Blepharoplasty (Upper/lower) Recovery Diary! 1 Week Post - 3 Months - Prague

I would say I'm 90% happy with results, still feel a little tightness as times and the 10% 'unhappy' is mostly designated to a scar I have on the right side, that is still quite red and quite prominent. I try to hide it with concealer, but it's difficult to conceal something that is red without overtly looking like you have a patch with thick concealer on.

Epithetical to everything else, it has generally settled, I believe these are the results I will come to know as the 'final outcome'. That said, I still stand by my previous statement "It has for sure been a journey and probably one I won’t opt to repeat again."

I wanted to share my 3 month recovery diary with you, as I was completely unprepared for this part of the journey. Like any diligent person I did my homework, lots of research, prepared myself for the risks, and accepted the general notion that after 10-14 days I would be back to normal, able to take up my normal life again - this was just not the case!. Yes I felt able to take part in normal life, but it was not in a normal way. When you see the sideline mention that is takes between 3-6 months (even 12 months) for things to return to some semblance of normal - heed this! Since the operation it has been all progress and I’ve not had any complications. But living life consciously that I’d had a scalpel taken to my face and wishing to not let this be general knowledge, I was on a permanent state of alert from people getting to close, spending time in brightly lit places and the obscure feeling of wearing makeup everyday.I had both upper and lower blepharoplasty. My uppers to remove excess skin that I’ve had since birth, and lowers, well I guess I was convinced by my surgeon that it was needed.I am over-all happy, especially with the uppers as this has released me from persistent eye tiredness from my eyes having to work with that extra weight and puffiness which occurred from any hint of one of my allergies!This is my recover diary, I expect for everyone it will be different, but I think it is useful to share - so as not to go into this process somewhat blindly as I did!1 week post opI’d hoped that things would have started to become less apparent, if reading what other posts have said about their post-op experience. So I decided to record in words (photos of progress seem to be always met with make-up at the point when you are told it will be “better”). At this point, 1 week in, I still have very deep red/purple bruising on my upper cheeks, very clear incision lines and suture marks. It is not possible to wear make up with the suture scabs clinging on as they are. I’ve relented to permanently hiding behind sunglasses when out (taking some brisk walks so as not to go insane from cabin-fever). Emotionally, I still can't believe I let anyone go at my face with a scalpel!2 weeks post op Well my bruising is still very prominent on my cheeks and the incision lines are red and extremely sore. The idea suggested to me by the surgeon to use makeup is ludicrous - even stage-grade foundation doesn’t cover these bruises without looking like an under-made drag queen! I’ve opted to remain a hermit as I don’t feel the need to share this look. I’m frantically observing my eyes and I have quite obvious asymmetry at this point. One incision line, on the left upper, is clearly 1-2mm higher than the other. I repeatedly tell myself “it is just swelling!”. Having spent the last weeks sleeping practically upright I’ve opted to lay flat and allow some swelling to occur, it actually seems to soothe the area, although I'm very puffy in the morning! Bromide supplements and arnica gel did jack-[RS bleep] in my opinion, despite pill-popping and apply latherings of the stuff! Generally my eyes feel scratchy and tight, so I've been massaging the area away from the incision lines pulling gently on the skin - this does seem to give some temporary relief!. 3 weeks post op The bruising on my cheeks has finally subsided, not entirely but almost unnoticeable. There are red scars underneath my eyes and this remains very prominent. There is also a lack of feeling/numbness in this area which although frustrating, it’s mostly weird. Scars in the upper area are not so noticeable but the general redness of the area is. I should also mention the occasional fuzzy eyesight - grrrr!. I've been applying light pressure 3 times a day to the incision lines as instructed. It’s an alien feeling, as there are bumps here and there, coupled with a generally feeling of being bruised and tender. I’ve been using a scar therapy cream since the first day, but now I’m alternating with applying some cortisone 1% to help with the redness. Asymmetry continues, although not very obvious I’m still hoping that this one eye has residual swelling. The whole area is still very tight and just feels damaged - for lack of a better way to put it. I continue to massage the surrounding area, I have no idea if has any real effect but it is relaxing! Incision bumps at the corners do feel like they are getting better (or I'm getting more use to them). On one lower side I’ve discovered what feels like a little bubble or sac of something. I’ve started to wear makeup now (as I’m leaving the house finally), but it’s full face foundation to hide incision lines and redness.4 weeks post op. Finally all visible bruising has subsided. Sadly red scars beneath the eye still relatively prominent. Numbness, especially along eyelash line, also starting to subside but not yet up to full feeling. Tightness still quite prevalent - I continue to massaging the area around the scars pulling gently at the skin. I've also switched from using Cortisone (just because I don't like to use it for too long) to Vaseline, as I’m now trying to relieve the tightness, hoping some moisture will help - also helps with the friction from massaging. I still get random eye fuzziness and now an and then an occasional sharp pain. Still have the bump/sac of some description under the eye socket area, it’s not painfully - I’m assuming it will resolve of it’s on accord?. Asymmetry continues and although still very obvious to me, I think it is just me.5 weeks post op. STILL red scar lines under my eyes and they are still quite prominent. One small relief is that the numbness has all but subsided. I now also have a weird change in direction of eye lashes on upper right eye (not really a problem, just feels strange when applying mascara). I've reintroduced the use of cortisone cream because it's the only thing that helps with the redness. I do though continue to alternate this with the use of vaseline - as it does seem to help with the tightness (although this could also be just the healing process). I’m still applying pressure to the cut lines and continuing to massage the entire area. Upper eyelids still appear red in general and I am pretty tired of applying a full-face of make-up (which I never really wear) everyday to cover the incision lines. Bumpy parts at the end of the incision lines have now reduced to almost flat, but I still have that travelling 'sac'. Asymmetry continues, I remained faithful and continue to hope that it is residual swelling!6 weeks post op. It’s the week when I was hoping to be able to announce the visible red scar lines on the lower section had all but resolved - it’s not the case. I did discover a nude colour eye shadow (Skimp by Urban Decay