Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Lift)
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Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Lift)
Feb 2012
My upper eyelids have completely drooped down in the past
year, now resting on my eyelashes.
I dislike how old and tired I look and I don't like the
heavy sensation.
I would like to hear from others about things like...
1. how long did it take for the swelling to disappear - I
mean how long before you could go out and not feel self
conscious that people knew what happened?
2. I live in england half time and it's an easy hop over to
Poland or the Czech republic where things are cheaper and
wondered if anyone had any experiences with that?
3. are there any good online discussion groups that were
helpful in learning other ideas of how to reverse this as I
think it's from hormone shift from oncoming menopause
tired looking
A family member just had eyelid surgery. Kaiser insurance covered most of the
cost because the eye surgeon verified, with a simple range-of-vision test, that
the drooping eyelids limited peripheral vision, affecting safe driving, etc.
(Otherwise the correction would have been classified as cosmetic surgery,
insurance would not have paid, and patient cost would have approached
$3,000.)
The surgery was outpatient, and the patient could opt for local or total
anesthesics. Stitches were removed in a week. It took about two weeks after the
surgery for all signs of bruising to go away.
Anonymous
Dec 2011
I am looking for advice about cosmetic surgery to remove bags
from under my eyes. Has anyone had this done? What were the
results like and were you happy you did it? Is it something
that has to be repeated again as you age? Any other advice as
I think about this? Any surgeon you would recommend?
thanks!
anon
Please have the function of your kidneys and gallbladder
checked. It may turn out that you need to make some
lifestyle changes instead of pursuing plastic surgery.
Anonymous
I had an upper and lower blepharoplasty in my mid-thirties due to excess fatty
tissue around my eyes (runs in my family). I looked tired when I did not feel
tired. I have no regrets. I think the only thing I would have done differently (and
the surgeon remarked on this after the surgery as well) is that I would have had a
forehead lift at the same time. My eyebrows already sat on the low side and
were pulled a little too low with the surgery. I had it done under local to save
money and it was a piece of cake. I looked puffy and bruised for 14 days--but I
am not good at clotting, so my case is unusual. You can go out with some
make-up on after a few days but you may not want to. You get the full effect in
6 months but will notice a real change right away. The surgeon who performed
my surgery retired, but I would go to Dr. Elizabeth Slass Lee in Berkeley if I were
to do the forehead lift some day. I have gone to her for Obagi, and I know other
people who have had surgery done by her and love her work. She is smart, no-
nonsense, and has an artistic approach to everything she does. And she is a
perfectionist.
Glad I did it
I know someone who is the plastic surgery maven in the East bay, and she says
that William Hoffman, M.D. at UCSF is the best for cosmetic eye surgery.
Another friend went to Hoffman for a scar revision for a scar that was bumpy
and unsightly, and she is thrilled with the result.
Anon
Best approach is go see a qualified, board certified plastic
surgeon about your eyes, and I highly recommend Dr.
Elizabeth Lee in Berkeley. She's fantastic because she's a
talented plastic surgeon, very down to earth and easy to
communicate with, will discuss all your options in a way
you'll understand, is extremely well trained and educated,
and is enjoyable to see and talk to. Contact her: Dr
Elizabeth Slass Lee, 510-704-2170, 2999 Regent St, Ste 401
Berkeley CA 94705-2119, www.artfulsurgery.com
anon
Yes, by all means do the surgery if you need it. I did it
when I was around 45 and it made a huge difference. I will
always have some darkness in that area simply due to my
particular genetics but the skin is nice and taut still,
seven years later. I also did the upper eye area. You don't
say whether you need that area done also, but it's often
done at the same time. Very important to know that it's
considered a relatively safe surgery, but from what I read,
when there were complications it's often because the patient
did not refrain from activities afterwards. No bending or
headstands, etc. with massive pressure changes in the eye
area. Stay upright!
anonymous
Feb 2011
I am being referred for a test to see if I need an eye lift and if
I do whether it will be covered by Kaiser or not. I am new to
this kind of thing and a bit terrified to be honest and am
wondering if I should go the Kaiser in Walnut Creek or Oakland.
Any recommendations for a really good surgeon would be
appreciated.
Thank you
Hi,
I want to get a test for the eyelift at Oakland Kaiser.
How did you get it, find out about it? My dodctor
referred me to the eye people and my eye doctor said
the lids need to go to the middle of your iris before
they will give you a lift.
That said I heard Delyce Williams at Oakland Kaiser
is very good.
anon
Jan 2010
My mom, age 75, is having surgery next month, to reduce
the folds of skin above her eyes. (I can see my future
here; my eyelids are already getting floppy....) I am
flying to NY to help her recover/hang out. Anyone have
experience with this surgery (especially in older
patients)? How much discomfort will she feel? How soon
will she feel ready to be up? Out and about?
Daughter
Expect a week of major swelling all around the eye area, and
plan to apply icepacks for 20 minutes of each hour/every
hour as much as possible around the clock for several days.
Expect 2-3 weeks of massive bruising above and under the eye
area, followed by another couple of weeks of fading
bruising. Expect four months or more for the bright red/pink
of the incisions to fade away.
Other than all that, pain and discomfort should be minimal.
It's really really ugly the first month or so -- your mom
will not want to be seen by anybody! -- then it gets better.
Good luck!
Light at the end of the tunnel
I practice plastic surgery in Oakland. Most likely your mother will have rather
little pain. It should NEVER be terribly sore. Middle-aged patients typically take
codeine or Vicodin for 1 or 2 days, and patients over 70 usually have still less
pain. Her surgeon may recommend ice for 24 hours. She should not need to lie
around in bed beyond the day and evening of surgery. Because of swelling,
which will start to come down on the 3rd morning after surgery, she may be
self-conscious about going out, but she may well be up for a dinner out on day
5.
Michael C.
April 2007
I am considering having my eyelids lifted, and I'm not even sure what type of doctor to see.
Can anyone make a recommendation
and also a ball park estimate of the fortune this will cost!
anon
Dr. Rona Silkiss has an office in Oakland, one in SF, and a few
others. She specializes in eyes and I got her name from my
optometrist. She is excellent and does not try and sell you more
than what you want. (e.g., I went to a dermatologist to get those tags
burned off and she tried to talk me into doing botox!). She is also
realistic about what the surgery can do and what it
cannot do. I strongly recommend that you go do a consultation
with her (when I did it, it cost $75.). She is serious, highly
professional, unpretentious, and does superb work. I had my
eyelids done and stayed home a few days but never had pain. I'm
really glad I had it done and recommend her without question.
Good luck!
April 2007
I'm looking for a plastic surgeon who specializes in eyes. I'm
mid-30s but I have heavy, droopy eyelids. I really don't like
that surprised look some women seem to have when they get their
eyes done. I just want that extra fold gone which seems to rest
on my eyelashes. Please give me your recommendations. I would
prefer a Dr. in San Francisco, but I will consider the East Bay
if that Dr. is really the best.
anon
I had a blepharoplasty last November by Dr Stuart Seiff of
Pacific Eye associates. www.pacificeye.com It seems as if he did
a good job -- people think I look more rested rather than I had
plastic surgery. Amy
I recently had blepharoplasty surgery and was extremely happy with the results. Dr Eshima is
a fantastic surgeon and I would use him again if I ever wanted anything else done. I wanted
to look as if nothing had been done (just the sagging removed). No one can tell I've had
surgery unless I choose to tell them. I am in the medical field and interviewed many well
known MD's before deciding on him. He is one of the top plastic surgeons around. Sparkling
eyes
I would check out Dr. Elizabeth Lee. I had surgery with her almost a year ago (breast
reduction, tummy tuck) and she is absolutely fabulous. I know she has extensive experience
with all types of plastic surgery, including blepharoplasty. Dr. Lee is nice, approachable,
easy to talk to, caring, and understanding. She will listen to what you want and your
expectations of the surgery -- and will tell you your options objectively, without any
pressure. If you search the BPN, you'll find she has fantastic reviews for many different
types of plastic surgery -- and I believe if you're serious about surgery, she is definitley
worth checking out. Based in Berkeley. www.artfulsurgery.com
I highly recommend Dr. Elizabeth Lee. Her work is work of art!! I have known her for almost
6 years. I know few patients whom she worked on: eyebrow lift, breast augmentation, and
tummy tuck. She operated on me less then a year ago. I Love IT.
More then anything - she is very easy to talk to, warm and most of all caring person. Her
office staff are very freindly. Her phone # is 510-704-2170
dedicated patient
Dr. Rona Silkiss is the best one to consider for blepharoplasty. She only does eyes, she's
a great surgeon and was recommended by a anethesiologist friend (who works with all the
local surgeons). I know she does her surgeries in a variety of locations, so call her in
Oakland for more information: 510-763-0881. anon
Nov 2006
I am considering an eyelid and/or brow lift. Has anyone had this done by a Kaiser
doctor? I am aware that Dr. Elizabeth Lee comes hightly recommended by this
community, so any other Dr. recommendations (Kaiser and otherwise) would be
appreciated. Any additional information and recommendations would also be greatly
appreciated. Thank you
Anon
I recommend Kaiser for cosmetic surgery. I had some work done with them 4 yrs ago and paid
1/2 the price, plus they did a great job. The Cosmetic Surgery unit will take non-Kaiser
members as well as Kaiser members, since the surgery's elective and you have to pay for it
yourself. They did a thorough consultation, they had the latest equipment, they were
well-trained, and they performed good follow-up care, too. Anon
I recently had some cosmetic surgery and was very pleased with my results. MD to check out;
Dr. Eshima is in SF and does not advertise. He has a great reputation and his work is
impeccable. Also, he does not encourage you to do more and will be as conservative as you
want. I am in the medical field and found him and his office staff to be ''top of the
line''. Happy and looking natural!
Sept 2005
Over the past year, I have noticed a marked increase in the
sagging of my upper eyelids. This sagging causes people to ask
me if I?m tired or cranky when I feel fine and I?ve started to
dread appearing in photographs. I feel I look older than my
age and certainly older than I feel which is especially
frustrating when I work so hard at staying in good physical
condition. I am unwilling to undergo surgery because of the
recovery time required (two weeks of not working out and
perhaps a month of bruising, etc) but would like to explore non-
surgical options which are less effective but less invasive.
Has anyone had experience with non-surgical eye-lift treatments
that they would be willing to share?
anonymous
Go see Dr.Elizabeth Lee
in Berkeley. She has a host of arsonal
to help look not so tired. Everything from topical skin care,
to botox, it works well for what I think you're talking about
and now threading. I've done some things, I have appreciated
her honest appraisal. She's a mom of four and a surgeon, she
understands tired!
more awake looking
There is accupuncturist who does non-surgical facelifts with great
success. Her name is Michelle Bullard, LAc. and her office # is 510 845
8282. She has an office on 4th St. in Berkeley.
Good Luck
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