Non incisional TST eyelid procedure

I noticed I have this strain at my forehead recently and after observing a while, I notice I tend to raise my brows to look at things at eye level. I have monolids and my eyelids tend to push my lashes downwards and hangs over my eyes.

While chatting to a friend about it, she told me she has a friend who recently went to Dr Shen for some eyelid procedure and commended Dr Shen is really good at his work with eyelids. This friend also works as an anaesthetist on a freelance basis for Dr Shen. With good comments coming from a doctor, I just went ahead and contacted Dr Shen's clinic and arranged for a consultation.

The consultation went pretty quick, in which I was checked and told I do not have ptosis. I asked to enlarge my eyes because I feel my vision is being blocked and Dr Shen recommended a brow lift where he cuts at the brow line. I think I made a face and he then suggested the non incisional DST method whereby he can create a double crease and this can open up my eyes. He went ahead and demonstrated how the double crease will look on my eye with the prong for eyelid tape. At that demo, I felt that my eyes are still puffy and hooded with the low double crease created and I guess I wasn't that sure.

I further asked if my lashes will be lifted up and out from my eyes if I do DST, Dr Shen confirmed it can be done and that gave me abit of motivation. He also showed some pictures of before and after of his patients.

Considering that I can get rid of the forehead strain, improve my stick down eyelashes and heavy hooded lids and maybe end up with brighter and larger eyes without having to go under the knife, sounds like a good deal. So I signed up. My procedure will be coming Monday and I am still anxious if I have made the right choice. I will keep you guys posted on my procedure as well as my recovery process. Stay Tuned!

I had a totally positive experience on the day of my procedure!

2pm checked in as instructed.
Went through indemnity form, paid my balance and was given my medication (painkiller, ointment and supplement pills to promote fast recovery). I was told to take a pill for the fast recovery first. While going through the paperwork, the lady at the reception was helpful in answering my questions. With paperwork almost done, I went in to take the "before" pictures with a nurse.

After that I went into another room to do marking of eyelids by another nurse. This nurse was meticulous when measuring and marking my eyelids. She checked my eyes and then she started to demonstrate to me the "after look" of the surgery. She was honest and candid in her response to my queries. She confirmed my crease height to be about 7-8mm, helped me mark my outer crease line to be slightly higher to give a "lifted look" post surgery and lo and behold, she told me my lids are to be parallel! I have always thought my crease should be tapered due to my eye shape and told her so, she was very nice to actually demonstrate to me what a tapered crease will look like on me and yep.. no go for tapered crease for me. The conversation with her gave me alot of assurance that I am in good hands and I am satisfied and happy with the proposed crease height and shape. After her marking is done, Dr Shen came to do the final check on the markings and made some of his own and I was sent to the procedure room.

3pm I was on the procedure table and given numbing eyedrops. Ard 5 minutes or so later, Dr Shen came in to do the LA jab on my lids. This is the part which I have read is the most painful part of the whole procedure and I was definitely apprehensive! But amazingly, I didn't feel anything on my right eye, probably a prickling kind of sensation for every jab (2 in a scale of 1 to 10 where 10 is super painful). My left eye, however was abit more sensitive and I would rate my pain level around 4. So I think I counted about 8 jabs per eyelids (4 outer and 4 inner) before the doctor left for the LA to work their magic.

315pm Dr Shen returned with the nurse who did my marking and started making punctures on my eyelids (I am assuming this based on the sensation on my lids tho there was no pain) and started flipping my lids and stitching. I must admit there is no pain, just the tugging of my lids and the discomfort I feel everytime the lids are tugged up and my eyes see the glare of the bright surgical lights above.

My right eye was done first and the doctor finished it real quick! Before long, I hear the nurse counting 1-2-3-4-5 about 3 to 4 times? and then he moved on to my left eye. Left eye is definitely the sensitive one, I can feel the needle and slight soreness and it's definitely not a nice feeling and I mentioned to the doctor. He told me my left is likely more sensitive and then he asked me to relax and not to tense up so as to minimise bruising. Thank goodness for his alert and I immediately tried to relax. But its not easy to try to relax with the glaring light and discomfort on my left eyelid. Anyways, he spent abit more time with this left eye. I noticed after the counting by the nurse and the stitches were cut, the doctor spent some more time working on my left eyelid before he left. And I am done! I was given cold compress for 5min before being guided back to the changing room and then the reception area.

340pm I am all done and waiting at the reception area where the lady asked me to take another of the supplement pill for fast recovery! Wow so fast!!! So while I am trying to absorb the reality of what just happened! I took the chance to take the pictures below. Swollen lids yes.. but I don't look that bruised up Haha! I hope my recovery will be well and hopefully the end results will be nice. Review with the doctor is in 7 days!

Pictures of eyes 1 day after surgery. Can see blue black on my left eye, suspect that is where I tensed up and the doctor told me to relax. I wonder what happened :S
Eyes very swollen today. Been icing them hourly for 5mins.