50 Years Old - Sagging Eyelids - Boise, ID

Heredity was sitting in. Every morning after showering and getting ready for work I was more and more upset that I was putting on eyeshadow that would never be seen. Eyes looked swollen every day. My father had eyelid surgery in his early 70s to help his eyesight. I decided I didn't want to wait that long. Went to local favorite surgeon to request eyelid work. I was totally surprised that he recommended a coronal brow lift at the same time. Told me that the result I was looking for could not be achieved with the eyelid work alone. He could just do the eyelids, but could not do eyebrow lift for a couple of years if done separately. So, I did both.

After surgery, I bruised very heavily. The bruising may have been more than most. It was really bad. I looked like Rocky Balboa fresh out of the boxing ring. Then, I lost a TON of hair. I was bald in one part of my scalp. Shocked the crud out of me. His explanation post-op: this is normal. I had to part my hair on the opposite side to hide it. I was so depressed on losing so much hair. This was my thing to have pretty and thick hair. The bruising slowly subsided. And, I do mean SLOWLY. I am 4 months post-op and still have a slight residual bruise on a cheek from iron build up. It seems to be subsiding over time, but I am not sure it will go away completely. It took forever to get feeling in my left forehead. For the longest time I felt like I was wearing a tight Speedo swim cap. Sometimes I still do. The feeling is obnoxious. My head often itches like crazy (I am told this is a good sign - nerves are healing and growing back). Currently, though, when I put bobby pins in my hair I cannot feel my scalp or the pins. The bald spot has filled in with baby hair. I have encouraged this using Nioxin products along with Biotin supplements. But, my hair is still very thin and not as full and responsive as pre-op. Doesn't style the way it used to at all. It has a funky texture to it and I am sprouting kinky weird strands. Although, It does seem like conditions are improving with time. I've been told it can take up to 1 1/2 years to fully recover. This is stressful. I tend to heal naturally fast and well. 1-1/2 years is a long time! I thought 2 months and I'd be good to go. And what if it never recovers 100%? The scar across my head can be very flat and non-noticeable then it will get irritated and raised from time to time. Again, I'm told this is usual until it fully heals.

So would I do it again? Maybe not. My eyes are much better than they were. But is it worth the hair loss and the frequent itching/irritated and thin hair on the head? Not sure yet. I'll let you know 12 months post op.

A brief update on my progress. My eyes have settled and I'm pretty comfortable with the appearance. I like them. Still getting used to having "eyelids" again. I still am experiencing tingling in my scalp. The surgeon mentioned that a 1-inch hair band behind the incision could likely remain numb. Mine is currently at 2 or 2-1/2 inches. I'm hoping this recovers more over the next six months. I miss feeling my hairbrush across the top of my head. While hair has filled in where in the bald spots it is still very fine baby hair and not as thick as my main hair. It often separates near the incision. The scar continues to drift between white and red, but does not get raised as often. It appears to me to be a horizontal part in my hair. I'm hoping this too improves further over the next 6 months. Nioxin helped tremendously. I recently discontinued use and my hair is shedding dramatically. I will return to using it on a regular basis. It is somewhat difficult to pull my hair into a smooth ponytail around the face without controlling the wild hair with gel now. I'm worried someone will see the scar on my head. I might change my mind in 6 months to a year, if it fills in better. But, as of today, I would not do this surgery. I would have preferred only the eyelid lift.