I saw Dr. Custer at Washington University today. He thinks I have three basic choices (other than not doing anything). First is taking some stitches at either corner of my eye to make the exposed surface area smaller. The second is a weight implant, which he does. The third is an eyelid spring. He considers only a handful of surgeons nationwide are competent to do the eyelid springs, and even they have a 25% complication rate within the first year.
He does not think stitching would be optimal for me. I have no desire to go elsewhere for any more surgery, so we focused on weights. Dr. Custer uses platinum weights exclusively because there are fewer complications with reactions to the metal. I asked about platinum chains. He said he would order one if I was insistent, but he does not think the benefits outweigh the increased cost. He also thought the design would make it harder to remove later on because tissue would grow into the spaces of the links.
He has an opening in his surgical schedule tomorrow afternoon, so I am going back to have the procedure. He said I could expect to be sore for a couple of days, and black and blue for up to a month.
Risks are infection, shifting after insertion, and extrusion through the eyelid. He says I have thin skin so I will be at increased risk for extrusion, but he will place it as far down as possible to minimize the risk.
Nothing to eat or drink after midnight, so I'd better go down a tumbler of water. It is outpatient surgery and I will not be unconscious, but will be sedated.
I'll let you know how things go, probably Wednesday.
Sara
