PATIENT TESTIMONIALS
MODIFIED EXCERPTS FROM DR. MAURIELLO’S BOOK,
“BEAUTIFUL EYES: A CONSUMER’S GUIDE TO COSMETIC EYELID SURGERY”
(AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM AND IUNIVERSE.COM)
COMBINED COSMETIC UPPER AND LOWER EYELID BLEPHAROPLASTY
Woman—less than 45 years of age
Dear Dr. Mauriello:
MY REASONS FOR PLASTIC SURGERY
I decided to have plastic surgery on my eyes for several reasons. I was not interested in changing my appearance drastically and only wanted a fresher, perhaps younger look.
I have very prominent bags under my eyes and I also have very heavy brows. I had no upper eyelid area at all above my eyelashes. I constantly look tired and older than my 45 years.
OTHER ALTERNATIVES TO SURGERY
After trying every cream and lotion that promised to reduce the puffiness and dark circles under my eye to no avail, I decided to look into plastic surgery.
SEARCHING FOR A SURGEON
I researched and checked the credentials of several plastic surgeons. After several consultations, I made my final decision to have my surgery performed by Dr. Mauriello based on recommendations from family members and friends who were former patients of Dr. Mauriello. One friend had the same kind of plastic surgery was interested in and the other had reconstructive performed because of skin cancer in the eye area. I also based my decision on Dr. Mauriello’s professionalism and willingness to answer my questions and concerns. I had confidence in him and, most importantly, felt comfortable with him.
PRESURGICAL CONSULTATION
At my consultation with Dr. Mauriello, we discussed what procedure would be used for my surgery and the type of anesthesia.
I made my decision to proceed with the surgery several days later after the consultation based on pictures that I was shown of other patients who had similar operations. It was decided that I would have all 4 lids done. I initially was only concerned with my lower lids, but during the consultation, and looking at other patients, I realized that having only the upper lids done would not be sufficient. It made much more sense to have all lids done to achieve the desired results.
I was told I would need at least one week recovery for the worst of the swelling and to go down, but that it would take months for my eyes to return to normal.
DATE OF SURGERY--Operative experience
The operation was performed in the fall at 9:00 under local anesthesia. There was a certain amount of minimal pain that I had not anticipated, but overall the procedure was without complications and other rather quickly. The only thing I was unprepared for at the time was double vision after the operation. Dr. Mauriello told me that was probably due to local anesthesia and to make sure that I did not leave the hospital until the double vision had cleared up, which it did in approximately 45 minutes.
Overall, the surgery was successful and uncomplicated. I was given all the information I needed to make an informed decision about the procedure. The staff at the (free standing surgical facility was informative and extremely helpful. The entire experience was, in general, what I was told it would be.
POSTOPERATIVE COURSE
in the recovery room the day of surgery, I was tired and a little uncomfortable that continued into the next day. Although I was not in pain, I was not prepared for the discomfort that was short-lived. I was given adequate medication for the discomfort that I did have. The swelling made it difficult to see for several days. From days 3 to 7 after surgery, the eyes did not close and tears drops were used to keep the eyes moist since they were a little sore and dry.
Within a week after surgery my appearance was vastly improved. The swelling was all but gone but the eyelids felt a little tight. Some the discomfort was noted but short lived.
It took a full two weeks before the most severe of the discoloration disappeared and the swelling was almost unnoticeable. By Day 14 after surgery, there were no real signs that I had surgery. Some slight swelling and tightness were still noticeable. My eyes continued to running at times (but the tearing was improved by topical tears). The stitches were a little uncomfortable.
I was able to wear makeup in 21 days, return to work in 7 days and resume normal full activity in 14 days and vigorous exercise in 21 days.
It has now been 4 months since the operation, I could not be more pleased. The circles and bags under my eyes are gone and my upper lids look better than they ever have. I feel more confident. The main improvement is that the puffiness of the eyelids is gone. I was not looking for a drastic change in my appearance. I achieved the result that I was hoping for. I no longer look tired all the time and I believe that I Iook “refreshed,” if not exactly younger.
I would have the surgery, but I won’t need it. I still have slight scarring around the edges of my eyes, but I have been told that in time these too will fade.
To anyone contemplating this procedure, I would recommend researching carefully, finding a doctor you are comfortable and trust, and have realistic expectations.
Comment by Dr. Mauriello
This patient was quite happy with the result but she experienced dry eye symptoms that caused tearing. These symptoms were treated with topical voer-the-counter tears until they subsided.
Woman--40 to 50 years of age
Dear Dr. Mauriello:
I would like a more detailed step-by-step procedure from the time entering the facility to when I left the recovery room at the freestanding surgery center. The pain was similar in degree to that of a small cut. The worst part of the surgery was in the recovery room and vagueness of what was going on around me. After care should be explained prior to surgery not in recovery room when too drowsy and confused.
The first day after surgery is uncomfortable at home and you really need someone at home to help you. I was not fully prepared for swelling. I had difficulty sleeping. I would have been more prepared had I read about other patient’s experience. It is helpful to speak to others who had surgery.
Two months after surgery, I had no perceptible scars. The tightness of the eyelids lasted for about 3 to 4 weeks.
I am very happy with my result. It is very positive result, smooth and my eyes are more youthful.
Comment by Dr. Mauriello
The request for a step by step analysis of the surgical experience prompted the writing of this book.
Woman—less than 45 years of age
Dear Dr. Mauriello:
The most painful part of the procedure was removal of fat in lower eyelids. I remember the bright lights at the end of the surgery and the deep ache in the lower eyelids the day of surgery.
I felt surprisingly well in the recovery room and at home the first day. I had great energy, sat with friends, talked, and ate a large a large dinner the day after with no desire for a nap. I did not feel at all bad.
I was prepared for the degree of swelling since I had a previous nasal surgery and knew what to expect.
After my eyelids completely healed, I had an uplift of spirit and well-being. Since I feel I look better, I feel better about myself. I look refreshed from the lower eyelid surgery and look less tired. The upper lid skin that was taken off was like taking age off.
I wore makeup 7 days after surgery and chose to return to worked in 21 days but resumed normal full activity in 7 to 14 days and vigorous exercise after 28 days. I resumed contact lens wearing after 21 to 28 days and had a lot of dryness around my eyes until about 10 weeks after surgery.
The scars were fully imperceptible after 12 weeks. All scars completely resolved. I had tightness in the eyelid area for 10 weeks following surgery. There was also occasional blurry vision at night for several weeks. I would have the surgery again but the swelling of the lower eyelids took 10 to 12 weeks to disappear.
Comment by Dr. Mauriello
In general contacts lens cannot be worse for two to three weeks after surgery or until almost all eyelid swelling returns to normal.
Woman--40 to 50 years of age
Dear Dr. Mauriello
I had no misconceptions going into surgery and experienced no pain but a feeling of eyelid tightness after surgery.
During the surgery, I felt no pain but I heard taking.
I had a reaction to stitches which caused itching along my upper incision line. The day after surgery, one should expect swelling, redness, bruising, and appearing ugly. The results are excellent. I had less swelling 7 days after surgery and by day 10 after surgery, the redness and bruising subsided. By day 14, the appearance was much improved.
I feel refreshed and was able to wear make-up in 8 to 10 days, work in 5 days, and resume vigorous exercise in 12 to 14 days. I enjoyed an improved subtle change in my appearance and my eyes looked more open.
Woman--less than 40 years of age
Dear Dr. Mauriello:
The worst part was not being able to see well due to bandages and ice immediately after surgery.
I have the following recommendations after surgery:
Day 1 rest don’t bend
Day 3 take it slow
Day 7 resume almost full activity
Day 10 go out and enjoy your new appearance
I would have surgery again. It took 2 years for all the scars to be imperceptible.
The tightness lasted a few days.
I feel refreshed and look younger and the basic shape of my eyelids has not changed.
Dear Dr. Mauriello:
I had no misconceptions prior to surgery and I believe my expectations were realistic. I had complete confidence in you.
The most surprising part of the surgery was being totally out of it on the way home and the shock of how swollen my eyes looked the first few days. I would rate my discomfort as 4 out of 10 and it was not actually pain.
The worst part of the surgical experience was, perhaps, some anxiety the morning of surgery.
I have a total fog after surgery and on the way home. It was good to just go to sleep and wake up more alert. While carefully advised of postoperative care, I really was not fully expecting the degree of swelling and overall discomfort.
My outlook and attitude were always positive. The appearance around my eyelids improved after surgery and this was most important to me.
The removal of the excess skin of the upper lids made the eyes appear larger, brighter, and more open. The lower eyelid surgery resulted in a subtle “lift” and overall better look.
After surgery, I know feel more refreshed and positive about my eyes and appearance.
I wore make-up eye and face makeup 14 to 16 days after surgery. I went to work in 5 days which was a stretch but manageable. I resumed normal full activity in 7 to 10 days and vigorous activity in 10 days.
My suggestions after surgery:
Day 1 plan total rest, some extra assistance is recommended.
Day 3 plan to get out for short periods and have dark glasses that you enjoy wearing after surgery.
Day 7 resume a regular schedule with a slower pace.
Day 14 resume a full schedule and start to exercise.
It took several months for the scars to be almost imperceptible. The redness of the incisions may continue. The tightness in my eyelids lasted for months and after a year I still feel some tightness.
I have total satisfaction. I would have this surgery again but never a face lift. Ideally, you should be realistic. Essentially you will not change your appearance that much and the change and improvement is most evident to you, personally, not family and friends.
It is important to have supportive friends and family and to realize that surgery is an intense process and patience is required during recuperation.
Comment by Dr. Mauriello
Eyelid surgery restores symmetry to a small anatomic unit and, therefore, the results are longer lasting than after a face lift.
Woman--40 to 50 years of age
Dear Dr. Mauriello
My (upper) eyelids started to droop over my eye. It started to bother me some. Some days I woke up and they were swollen.
I had a hard time seeing to drive and had to push my lids up.
I went for a consultation with Dr. Mauriello. He tested my eyes and saw that the lid was blocking my vision.
My vision improved after surgery.
Woman-- 40 to 50 years of age
Dear Dr. Mauriello:
I had drooping upper eyelids and my peripheral vision was greatly improved after surgery and I look younger. I was able to wear makeup in 2 to 3 weeks and returned to work in 10 days (as a nurse) but normal full activity in 2 days.
There was no post-op pain or bruising or black and blue at all.
I look younger and refreshed and would have surgery if needed
Woman-- 40 to 50 years of age
Dear Dr. Mauriello
Thank you Dr. Mauriello for giving me my life back.
COSMETIC LOWER BLEPHAROPLASTY (removal of bags and excess skin of the lower eyelids)
Woman--50 to 65 years of age
Dear Dr. Mauriello:
I had no misconceptions going into surgery. I had general anesthesia due to combined nasal surgery and was nauseous from the general anesthesia. The results were visible in 2 to 3 days. A pulling sensation occurred when moving my eyes for the first week after surgery. The ice in the glove the first four days after surgery did not put excessive pressure on the eyelid skin.
Since the surgery I feel refreshed and have a better mental attitude. I would definitely have lower eyelid surgery again.
Woman—less than 45 years of age
Dear Dr. Mauriello:
I had baggy lower lids that really affected my appearance.
The surgery you performed removed the bags. I now look younger, refreshed, and a better attitude towards life.
Older patients with primarily functional problems of the eyelids
Man--65 years of age or older
Dear Dr. Mauriello
I had eye surgery on my upper lids. The surgery was performed on both sides. My vision has improved 100%. I feel mentally great, physically great.
Thank you Dr. Mauriello
Man--65 years of age or older
Dear Dr. Mauriello:
My driving was difficult prior to ptosis (elevation of the eyelid margin above the pupil) surgery. Within a few days after surgery, I was able to drive at night without a problem. Oncoming lights do not look like sun bursts. On the golf course, I can now follow the ball while before my playing partners had to watch my ball (in order for me to find it after a shot). While watching television, I do not have to raise my eyelids to see as I did before surgery.
Woman--65 years of age or older
Dear Dr. Mauriello:
Immediately after surgery, the pain was a 6 out of 10 (where 6 is the pain of a small cut). I experienced discomfort that continued longer than I expected but overall I was told what to expect and had no major misconceptions.
In the recovery room and the first day, I did not like not being able to see because of nonstop use of cold compresses over both eyes.
The worst part of the entire surgery was the facial discoloration and stiffness of the eyelids that lasted longer than a month. I resumed normal full activity after 15 days.
After surgery, I had a better appearance, improvement in vision, and I no longer feel the need to raise my eyebrows in order to see more clearly. Reading, driving, and watching television improved 7 to 10 days after surgery. I look younger and do not look tired.
Woman--50 to 65 years of age
Dear Dr. Mauriello:
MY REASONS FOR PLASTIC SURGERY
I decided to have plastic surgery on my eyes because of heaviness of the eyelids and difficulty reading.
INITIAL CONSULTATION
The information that I was given was very detailed. I did not have any misconceptions going into surgery.
POSTOPERATIVE COURSE
It is helpful to have some one to help you...The ice and Tylenol by mouth are helpful in relieving the temporary discomfort.
I resumed normal full activity after 7 days. The tightness lasted 3 weeks. The greatest functional benefit has been my ability to read. I also feel refreshed. There was no scars and no aspect of the final result could be better. I would have surgery again if needed.
Comment by Dr. Mauriello: This particular patient had a brief episode of bleeding after surgery and was observed in the recovery room. Surprisingly, she did not mention this experience.
Woman--65 years of age or older
Dear Dr. Mauriello:
MY REASONS FOR PLASTIC SURGERY
I decided to have plastic surgery on my eyes because of heaviness of the eyelids and difficulty reading.
INITIAL CONSULTATION
Dr. Mauriello explained the procedure thoroughly.
POSTOPERATIVE COURSE
I was most aware of swelling and discoloration of the eyelids the first day. The most surprising part of the surgery was the pressure on the face. On a scale of 0 to 10, where 10 was the worst backache, I had a 3. I was able to go home the day of surgery without discomfort. I felt good after the first visit to Dr. Mauriello.
AFTER SURGERY
The puffiness of the lower eyelids was gone and my eyes appear larger. I look younger and refreshed and would have the surgery again.
Woman--65 years of age or older
Dear Dr. Mauriello:
I had no misconceptions going into surgery.
I had pain during the surgery and was uncomfortable in the recovery room.
After surgery, I did not look tired and looked better. I resumed normal full activity 14 days after surgery and waited to wear makeup for 21 days.
It took about 4 weeks for the scars to be imperceptible and for the tightness (of the eyelids) to dissipate.
I enjoyed reading, driving and watching television. I look younger. I was less sore by day 7 and better by day 10 and felt well at day 14. I would have the surgery again.
Man-- 50 to 65 years of age
Dear Dr. Mauriello:
I had somewhat tired, swollen eyes the first day.
After surgery and everything healed, I enjoy watching television, driving and reading with improved peripheral vision and the eyelid skin no longer hangS over the eyes. My eyes look open and awake and I look refreshed.
I am no longer tired after reading by the end of a full working day. The results were excellent.
Woman--50 to 65 years of age
Dear Dr. Mauriello:
The most surprising part of the actual surgery was that I thought the surgery would take longer than it actually did. I had no misconceptions. The worst part was that my lids felt heavy after surgery. I felt tired in the recover room and at home the first day. The day after surgery, it is a good idea to rest and use the ice packs
I knew there would be swelling and I would be black and blue. I assumed that the ice would cure the swelling and it did. I resumed normal full activity for 5 days but no vigorous exercise
Ten days after surgery, I was in a club fashion show.
The tightness lasted 14 days. I was then able to read, drive, and watch TV.
Man--65 years of age or older
Dear Dr. Mauriello:
I had upper lid surgery because of lines obstructed my vision. Before surgery, these lines disappeared when I lifted my eyelids with my fingers.
I had no misconceptions going into surgery but would have benefited from a better description of the whole surgical process ahead of time. There was minimal discomfort but the worst part of the surgical experience was the anticipation the day of surgery. I feel refreshed and younger and am extremely pleased with the lower eyelid surgery because of the drastic results. I no longer see any lines in my field of vision.
I resumed full activity in one to 2 weeks. I would undergo surgery if needed from the point of view of upper eyelid affecting vision.
Comment by Dr. Mauriello: The importance of being prepared for surgery is highlighted in the above patient’s comments is a common thread in almost all responses.
Woman--50 to 65 years of age
Dear Dr. Mauriello:
On the anniversary of my eye surgery, I am still so glad about the job you did. Every day I appreciate that my eyes are open, but not unnecessarily so, and that the shape is oval, but not slanted.
All my friends and family feel my eyes look very normal…and now that they think about it, maybe my eyes were rather narrow before. One of my friends also decided to have this surgery but I couldn’t recommend you because she lives abroad. In addition, I do not feel that constant pressure on my cornea, and of course, I look younger-even younger than before…!
So I want to thank you again for the spectacular job you did…
Dear Dr. Mauriello:
The surgery that was performed on my upper eyelids was necessary. The skin on my upper lids became so loose and heavy that my eyelids were drooping and interfering with my vision. Since the surgery, my field of vision improved. I am now able to read again without pain or encumbrance. This improvement is very important to me because I am an English teacher and read extensively.
Woman—65 years of age or older
Dear Dr. Mauriello:
The eyelid surgery took longer than expected since I had previous cataract surgery which seemed shorter. I was very tired after surgery and took naps every day for 3 weeks. The eyeball was tender and especially sore when I washed my face but overall the pain was not very bad. I was not fully prepared for the degree of redness of the eyelids that lasted several days.
After surgery, it is important to have a system for using the hot compresses. As Dr. Mauriello suggested, I sat by the sink to apply heat after the eyelids were healed.
Now that the healing is over, I feel greatly refreshed. The scars were not noticeable after 2 weeks. I can now read better and would definitely have surgery again. I had dryness of the lower eyelids but that was not very uncomfortable. I was able to return to full activity after 14 days.
Comment by Dr. Mauriello: The first week, it may be better to apply cooled
previously boiled water rather than hot water from the tap to avoid wound
contamination until the eyelid sutures are dissolved or are removed.
Woman—65 years of age or older
Dear Dr. Mauriello:
I had absolutely no pain after surgery and no misconceptions prior to the surgery. Before surgery, my right upper eyelid was lower than my left upper lid.
Overall, after surgery, I am able to see better in the distance after my eyelids were elevated. I feel refreshed.
The tightness lasted 2 to 3 months. I experienced some dryness of the eyes after surgery that was partially relieved by eye drops (topical over the counter-lubricants).
Man—65 years of age or older
Dear Dr. Mauriello:
I was very pleased with the operation on my eyes. After surgery, I have a greater area of vision and I also experienced about 50% reduction in tearing in both eyes. Both these factors make the surgery worthwhile. Before the surgery, the margins of my upper eyelids were covered by skin. When I look in the mirror now, I can see my upper lids.
I was never aware of any scars. I had tightness for 3 weeks or so.
I experienced no pain after surgery. I had double vision for about one hour after the surgery and I felt pretty normal. I was prepared for even more swelling. I appear less tired looking around my eyes and appear younger and refreshed. I started to play tennis 14 days after surgery and resumed normal full activity two days after surgery.
I would have the surgery again, if needed. Dr. Mauriello, thank you for your help.
Comment by Dr. Mauriello: Tearing may result from multiple causes. At times excess skin overhanging the upper eyelid margins interferes with the blink and, therefore, the tear film. Tearing results. It is important to distinguish patients with true ptosis in which simply elevating the eyelid margin by advancement the levator aponeurosis (blepharoptosis repair) from excess upper lid skin (dermatochalasis). In patients with excess skin, the blepharoplasty may improve tearing. In almost any patient who undergoes ptosis repair, excess skin will result due to an accordion effect in which the skin bunches up as the eyelid is elevated. Insurance companies only consider skin that overhangs the lashes as functional even through a blepharoplasty should almost always accompany a ptosis repair. In such patients, the blepharoplasty component is considered cosmetic.
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