By our Smarty friends at Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates, P.A.
Your best friend wants to stop looking tired all the time and has decided to have eyelid surgery. As her BFF, you want to be there for her and be supportive. So, what can you do to help everything go as smoothly as possible?
What is a drooping eyelid?
First, let’s educate you on exactly what she’s getting done. Yes, she’s getting eyelid surgery – also known as a blepharoplasty – but why? Well, as we age, the skin and muscles in our eyelids can stretch and weaken, giving our eyes a droopy, tired appearance. While this is the most frequent cause of drooping eyelids, it can also happen if someone had an injury or illness.
How can I help my friend?
Prior to surgery, your friend will need to go for a pre-operative appointment with her doctor. Go along and listen to the doctor’s instructions with her. Some people can feel overwhelmed by everything they’ll have to remember, and your friend will appreciate having a second set of ears to help keep track of everything she’ll need to know, CEENTA Ophthalmologist and Oculoplastics Specialist Catherine Cuite, MD, said.
Catherine Cuite, MD
Drooping eyelid surgery is an outpatient procedure, so your friend doesn’t have to worry about checking into the hospital overnight. Still, she will need a ride to and from the surgery center or her doctor’s office, since she won’t be able to drive herself. What would be a more appreciated gesture than volunteering to be your friend’s ride?
You also have the opportunity to remind your friend what she should and shouldn’t do before the procedure. For example, remind her not to take any blood thinners or use her retinol-based skin care products right before her surgery, Dr. Cuite said. Also, suggest she wear a button-down shirt, since her doctor won’t want her wearing anything she’ll have to pull over her head.
How do I help during the recovery period?
While your friend won’t have any bandages around her eyes, she will still have some swelling and discoloration. She’ll have to apply cold compresses when she’s home, but before you leave CEENTA, help her pick out a nice, large pair of sunglasses. Not only will she look fashionable, but she’ll be able to hide the bruising until it clears up.
Your friend will also not be able to exert herself for two weeks after the procedure. While she can go to work, she can’t run around or exercise. If she has kids, that’s easier said than done. Volunteering to take her kids out for a day will give her some much-needed relaxation during her recovery.
Surgery, even facial plastic surgery, can be intimidating. Staying by your bestie’s side during this time can be a much-needed comfort. And someday, she may return the favor.
This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your doctor. Dr. Cuite sees patients in our SouthPark office. To make an appointment with her or any of CEENTA’s facial plastic surgery experts, call 704-295-3000.
Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates
