Fall of 2012 I bought a new eye pencil. After a couple of days I developed irritation so I stopped using it - too late - developed some kind of immune response to it and the skin around both eyes, mostly upper lids and outer corners was dry, scaly, red and swollen. Bounced between allergist, dermatologist, ophthalmologist and my primary MD for months trying to get it under control. Finally did but the damage was done. I've always had somewhat hooded lids but I was miserable with the way my eyes looked so had a bleph.

What specifically do you want to know about it? It's not a difficult procedure, it was done in my surgeon's office. I stayed home for a week and went back to normal activity after that. Are you fearful of the discomfort or something else? Do your homework on surgeons and interview the ones you consider. I knew immediately one was not for me although he is an excellent surgeon and I know many people who think he hung the moon.

Had lower and upper done 12 years ago. I inherited bags under my eyes. It's the best! No pain, some black and blue, and I still love the results. I used an ocularplastic surgeon that was highly recommended to me by several people. You can find them pretty easily. They have experience with different conditions with regards to plastic surgery that plastic surgeons don't have. They seem to take the less is more approach which I feel is important with plastic surgery to look more natural. JMHO.

I had an upper bleh 6 years ago. It was done in the doctors office and the recovery was easy, hardest part for me was sleeping on my back, elevated for a few days. No pain, some bruising I could cover up for a few weeks. So happy I had it done.

Mom had it done as her eyelid folds were hanging so low it impeded her vision. She still looked like herself afterwards, but she could see much better.

Had it done in 2005 and insurance covered it due to impeded vision from droopy eyelids. DH had it done a couple of years before I did. We used the same surgeon who came highly recommended. Both of us had both upper and lower lids done and elected to have the laser procedure done on our lower lids at the same time (insurance does not typically cover this). For me this part really enhanced the overall effect since it removed a lot of small wrinkles and also dark circles which were inherited that I had almost all my life.

There are numerous prep procedures, such as no make-up for several days, to avoid infections, and of course after. Plus lots of eye drops and such. For the laser procedure it was Vaseline on the undereye area and Benadryl when it started itching a couple of days post-procedure. You have to be careful not to rub your eyes and not disturb the stitches after the bleph procedure.

Yes, it can be a little uncomfortable for a couple of days (no pain), but rest, ice, sleeping upright as others have noted, are all part of it. But I would do it again in a minute for the results.

My son's dad had it done on the recommendation of his opthamologist. He said it was a breeze, done under local anesthesia. He went to work the next day, which was not recommended but he did it anyway because he had no pain or swelling. He looks refreshed and rested but it's not obvious that he had something done.

My dad had it done last year, after he'd reached the point where he actually had to hold his eyes up in order to read for any length of time. He had both eyes done in separate procedures (which were a breeze), and has been thrilled with the results.

Mid to late 40s, I kept telling DH if my eye lids kept falling that when I turned 50yo, I was going to get them done. They were not that bad, but bothered me in pictures. I met three friends in Chicago for a girl's trip. As soon as I saw the pictures and got back home, made an appointment the next week. Had the upper eyelids done 6 years ago end of June. One of the best decisions I've ever made. There was no pain after the surgery, but getting the stitches out somewhat hurt. Felt like little bee stings but nothing unbearable.

Just to reiterate what Outside mentioned about laser. It's a very important component especially if you are getting the lower lids done. It tightens up the loose skin under the eyes plus smooths and tightens skin around the eyes.

I had it done in 2003 at 58. I had bad bags. Hooding wasn't too bad so not much needed to be done up there besides balancing everything.

I bruise like a champ so there was that, but it really went away quickly. I had a couple of weeks off work (took extra time at Christmas which seemed innocuous). Within a couple of days I went out with makeup and dark glasses.

I took selfies every day. As bad as my bruising was that first day, I looked in the mirror and the bags were gone. I was very happy.

The pain is minor. It is very tender to the touch, like a bad bruise, but otherwise not painful. I went into surgery totally ready and nonanxious. I wanted those bags gone and that's what happened.

Thanks for the endorsement, jerseygirl. I figure if you're going through the bleph process, you might as well have the laser procedure at the same time since the recovery time is about the same. And it definitely enhances the overall results.

Funny this should come up as I was just looking into it. Last week DH and I had passport photos taken and while I have always known my eyelids are hooded and someday I would want them lifted, I realized looking at that photo the time has come. And I turn 50 tomorrow. Lovely. So, I will have a couple of consultations and perhaps have it done this summer. Like another poster, I have frequent irritation to my eyelids, I think possibly from mineral makeup, where they become dry, extra large and scaley. Not a good look. Good luck if you decide to go through with it. It sounds like, barring any unforseen complications, you won't regret it.

Ok, let me show my ignorance. My neighbor got that done and her incision was in the fold or crease I think. A co worker had it done where the incision was in her eyebrows which were shaved. Is that normal? I would be afraid that I would then have to draw eyebrows on the rest of my life.

Where should the incision be?

I noticed in the eye color thread a hooded eye and thought about this. We have a family friend in her 60s who recently had this done. Insurance covered hers also as it was affecting her eyesight. I don't believe she had/needed anything done to the lowers. BUT, she looks wonderful! She is an attractive lady, is aging well and has had no previous work. She bruised a good bit but within a couple of weeks she looked so well rested, even younger. Nothing too obvious, just a better version of herself.

In the eyebrow sounds extremely wrong.

I've never heard of in the eyebrow. That would give me pause. Eyebrows are weird and sometimes they never grow back.

My upper incision was in the crease and the lowers right under the lash line. I had my stitches out 4 days after surgery and by then everything was really starting to itch. Once the stitches were out I felt so much better.

Thanks, all! You have reassured me for certain! My doctor has said it would be simple, no muscles involved but removal of overhanging tissue. My father had to have this done before he was 50. I don't have the under eye bags accompanying, though!

I actually had to have a brow lift along with my bleph. My brows were lifted almost 1/2". It definitely made a difference in my vision-I went to get new glasses and found my prescription had changed drastically as a result of the heavy lids no longer impinging on my eyeballs.

Because mine involved cutting along my hairline, I don't really remember much discomfort at my eyes-they just felt a bit itchy. I have no scars-my plastic surgeon was amazing-she got the incision just along my hairline and you can't see the scar at all. On my lids, there is no scarring. It was a bit red for a while, but it didn't bother me.

Everyone commented on how good I looked-many didn't realize I actually had blue eyes, because they couldn't see them! I used to have to tilt my head back to see, that's how bad my eyelids were-and I wasn't even 50 when I had it done.