinch" to the lower eyelid. It sounded at first like an easy fix and simple solution to me, but after doing a little more research here, I realize that a skin pinch is more surgery and involves cutting and extra sutures. Worst case scenario is that it can change the eye shape.

So I've finally decided to go with the laser treatment is a skin treatment. I figure that the possible complications from the laser wouldn't be nearly as bad as possible complications from extra surgery.

I've made my decision, which feels good after weeks of angst. I totally trust my surgeon, who is an oculoplastic surgeon who specializes in revisions. He has handled cases far more complicated than mine (doing charitable work performing plastic surgery on children with gross deformities). I feel like I will be in the best of hands.

That said, I know the healing process will be unsightly and unpleasant. I know that I will have doubts and panic attacks during the healing process. But I am putting my energy now into visualizing a positive outcome and the joy I will feel when I won't feel the need to hide behind glasses anymore.

Now I must take my meds and remedies and get to bed. I need to be at the surgery at 6:30 tomorrow morning. Please think good thoughts for me!

At the surgical center, awaiting doctor's arrival. This is the last photo taken of me pre-surgery. Seeing my eye bags under the worst possible light -- overhead fluorescent -- reminds me why I am doing this.