Question
I'm 7 days post-op after an upper and lower bleph (transcutaneous on lowers). I'm 35 and in good health and think I am way ahead of the healing schedule. Brusing is all but gone, and swelling is minimal.
Two things have me concerned, however. If anyone can give me any insight at all, I'd be grateful. First - there is a small, intermittent 'tic' or 'twitch' going on below my left eye...
Second - the uppers look neither bruised nor swollen anymore - but there's still a significant amount of heaviness and looseness to the upper eyelid skin - in fact I dont see any improvement on the uppers at all. The lowers are still slightly swollen and bruised so I will reserve any judgment on that.
My PS said the twitch would resolve on its own (we shall see)... I had yet to mention the flap of skin on the uppers during post-op visit two days ago.
I am pretty bummed. Is there any hope to be had?
Thanks...


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There is definitely hope to be had! Don't worry, I've had those tics before, since my bleph. I've had them last up to three weeks but they will always go away. I'm not sure of the reason, but your nerves have been disturbed and it has something to do with that... it makes you wanna s/mmh/product/beauty/index.vm?procid=13" target=_blank>cream, doesn't it? Sooo annoying. You'll wake up one morning soon and it'll be gone.
Regarding the loose skin, I don't know - I DO know that it's better to see some extra skin hanging around than to have too much taken. Really, you can always take some away, but you can't get it back. The bagginess is prob swelling as you will have internal swelling for months.. really, you can't judge your results for a long time yet, so please just try and chill and relax. Sounds like you're ahead of the healing game anyway...
Do you look ok to see people yet?


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Suzanna: THANK YOU.
It's been a rough night. I am glad to know that the the tic might go away on its own... The hood-y, baggy skin ontop? Well, I'd have thought that would be reduced - isnt that why I got the upper /mmh/product/eyelidsurgery/index.vm?procid=6" target=_blank>bleph to start with?
It's quite disconcerting that my PS's nurses seem to take a real long time to return calls and one didnt even know the term "eyelid retractiion" - that being a potential problem in one eye...
I wouldnt normally be so uptight about this except for the fact that 95% of the swelling and bruising is gone. In fact, my five-year-old niece saw me yeterday for the first time and didn't even notice anything. Children are the most curious and the least inhibited - so if she didnt notice - that tells me I look allright.
I realize that my complaints are coming early in the game - if I didnt look and feel so 'healed' I certainly wouldnt burden myself and others with these worries. In my gut, I know something is amiss...
Thanks in advance for any experineces anyone can share with me.


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I also had a tic. It went away in 2 months at the most......


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Danreed: thanks for letting me know. Ill hope that mine resolves itself as well.
I had also complained about my uppers looking as hooded an baggy as ever - a medical professional told me that at this point I should at least see a small improvement on my uppers. My PS says that the skin will "retract" soon and all will be well.
Doesnt sound right to me, since my swelling/bruising are 95% gone.
Can anyone share a similar experience? THANKS


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It might look like the swelling is gone but underneath things are still going on. As the scar underneath heals it will retract the muscle a bit as it shrinks, plus some fat will retract and die off (that is to be expected fat does not like to be messed with) towards the orbital bone pulling the /mmh/product/beauty/index.vm?procid=13" target=_blank>skin back.
When I had my uppers done the first 3 weeks everything was ok, but then the underneath things started to show and my left eye retracted so much it looked different then the right. I had it corrected a year later with another PS and fat transfer just a week ago. I agree with whats being said you will not really know for a month or so.
takecare


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Seriously: Avelon, Suzanna and all the kind posters on this board: Do you realize that you have been more explainatory in the post-op process than my Doctor or his staff? Truly I was unprepared for any of this - the twitch, the continued blurry vision, etc.
The latest concern involves an aesthetic issue, rather than a medical one... Any and all responses would be priceless to me:
one of my chief reasons for pursuing a lower bleph: the chubby fat bags below my eyes - AND the accompanying arc-shaped 'line' or 'super-/mmh/product/beauty/index.vm?procid=13" target=_blank>wrinkle' which defines the bottom of the lid-to-cheek contour. That, to me, was as bad as the protruding patpads. While the fat pads seem to have reduced by 25-30%, the prominent "superwrinke" RETURNED today!
Guys, is the wrinkle here to stay? Pre-op, Doc said that the prominent lid-to-cheek wrinkle would be eliminated along with the fat pad... but now it is back.
I thought it was eliminated but it looks like that was a short-term illusion thanks to the swelling which was pushing it out over the last several days.
I feel like I ought to be paying YOU guys rather than my PS for post-op care...


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Allright - now the fat bags seem to be getting a little bigger now that more swelling has subsited. In daylight, I see no swelling or bruising. To be honest, I look the same at 2 weeks post-op as I did pre-op. Not exaggerating - wish I was... Can any bleph vets explain what is happening here, and what my next steps ought to be? Is it too early to seek another PS's opinion on what, exactly, has happened to me?
<<<one of my chief reasons for pursuing a lower bleph: the chubby fat bags below my eyes - AND the accompanying arc-shaped 'line' or 'super-wrinkle' which defines the bottom of the lid-to-cheek contour. That, to me, was as bad as the protruding patpads. While the fat pads seem to have reduced by 25-30%, the prominent "superwrinke" RETURNED today! >>>


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I've had my low and upper bleph 11 days ago, bruising is almost gone but i can see that my right upper lid is heavier, thicker and more loose than the left one . The PS said that the /mmh/product/beauty/index.vm?procid=13" target=_blank>skin will 'retract" , so i'm in a similar situatoin : not happy but may be it is worth to wait and see.


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Ludmilla:
I definitely panicked early on - I'm now four weeks and have retracted quite a bit. While I'm still skeptical that my results will be all I'd hoped for - I can tell you that the progress on either eye will increase at a different rate, until one catches up with the other. My obvious swelling was gone in a week, but apparently there's swelling underneath that makes me still look puffy. I've been advised to chill out for another 3 weeks to make my judgments.
Seriously - I was freaking out two weeks ago and had to fight tears at times. It IS getting better for me, and it will get better for you too. Hang tough.


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I've only had upper eyelids done, and they looked instantly better right after surgery - even with the stitches in! However, two years later (i.e., now) I think I may need more /mmh/product/beauty/index.vm?procid=13" target=_blank>skin removed. Once again, I have a hood or skin fold on my upper eyelids. Grrrr. It's just aging that's done it for me tho.
I find it incredible that the nurse in your doc's office didn't know what "eyelid retraction" was! Geez. That's almost intuitive!
I also have experienced lower lid tics or twitches - since I was in my 20s. These seem to be brought on by stress for me. Yes, like that winking, tic-twitching cop in the Pink Panther movies!
Good luck on your final outcome.Endo Brow Lift
Midface Lift
Upper Eye Bleph
Neck Lift
Lipo to Neck, Abs, Flanks and Knees
IPL, Sclerotherapy, Restylane as needed


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bugjune....have you expressed your concerns with your dr...i also had upper&lower bleph in march 2005 my ps that its a surgery that if done properly shouldn't ever have to repeated[/mmh/product/beauty/index.vm?procid=13" target=_blank>skin wise that is...you really should go back and see him..... annemarie keep me posted


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Hi Beeguy,
No I haven't explored the issue of my upper bleph with my PS .... yet. I admit I'm bummed that dang /mmh/product/beauty/index.vm?procid=13" target=_blank>skin fold marches forward again. And now I'm even more bugged about my lower eyelids and specifically the deep trough under each eye. I imagine I'd have a visible /mmh/product/scar_reduction/index.vm?procid=42" target=_blank>scar from any work done there, but if it eliminates the trough, I'd live with it.
I was wondering if a generous injection of Restylane may just fill that trough in and eliminate the need for lower bleph?
Thanks for your input. I'll keep you posted!Endo Brow Lift
Midface Lift
Upper Eye Bleph
Neck Lift
Lipo to Neck, Abs, Flanks and Knees
IPL, Sclerotherapy, Restylane as needed


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Bugjune,
If you have a trough under your eyes, I wouldn't go for a /mmh/product/eyelidsurgery/index.vm?procid=6" target=_blank>bleph... (I did that and OH what a mistake that was......). I would get a filler... /mmh/product/botox/index.vm?procid=20" target=_blank>resty, fat, whatever, but please don't make the same mistake I made and get a bleph b/cuz you are hollowing out under the eyes. He changed the whole shape of my eyes from almond to round AND he never resolved the hollowness - he made it worse! I was such a naive dummy...
Suzanna


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yes, take Suzanna's advice......if it is the tear trough you need a filler, fat or restylane....do your research, do yourself a favor and find a good injector in your area.......
Danny