I am scheduled for an upper bleph with skin removal only, no fat. My PS said recovery is not painful, just bothersome itching from the stiches. I will be doing it under local anesthesia as general anesthesia scares me and seems uneccessary for this surgery. Is this REALLY a pretty painless recovery? If so, why did he prescribe a painkiller? I was also given an Rx for an oral antibiotic as well as a topical antibiotic ointment. Did everyone else take oral antibiotic for 5 days? Most pressing question is about the pain. I am ready to chicken out and cancel the closer it gets. PLEASE post your experiences with pain levels. Thanks!

Recovery is not painful at all. The painkillers are just in case. Get it done, you will be glad.

it's not painful at all. But it DOES take a long time - forget what you've heard about being good as new after a week. If takes a long long time to completely recover. It will not hurt at all but you will look like you've been run over by a truck for weeks.

Hi DKMS

From my experience of this operation (Dec 08)
I had a totally painfree recovery.
My surgeon also prescribed pain killers BUT just in case i was in pain... I did not have to take any.
I was NOT given any antibiotics -

And as for what DGILL told you - rubbish! We ALL have different experiences from our procedures and maybe i was lucky but i healed well and quickly.

I lay stacked on 3 pillows head elevated for 3 weeks post op - you get used to it. Bathed the area with Cetophyl cleanser. Had my stitches out day 7 (no bruises whatsoever) and by Day 9 i was shopping and seeing family and NO ONE noticed i had had an op - i was made up with the transformation and delighted i had gone through with it.

Good luck to you. xx
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I also had almost no pain. The PS warned me that after surgery, the first day, it would feel like I had papercuts on my eyelids. He was right on target - I felt stinging on my lids, so I took the RX he sent me home with. After that, no pain at all. But, I had a lot of bruising and it took several weeks to go away. I used arnica pills before and after surgery, and even used arnica gel, but I still had lots of long lasting bruises. It's hard to compare, because everyone has different skin, different PS, different degree of surgery, etc.

Thank you all so much for your responses. The closer the date of my surgery gets the more scared and worried I become. I have read several posts here on bad outcomes - rounder eyes, drooping corners, lowered eyebrows, etc. I am relieved to hear recovery is not painful. Thank again for taking the time to respond

I didn't have any pain at all. Little bruising gone in a week. No one could tell anything was done. I just have some raised bumps where the stitches were. Hopefully it will be gone soon. I'm 15 days post op. You won't have hallowed eyes if they remove only the skin no fat or muscle.Good luck, don't chicken out, it's worth it.

It all depends on your doctor & if you trust him & if he is good. Be sure to meet other real patients. You will be completely in his care & he will be in charge of the outcome. If you are having second thoughts, don't do it. It could be your intuition telling you not to, so listen. Listen well. You can email me privately if you like linda9701@sbcglobal.net

Hi dkms, I had a upper & lower bleph last April & didn't find it particularly painful although I did have a headache & require Tylenol on the first day. When I decided to do it there was no question in my mind that it had to be done. That gave me strength. Healing took several months & I returned to work still swollen & bruised. I've been watching this board since that time & have noticed that most of the messages are left by recent blephs...the others seem to fall off after a few months. In the early post op days it can be difficult...I looked awful...I was scared & uglier than ever! My results aren't perfect. My friends say my eyes look great, but I have studied them & know every little flaw...sometimes I wish I didn't own a 10x magnifying mirror! Would I do it again???? YES! YES! YES!

I had my upper bleph done 2 days ago. I have not taken anti biotics or a single painkiller. Not painful at all. I do however look dreadful, swollen eyes, bruised, blood and redness everywhere. Im very swollen underneath my eyes even though I did not have a lower bleph done.

Good luck

I had an upper and lower bleph last February.

Recovery wasn't bad at all as far as pain goes. I had a really difficult time with how I looked right after the surgery, especially while the stitches were in. It was a bit shocking to see myself that way, understandably so.

You can view my diary here. It's pretty thorough.

As time went things got better and better. The day I could wear makeup really perked me up.

Today I cannot even discern where my lower scars are! My upper scars are flesh toned and are hardly noticeable even by me.

I did have an outer portion of my left upper eye reworked recently. It's healing at the same pace as the original surgery, so I know what to expect. So far so good!

You wont regret getting it done.

I love my eyes. I no longer look tired and have lost the baggy skin. Nobody says to me, "You look tired? Are you feeling well?" I used to get that a lot.

Recovery is not painful at all. The painkillers are just in case. Get it done, you will be glad.

I did it! I am one week post today. I have my stiches removed tomorrow. NO PAIN at all!!!! Even the numbing injections were painless with the numbing cream my PS put on my eyes before he injected. I have had minimal bruising - just a little redness along my lash line and one spot on inner eye area. All the redness/bruising is gone. I had much less swelling that I expected after looking at post op pics, but am still swollen. It's hard for me to visualize the outcome until the swelling goes down but I think I will be pleased with the result. One eye looks more swollen that the other and seems like the outer corner has less lid show that the inner corner. Hope that goes away as the swelling subsides. I hope my doctor gives me the O.K. for makeup tomorrow. I HATE sleeping on my back propped up in a recliner. That has been the most difficult part for me. I also can't wait to leave the house after my stitches are removed and I can put on some makeup. I am going stir crazy but I am not brave enough to go out with stiches - even with sunglasses to hide behind.

dkms,

That's fantastic!

I was so happy to get my stitches out. I remember going out when I had every other removed and hid behind super dark glasses which made me look odd I'm sure. From what I recall my lower stitches were removed sooner than the uppers.

My swelling was uneven but usually in the mornings but it went away fast like the bruising.

~Just be careful once your stitches are removed since the area is still delicate. Especially while applying makeup and rolling over while sleeping.