My experience with upper eyelid surgery

I am writing this story exactly three months after the procedure. Like you, I had been considering upper eyelid surgery for a long time. No one had said that I needed it, but I could see in photos that I looked tired. And so my online search for other people’s experiences and results began.

Now that I am three months post-procedure, I can tell you that what I read online did not match reality. That is why I am trying to describe the experience properly.

I was quite nervous before the procedure because I didn’t know what to expect. But Dr. Wong quickly put me at ease. I lay down and was given a pillow under my legs to make me more comfortable. After a detailed explanation of the procedure, I was given a local anaesthetic. Because I have had Botox around my eyes for years, the injections weren’t too bad for me. Then your eyelids become numb and you can no longer open them. Your face is then covered with drapes, and everything feels warm and comfortable.

Dr. Wong asked whether I wanted her to explain what she was doing. I said yes, as it helped me understand how the procedure was progressing. You don’t feel or see anything while the skin is being removed. You don’t notice the blood vessels being cauterised either. You don’t see any light or anything like that. The first eye was finished more quickly than I expected. Talking during the procedure helped me, although I understand that some people would rather simply lie still. The whole procedure was over more quickly than I expected. I experienced no pain or other discomfort during the treatment.

After the procedure, I was taken to the recovery room, where cooling pads were placed over my eyes. Before I knew it, I was on my way home. The following week involved a little discomfort. For three days, I cooled my eyes every two hours with a bag of frozen peas. I also rested on the sofa and watched Netflix. Showering is allowed, and the water rinses the wounds clean. After three days, the dressings came off, which made a big difference. After a week, it was time to have the sutures removed. It was one long thread that was pulled out in one go. You can feel it, but it isn’t painful. Once the sutures were removed, I went outside again—wearing a cap or sunglasses—and went for walks and bike rides. My eyes were red, so it was clear that something had been done. After two weeks, the redness began to fade and the healing process started to show. I went back to work, but bought fake glasses online to cover my eyelids around my colleagues. Nobody at work said anything about it. I also applied scar cream twice a day. After a month, the scar was less noticeable and I could put the fake glasses away. The redness can be covered with a little make-up. Two people who know me well noticed the result straight away, and they were full of praise! After two months, I no longer needed make-up and I was very happy with the result. Three months later, it looks really good. So you need to give it some time before you can truly see the final result. You won’t feel or notice anything during the procedure. It’s more a matter of using your creativity in the following weeks to conceal the scar. Apart from two close colleagues and my family, nobody has commented on it.

I can therefore recommend Dr. Wong to everyone—not only because of her expertise as a doctor, but also because of the aftercare and the fact that you can call if you have any questions. It takes some time before you can truly see the final result, but then you have your fresh, cheerful look back.

Regards! Martijn van den Bergh.