Long Awaited Upper and Lower Eye Lid Surgery - Toms River, NJ

I'm just as amazed as you are. No trick photography either! Lol I'm actually embarrassed by the before. But always know there is hope as long as you can keep the faith and preserve with trial and error and a whole lot of research.

ByTC ...was that "really bad" pic a day or two situation after some combination of hydration/sleep/moisture deprivation, alergy or some other short term issue. Or do you really think that is the way it would have stayed if you hadn't stepped up the back sleeping, hydration, creams etc. Just such a great change.

It is just short of amazing. Not that there aren't a few wrinkles that aren't quite showing up on the pictures, but the bagging is so much better if actually non existent. I used the products that I have pictured previously in my profile, plus all the actual stuff of diet and sleep position that I've noted also. I don't know if it was just a matter of time since most will say give it 6 months. But, I wasn't about to wait. I wanted to be proactive. I mean, who really wants to go around with the kind of bags that I had? It still pains me to look at those pictures. Such a harsh reality. I have other stuff that is coming via mail and will play a little bit more with Vitamin C Serum and some other goodies that are on their way. Now, I'm into having/wanting nice skin. I do have age spots on my chest that always bothered me, so this whole process has caused me to pause and take a second look at more then just my eyes. This is a good thing! I did play around with L'Oreal aging creams and serum that I got on sale, but returned it recently when it didn't do what the Lancome does. Yes, it's a lot more expensive, but I love my baby butt feeling face!!! Thanks for you comment.

You look fantabulous!!!! Love the younger you. There is definately a change in how young you look. I hope it was all worth it. I should post my three month update too. Thanks for keeping us updated :))

Thanks, Wex. :)

Thanks so much, Lovin. I would love to see your new afters. I think from month to month we continue to change for up to or close to a year.

The nurses in the after care of the surgical center were amazed that I had no bruising. I guess they expected it and so did my OS since he said that I was in the 10% of those that don't. So I don't think it was something he did or didn't do. I do bruise but I guess I was must lucky. All I had was a little yellowing and I took care of that with Arnica topical cream. It was gone it 2 days, so I highly recommend it. I made sure to discuss with my doctor the bagging under my eyes and my concern about it. He's an Ocuplastic Surgeon and has been doing eyes for 16 years. I left my lids in his hands. I have no scaring that is visible on either upper or lower lids. Well, I can see the lower lids a bit, but with makeup on, no one even knows I had the lower lids done! I just told friends and coworkers I had the uppers done. No once noticed, so I was happy. But, I have a coworker that is so amazed, she's going to get hers done. There is literally no pain. I took one Tylenol and that was it. My doctor measured my eyes, so I would say be sure he does that. There's something to it. I read here where eyes were done with no measuring and outcome wasn't good. Ask about dry eye after surgery. I had it pre op but it seemed to be a little worse post op. I'm on Restasis drops for 3 months, but probably the rest of my life since there's such an improvement in my dry eye. I can actually keep my contacts in all day long into the night. Ask him how much skin he's planning to remove on the lower lids and that you want to avoid sagging skin. That is what I had post op. I don't know if it was because my OS was conservative in the amount of skin he removed from the lower lids or what. I know they don't want to remove too much since you don't want to wind up with dropping lower lids. That would not be good. The creams, sleeping position, diet, water, etc. have all seemed to help the sagging that I had. So feel free to show him my picture that I posted of "This is what I don't want!" See what he says. I'd be curious too! My OS didn't seemed so concerned about it. But he is giving me a script for Retin A for the wrinkles I have under my eyes. I think the only thing that would have helped the wrinkles would have been to have a CO2 which I didn't know anything about and have read some good and bad reviews on. So be careful with that too. Other then that, you're good to go. When is your consult? Would love to hear how you made out. Good luck! I would do it all over again. Just got a compliment today about my eyes and how great they look. They keep coming! :)

Thanks for your wonderful comments. I'm very happy with the results. Genetics plays a strong part in it all. It's important to be gentle with your eye orbital area. That skin is thinner and probably the first to lose its elasticity. I used to pull my under eye skin down for applying eye makeup and contact lenses. That's a big no no. So there are things you can do and not do to keep your eyes and surrounding area in tip top condition. Use a good eye cream. You're never too young to be proactive!

I"m curious myself. Especially after seeing the 'before' and 'after' myself all on one face. It was amazing that she thought to do that. But she spent $300 and wanted to make sure there was really going to be a difference.

I'm very curious. Exactly what did this $300 cream accomplish? Sorry, but at my age one tends to become a skeptic. This is the first I'm hearing of this product. If it were so miraculous, I would imagine I'd be reading about it in every magazine and newspaper.

I'm not quite sure what she bought but one cream was for fine "laugh" lines that she had and she did one eye only for two weeks and the lines were gone. The other eye, of course, still had them. So, I know that it worked for her. I don't know why it's not in magazines. They do have a website. The reviews on other sites are yay and nay. I can only guess because it's not sold in stores. Sort of like how you can't buy Tupperware or Lia Sophia Jewelry in stores. You can only get it through a consultant. I know...strange. But, raincitybab, above on this thread, has gone to one of the creators of this line.

I once saw an interview with Ozzy Osbourne's wife, can't think of her name at the minute and she said "There is No miracle cream out there" none of them work, lol. I believe it but still keep trying new things anyway. It's like the slots at the casino, you know they will never pay out but you keep hoping and playing, hahaha. Anyway, I have spent up to $100 on a small jar of cream at the salon and feel it works no better than the $5 stuff at Walmart but that's just me. Straight up olive oil is great for dry skin I heard, tempted to try it. The Italians have great skin because the use so much of it in their cooking I think. I'm starting to go for the natural stuff more myself, vitamin c serum, emu oil, vitamin e, retina A and retinol. Giving it a try anyway, we'll see if it helps. It's all inexpensive except the retina A.

I'm making my attempt at 'natural'. Still more research but green tea and blueberries are a staple in my house now. I'll be getting my script for retin A in a couple of weeks from my dr. Also looking into Ester C. Will try the Vitamin Shoppe in a couple of days. The girls are really helpful there. But, again, more research!

I just got my Ester C at Kmart yesterday as I ran out of them this week! Thing is I went to Walmart later in the day and everything I bought at Kmart was cheaper at Walmart. My son has been drinking green tea like crazy lately, he swears by it. I buy the frozen blueberries, strawberries etc and put them in my smoothies every day. The frozen ones have more nutrients.

Sharon Osbourne!

Eyedit...What strength vit C serum? Read that oxidation is an issue with it so making your own with Vitc powder allows for each tiny batch to be made fresh each week. Takes a small amt apparently mixed with water and perhaps a carrier with some viscosity like emu or glycerin (perhaps too thick/sticky consistency for many). Also need a dark colored glass bottle to keep light out.

I'll be going to Walmart soon then. Didn't think they carried it. Thanks, Eyedidit. Also, taking in evoo and vitamin c. Exercise is walking. Every day! Clean eating. No preservatives. I used to buy frozen mixed berries but switched to just frozen blueberries. More antioxidants! More research....!

Thanks! It was on the tip of my tongue.

grace. i read that about the vitamin c but i didn't grow up wanting to be a biologist, chemist or even a cook so when it comes to the nitty grittys with the details I sometimes just do the next best thing and just buy something simple after I read tons of reviews on Amazon. I figure I'm doing the best I can without driving myself too crazy. after researching and using retinol serum i found out that retina A is way better so i switched to that but i doubt i will start making vitamin c serum. i think the container mine is in keeps it fresh, it still feels like it's tingling my skin and i've had that one for about a month now. i love the smell too, so citrusy.

Her name is Sharon Osbourne. I love her. She is so honest about everything. She has had every part of her body treated with plastic surgery of one sort or another. FL. tummy tucks, gastric bypass, etc. and talks about it openly. I agree with her. There is no miracle cream. Plain mineral oil works great and has no oder (versus olive oil) so you won't walk around smelling like a salad! But I really like Olay Regenerist Microsculpting Cream. It's about $30 a jar at Walmart, but Costco usually has a 2 jar package for $37.

I use the Olay, and I've never had any fine lines near my eyes or mouth - only the really deep laugh lines that require a FL. I imagine they save on marketing expenses by not selling direct to consumer.

What you eat and how you prepare it have more of an effect than what you put on your skin. You should avoid processed foods, and read all labels. If you can't pronounce something, you shouldn't be eating it. Also, staying out of the sun is primary if you want to preserve the quality of the skin. I happen to be a sun worshipper, which doesn't help the situation.

OMG everything you guys mention I either had or have. When my kids ask me what I want for Christmas I always say face cream, surprise me, it's all the same. I got Olay Regenerist Microsculpting Cream this year! Only used a few times so far. My kids are in college and only work part time so I don't think he, the one who bought it, should be spending $30 plus other stuff on me. It seems like a good cream though so far. Reasonably priced for me but I didn't expect him to pay so much. Who knew?

Like I said, Eyedidit, I buy it in Costco so I get 2 jars for $37. Makes it much more affordable. I think it's a really good cream. But as Sharon Osbourne said, if you check the ingredients, they are all the same. I'm sure the cheaper creams would work just as well.

Eye, my reply ended up in another section. oh well. I just mentioned this DIY as it seems to ensure potency, because it's sooooooo easy with only water and glycerin AND because 4 oz costs about $1.

where do you get glycerin? does it have to be in the fridge at all times after mixing?

Wex, that's what I've used (off and on) for years. Bought the 2 for 1 at Costco too.

eyedidit, I have purchased glycerin at the grocery store and Vit C serum (DIY one) has to be refrigerated if you don't use it up in a week or so. You can tell when it starts oxidizing (what you don't want) because it changes from clear, starts to yellow.

Eye..there are many recipes ( does 3 ingredients mixed in under 30 seconds constitute a recipe) for DIY serum. Depending on the ratio of Ascorbic acid powder to distilled water the serum is at 5, 10, 15 or 20%. Suggested storage time is 1-2 weeks not in refrig but in a small glass dropper or spray bottle and in a dark place away from any significant light. They sell the bottles on amazon for $4. The serum is supposed to be good for general body use~ something hard to justify unless making it at home. Btw the powder can be bought on amazon for under $9. At the strongest strength it takes 1 1/2 tsp or powder per 1 oz of distilled water. Be sure to read the recommended strength to start with and build to.

can you email me a picture of the glycerin? what department is it in? is it powder? what do people normally use it for?

grace. wow, it seems replys can end up all over the place, sorry. i just replied to you about the recipe and can't find it anywhere. let me know if you see it. i had some questions.

Do what am I looking for on a Ester C serum? Where do you get yours?

They sell glycerin at Costco?

Thanks. It's good to hear such good things really first hand. I'm impressed that you went to her personally. :) There are such mixed reviews on this line since you have to go to a consultant and, I guess, not in the stores. I mean some people are just down right mean and saying it's the consultants that are reviewing and saying how good the line is. So glad to hear and since I saw it first hand myself, it leads me to believe that it works! Thinking seriously about investing in one or two to their products. But, gosh, they are expensive!

It really was awesome and uplifting since she had no clue I had anything done. It was nice of her to notice.

No. She went to a party of a co-worker that is a rep. I know they are looking to recruit. But a simple NO thank you, would be my answer. I have enough on my plate as it is. Just give me what you promise! :)

Blueberries are the berries filled with antioxidants. I'm not sure about the other berries, but even on the frozen bag of blueberries that recently bought, it was marked "filled with antioxidants". It doesn't get much plainer. Especially, after all the reading I've done on foods. It says it in plain sight. Also, green tea!!! That's big on the antioxidant list. I've only had a couple of cups of coffee since starting my new "inner beauty" regimen. haha

Oh, and salmon is great for the Omega 3 that you should be getting! I've had it twice so far. I'm beginning to acquire a taste for it. Either that or I just liked the way that particular restaurant cooked it. :)

Google "salmon" Be sure you are eating non farmed.

Make sure the package says "Wild Caught". So easy to cook at home

I was eating salmon 2 or 3 times a week for lunch cooked in my toaster oven. stinking up my house and then i just got sick of eating it. it's really good for you though.

Oh well. At least you made the effort. I haven't cooked it at home yet. Just out.

I actually propped up about 2-3 pillows behind me and put my grandson's Bobbi around my waist to keep me upwards. That was when I was in the early stages of my recovery. Now, I just lay on my back and fall asleep as I'm watching TV. If I find myself on my side during the night, I turn back on my back. I'm finding it's a learned behavior.

BTC and SS...if you believe that back sleeping is better for facial wrinkling, better for chest wrinkling and better for lower back (which I wouldn't have believed but am living proof) then here is a simple sure-fire way to ensure you do not move. Find a messenger bag strap that is wide but has a very smooth and thin texture. Some are think and I imagine would not be comfortable at all going around your back but there are tons of silky smooth ones out there. They are adjustable and have swivel hooks on both ends. Place two low profile pillows (or make your own about the size of 1 pillow case divided lengthwise in half filled with fiber fill) along side and wrap the strap laid flat on the bed up and around you and hooked in front, just below breast. Until 3 months ago I had never slept on my back but became convinced of its benefit. Since then I have not once turned to my side. Maybe after a while I will be "trained" never to turn but in the meantime this works like a charm. And you are not conscious of trying not to turn so you sleep more restfully. Back has never felt better. Also place a pillow under thights; It's like sleeping in a cocoon :) BTW found the stap in a goodwill for $2. It was in pristine shape; washed it multiple times in hotest water and with disinfectant which didn't affect it at all. grace

grace60, I think that is what the Bobbi does. It's my daughter's for when my grandson was a newborn. You wrap it around you from the back so you can prop the baby's head and feed more easily. I used this and it kept me from rolling. Of course, I was very propped up. But I do get the idea, I think! A picture would help if you could post one. Thanks!

Oh! I'm sticking to it! Creams, water, vitamins, exercise, sleeping on my back, no coffee (well, maybe a couple of cups a week. Just got tons of Dunkin' Donut gift cards for Christmas. At this rate, they'll last me to next Christmas.) EVOO, and so on and so on. I am determined! Just waiting now on that Retin A!

i'm not supposed to drink so much coffee because it hinders absorption of calcium and my mother has osteoperosis but i am addicted. Love Dunkin Donuts coffee.

I love Dunkin Donuts coffee!!!

Mmmmmm. Me too. It will only be a treat now.

Or conversely, having a narrow pillow, or two, vertically up, giving you no place/room to roll your head to keeps you "up on the straight and narrow" (LOL).

Gotcha'! :)

Thanks so much for your nice comment. I will post here when I do more investigating about it. I found someone that sells it. But don't want to reach out to her just yet until I do my research on it.