Cosmetic Surgery

I am having surgery on my upper eyelids this Friday the 30th. I am 56 and except for the lids I usually pass for younger. Droopy lids run in our family and I have learned to "raise" my eyebrows so it is not so noticible. I have always said that I will fight looking old, kicking and screaming so I guess now I am going to prove that.

I AM a little nervous and I don't like the idea of pain. But I was told that this could last 10 years or so and that's a good number for me. There will be 2 or 3 days where I probably won't be able to see that well. Then there will be swelling and black & blue eyes for a few weeks. It can take up to 4-6 months for the swelling to go down. I am buying some really dark sunglasses soon.

This is a 2 part thread... first, please keep me (& the surgeon) in your thoughts and prayers next Friday. Second, how many of you ladies would have cosmetic surgery if you thought it would help? I don't plan on ever doing the kind where your face is frozen and your neck looks like you are 100 years old.

If you wouldn't have any type of cosmetic surgery, why not (won't hurt my feelings)?

Has anyone done the Botox injections?

Do you know of anyone that has had it and regreted it?

Anyway, enough rambling.... talk to me! Thanks!

Hi Barbara,
If I could afford it, I'd definitely do what it takes to make ME feel better about myself. And I think thats the thing, you gotta do it for YOU, not for someone else. I've watched 3 episodes of this show called "Extreme Makeovers" and its great. Most of the people on there have some degree of low self esteem due to their physical appearances. It hasnt kept them from finding a mate or anything, but its usually something that with a little surgery, will make them feel ALOT better about themselves, more confident, more attractive and just better in general. I dont mean this to sound superficial, cause I'm definitely not one who judges anyone else by their appearance, but I can understand how they feel. One girl had ears that protruded and couldnt confidently wear a pony-tail in public, some have saggy boobs and dont feel comfortable wearing a swimsuit, one guy didnt have much of a chin which had earned him the nickname "turtle" and eventhough people were joking when they called him that - those kind of things hurt. So I think its a wonderful thing that they can get all this done, to let them feel like they finally fit in with the rest of society. No, looks arent everything, but we all want to fit in.

You'll definitely be in my prayers. So keep us updated. I wish you well...

Sherry

I think if you have the money and the time and think you need enhancements, GO FOR IT!!!!

A lot of people scoff at plastic surgery, but if it makes you feel better about yourself, then it is not such a bad thing. The only thing I would caution people about is that plastic surgery has to be something you do for yourself . . . do not do it for someone else because they want you to . . . do it because you want to have it done for you.

Yellowrose ---

I had a mini brow lift and eyelid surgery in January. I took a week off from work. I have one big piece of advice for you: Sleep sitting up for at least the first week. My doctor told me that because I did this, I did not have the black and blue that I was expecting. I only had a little blue bruising on the bone under the eye. There was definitely some swelling, but they sent me home from the surgery center with two gel packs that had to be kept in the refrigerator and alternated on the eyes. DON'T DO WHAT I DID!!!!!! This was a hoot. I had a friend who insisted on spending the night with me the first night. When we decided it was time to go to sleep, I had put on one of those gel packs and I didn't take it off. I went to sleep with it on!! Well, it dried up overnight and was stuck to my face in the morning. She and I had to take a wet cloth and try to get it hydrated again and then took sissors and cut it off!!! What a mess. I told the surgery center they should warn people not to leave them on too long.

But all in all, there was minimal bruising, minimal swelling and not much pain at all that I can recall.

This is the second plastic surgery procedure I have had done and I did a LOT of research before each one. You will have better results if you know what to expect. I also interviewed three doctors before my first because I believe that 90% of your success lies in the skill of your doctor. And I have found a wonderful doctor. If anyone in the Dallas area needs one, PM me and I will refer you to him.

Good Luck, Yellowrose, and I will be praying for you on Friday. We'll all be anxious to hear how it goes. :)

How long before you could see? Did your dr. completely cover your eyes with bandages or ....??? what?

No, no bandages at all on the eyelid part. I did have a bandage on my head for the mini brow lift part. I could see when I went home. The incision is from corner to corner right in the crease of the eye and the thread is very very thin. I will say it did feel a bit funny and a very slight sting when I had to have the stitches out.

I know everyone's body reacts differently to surgery and I believe I am pretty relisient and heal quickly, but it was really no big deal at all. And I am thinking all of my swelling had completely gone within a month. I did not feel the need to wear sunglasses!! And I believe he let me wear makeup after 10 days. After the stitches came out.

Forgot to address the botox issue in my earlier posts. Even though I'm all for plastic surgery, I am a little afraid of the botox thing because of the way it works. Have you noticed Danny Bonnaducci's (sp) wife? Because of all the botox she had has she hardly has any facial expressions at all.

I too have some lines I would like taken care of, but I have decided that I will do the fat injections if I do anything about them. No chance for any adverse reactions there and depending on the person, they can last for quite a long time.

Good luck on the surgery Yellowrose!!! I will most likely be looking into something similar when and if I can afford it. I'm a fighter too. <smile>

For those of you talking about Botox, I got this information from another BB that I read....

"I was reading my friend's June issue of Cosmo yesterday and there was a page long ad for the real Stri-Vectin, and it was promoting stri-v for wrinkles, saying it was comparable to Botox injections!"

I did a search on Stri-Vectin and it sounded promising so I ordered it. My x-husband so nicely pointed out my 'laugh lines' a few months before he moved out, something that I never really noticed, as I never look at myself in the mirror when I laugh. Since then I've become kind of self conscious about them, and other fine lines that I never really paid attention to before.

You can get 6 months worth (if used for wrinkles) for $99. I figure I probably spend that much on skin cream anyway, so why not give it a try. If anyone's interested, I'll let you know how it works.

Barbara, I'll be praying for you, all will be okay. And to answer your question, I would do cosmetic surgery whenever I felt I needed it. No problem about that!
http://www.smilies.org/basesmilies3/1038162603.gif

I was never a big believer in plastic surgery, but you know now that I'm older....?...lol who knows. If I had the money would do it as long as I don't start looking like Joan Rivers, that lady scares the petunias out of me.

Good luck on your surgery. Drink lots of water, let us know how you feel here and there.

Paris

Yellowrose:) my prayers will be with u that day also. My family has the same genetic trait and I would do my eyes in a sec but not now ( no money) but maybe some day. good luck to u I know everything will be good Gilraen

I have seen bits and pieces of the tv show Extreme Makeover and I have been moved. I want to go to those doctors - they did an awesome job. It made me believe that I could be improved without looking like I was stretched and pulled.

Yellowrose, go for it - how fortunate you are to have the means to do it.

I cannot justify the cost given my income and my young children. Greg and I want to buy another home. I need a newer car. I mean, it just never ends.

Maybe if my ship comes in....

Cindy

When I am very relaxed or tired my right eyelid comes way down on my eye. They gave me a visual field test and it showed that it obstructed the top part of my vision unless I am raising my eyebrows up. So they checked with Blue Cross Blue Shield and they are paying for it. I am dirt poor these days.... :) so this made me VERY happy.

Kalri... I would definitely like to know the results of the Stri-Vectin.

Julie... I have a "mad" line too although I like to think of it as my "deep thinker" line :p I was telling Diane last night about 2 things that are guaranteed to make your skin look your best and they really minimize the "mad" line. One is Alpha-Hydroxy and the other is Retina-A. You can get Alpha-hydroxy in the cosmetic department. Retina-A or Renova you can get in some facial creams**. Use a very small amount and DO NOT use around your eyes or lips. Wash your hands after using if you are going to put on makeup. Use the Retina in the AM before makeup and the Alpha-Hydroxy at night after cleansing your face.

What great information Peachy! Thanks! And thanks to every single one of you that posted. It's late right now & I am going to bed.... more tomorrow!

**Or use this: Pond's Dramatic Results Anti-Wrinkle Cream
A concentrated formula that contains a balanced combination of Alpha Hydroxy, Retinol and Vitamin C.

...and don't forget to post an "after" picture so we can see the amazing results! You are beautiful inside and out; but I know how it feels to want to have the outside match what the inside feels like (at least 10-15 years younger, right?!?!).

I will have a version of the surgery you are having sometime in the next 5 years, I'm sure. That is my plan...and my goal will be to look "really rested" and vibrant rather than "plastic.

Everything will go great...and please write a detalied post about your entire experience so we who will follow in your foot steps will have some wisdom under our belts before our journey.

Big Hugs

Hopefully you're recuperating nicely at this point YR :>

I have to admit, having had elective surgery once (and if anyone's curiousity is just killing them - PM me - some things are not for public broadcasting :>

But I found surgery to be a pretty big deal - and I sure was a lot less blase about it afterwards than I had been.

I have a goal of maintaining bodily integrity to the greatest extent possible in the future :>

It is however, always good to make a change if that change will make you feel better about yourself and I hope you get out it everything that you want.

When you're up and moving again - tell us all about it :>