Anyone recommend any treatments for upper eyelids before a blepheroplasty?

[eyeI]

I suspect I will need a blepheroplasty when I am older as generations of my family have had old age obscured vision by v. saggy eyelids.

I am not quite there yet but on the way.

Has anyone had anything for this area (skin starting to sag and lose tone) that actually worked (or at least helped) that is non-surgical?

Thanks.

@josuk interesting I've never heard of that. Mine was last year with a surgeon and private . Could literally see while my eyes were closed. I have never heard of anyone having anything other than stitches, I shall google!

@blueshoes local - it was only upper and they preferred that you were awake for it

One of DD's friends mum had it on the NHS last year so worth talking to your GP when it gets worse.

I believe I had the procedure at age 60, I’m 68 this march, they haven’t really come back that I can see but im used to my face so might not be able to tell anymore. I think insurance covers it every 10 years and it’s does affect your peripheral vision. Everybody’s eyelids are different.

I was also under anesthesia when it was done but that was an extra that I was happy to pay bc I don’t like people messing with my eyes

I asked first through my dermatologist office and the surgeon they referred me to wanted 7000. I didn’t go through and had it done by a plastic surgeon in an ocular eye center. Paid 675 for anesthesia.

@Phase2 thanks for explaining. 5,000 is quite a lot for local.

Was it someone who did a lot of blephs? Was it an occular plastic surgeon? I was told a bleph can change your looks quite a bit (it is something people can notice) and sometimes tricky to get right.

@blueshoes yes rather than a cosmetic surgery place l, they are an NHS surgeon and do private cosmetic work as well. It was a day patient thing so arrive, prep, several pre and post consultations over a few months, recovery in a room etc

I would imagine someone with those conditions may have left it too late. There is also the risk of GA to consider.

Which is why I think if OP has to do a bleph to get it done when the surgeon says is the right time. There is a right time to get procedures done, not too early and not too late, but also because you want to enjoy the effects whilst you are still young to enjoy it and it freshens and enhances the looks without being too obvious you had work done.

Personally if I was going under GA I would get more done than a bleph.

How did you see through a cut in your eyelids?. The cut is high up and way above your irises. And if he cut through - there would be a lot of blood?
Maybe your eyes were not fully closed or eyelid moved up as he operated on it?

In my case - i think I had the simplest, straightforward procedure where only some top layer of skin needed removing. A friend is having hers done soon - and the doctor will also need to remove excess fat deposits on the lids - hers will probably be a bit more invasive and bit longer recovery as more tissue will be affected.

As to the closure technic - really depends on a doctor. And - I think on the amount and type of tissue removed. But yes - some friends of mine did have ‘suture-less closure’ with an adhesive.

I was surprised when mine did not use anything on the cut. And I went home right after the procedure with only slightly puffed eyes and a thin red line. And by the end of the week - i could go out and not look like a Frankenstein 🧟‍♀️

In my experience - the change in looks is not as drastic so that people notice if they don't know. Of course - if your eyelids were covering your eye - and suddenly it is completely gone - some closer and more attentive friends can notice you look different a little.

As to the - sometimes it's tricky to get right - it comes down to selecting a specialist you trust with a lot of experience. And possibly - not waiting too long to do it.

The fibroblast thread on here terrified me off ever having it.

@mauvish

I've had bilat upper blepharoplasties. That was about 25 years ago and they're nearly back to how they were before the initial surgery. The difference is of course that I'm 25 years older, and my brow is now lower. which doesn't he

Thank you for posting. When you say they are nearly back to how they were are you able to give a more precise description in terms of what has happpened? I know this is an issue and that they normally last about 10 years - but it seems weird to me if skin is removed, how does it get as bad?

I'm thinking of the side of a tent that is baggy. if you cut out a section and restitch it, it will be very tight. Over time it may losen with wear, but given the section is missing how does it get quite as bad again?

I can see that it would worsen with wear, tear and age but would have thought it would be bad but better if you see what I mean.

Are you going to have it done again? Have you seen anyone about it? do you know if it is harder to do a revision because of scar tissue or anything?

@wwyd2021medicine wwyd2021medicine
OP if you are within distance of Birmingham I've got an oculo plastic surgeon that I could recommend.

Yes please - I was going to PM you but PMing is still disabled I think from the bad actors posting illegal material to people in PMs?

@Devianinc

I believe I had the procedure at age 60, I’m 68 this march, they haven’t really come back that I can see but im used to my face so might not be able to tell anymore. I think insurance covers it every 10 years and it’s does affect your peripheral vision. Everybody’s eyelids are different.

When you say 'it does affect your peripheral vision' - do you mean all blepheroplasty or do you mean the revision in 10 years?

Did it affect your peripheral vision? How - I mean how bad was it and how would you describe the difference?

scared of messing myself up in future

@josuk I don't know, I just recall realising and feeling faint so thy covered my eye. I was very keen to avoid the technical detail 🤣. I definitely have seen better reviews of stitches you remove rather than soluble where people end up with lumps or stitches that don't dissolve (not everyone, just those are the issues people mention).

For me it's made me more confident and I can wear eyeliner again, doubt anyone has noticed specifically more I look a bit fresher.

@Phase2

Same. People only knew if i told them and showed before/after. The change was subtle and fresher look. And - more importantly - I liked it, because I noticed.

I agree - regular stitches are better than dissolvable for the reasons you mention.
I was not talking about those - i was talking about NO stitches of any sort. Some doctors use an adhesive (medical glue).
Mine didn’t use any glue - he used some sort of technique that cauterised blood vessels as he cut the top skin layer. He told me the edges will close naturally - and they did. 😳🤷🏻‍♀️ It’s a miracle.

I have friends who did have stitches - and looking at incisions closely - you can see where they were. My scar is a thin even line.
But its all hidden in a eyelid fold - so doesn’t really matter.

@josuk yes never heard of yours sounds really new. Great you have no scars. Mine are very neat and exactly in the fold so vet tricky to see unless you know. I think researching and reading reviews is essential.

@eyeI
David Cheung at the Westbourne centre. He's a specialist oculoplastic surgeon. Also works in NHS.
I would only consider have plastic surgery to my eyes with a dedicated specialist eye plastic surgeon such as him rather than a general plastic surgeon.

You will find less pricy providers who are not specialists but a friend recently had upper and lowers done with a non specialist and needs a revision of lowers.

@josuk that method sounds interesting. I don't suppose you'd be willing to recommend your surgeon?

Thank you @wwyd2021medicine . I will have a look. When you were researching, did you or anyone else come across or have work done by Mehboob Ali? He was recommended to me by someone who had it done recently - he is in Birmingham.

If I may ask, how much did he pay? I would need both done.

@eyeI
Yes I have heard of him locally
My point was that Mr Cheung only ever does oculoplastic surgery but obviously is an ophthalmologist too but his surgery is oculoplastic. That is who I would prefer to do my eyes. He does not do breasts, noses etc
Just my take.

Same here. Doctor said I'd need it again in 15 years. My lids were very droopy though, and i have another eye condition too.

That said, it was well worth the money - I claimed on private medical insurance but had to pay a significant contribution as living in London.

I am wanting this too. 41 and we eyes are terrible. Would anyone be willing yo
share some before and after pictures?

.