Thrilled to be rid of the eye bags that marred my self image

I previously left a review for Dr. Kotlus repairing/adjusting tear trough filler for me last year. The results were great, but we both discussed that the scope of my issue would more effectively be addressed though surgery. I’ve had eye bags my whole life, and after hitting my late 30s, there was no amount of sleep, hydration, or concealer that would help. It took a few months to get a consult lined up, but I finally got one late last year, and had my filler dissolved in January to proceed with surgery. I was a little nervous about dissolving the filler because of the horror stories I’ve heard about tissue damage, but Dr. Kotlus was very careful and reassuring, addressing all my concerns. He showed me examples of patients with a similar skin tone and eye type (I’m South Asian) and it was great seeing him acknowledge the nuances of working with diverse clients. Before surgery, I was sent very thorough documents detailing how I should prepare, what I would need for the day of, and aftercare. I also had a bunch of random questions in between, which were answered promptly by the staff. All invoicing and payments for surgery were done easily online, and payment for the surgical center/anesthesia is done day of at the surgical suite. A few days before the surgery, the anesthesiologist, Dr. Axelrod, reached out to go over what to expect with anesthesia. I was nervous about anesthesia because my last experience with it was getting my wisdom teeth out, and it was a nightmare of pain, swelling, and unpredictable nausea/vomiting. He was very personable and patient, just like Dr. Kotlus. It really means a lot when questions, even if they seem silly or redundant, are met with kindness, compassion, and patience. It has restored my faith in humans! I was also given both doctors personal cell numbers in case of any issues. My surgery date was 2/2/22. I had a lower blepharoplasty, fat removal and repositioning, with transconjunctival approach, twilight anesthesia. Day of surgery, I was very nervous! Even with all the reassurance and research, my eyes are my livelihood, so I was just a ball of nerves. But just as in pre-op stages, I was handled with gentleness and care. The surgery itself was short, I don’t remember anything beyond the IV being inserted, and had no pain or nausea when I woke up. It was like someone unplugged my batteries then plugged me back in. I was loopy waking up, but felt fine enough to take a cab back home after with my spouse as a chaperone (though I slept all the way). Dr. Kotlus followed up that evening with a phone call to check in. During the first few days of healing, I had some swelling and bruising, as expected, a bit of dry eye and discomfort, and mild pain/pressure. I followed the prescribed routine of rest, gentle movement, extra strength Tylenol, medicated eye drops, cold compresses, warm compresses, and sleeping with my head elevated. I was mindful about eating well and staying hydrated, and healing went smoothly. The transconjunctival approach meant no outside incision or scars, as scars can be tricky on brown skin. Today I had my 1 week recheck and am so happy! I still have light yellow bruising and some very minor swelling, but am thrilled to be rid of the eye bags that marred my self image. I am not someone who gets a lot of invasive cosmetic procedures done (I’m more of a facials and touch of filler type) but I was tired of looking tired. This doctor listened to what I wanted, managed my expectations with honesty, and made it happen. Though there’s more healing to go, I’m so impressed by the work and spirit of Dr. Kotlus and his team. He is truly an artist, and I’m so grateful to be his patient. I’ll be moving my lip filler and other procedures to his office too, why have anyone else touch my face. There’s a reason his waitlist is so long-totally worth it! I’ll update with my recheck in 6 weeks as well, but in the meantime, highly recommend Dr. Kotlus and his team.