Re: Re: Paige's Second Surgery

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I will do my best to explain what the doctor told me but please note that each doctor advises based on each patient individually. Basically, Paige's doctor (Dr. Dutton at the UNC School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA) said that he likes to wait as long as possible before completing the inside corner surgery because the nasal bridge will naturally narrow as children grow. However, once the child is big enough (4-5 years of age) or if eyesight is adversely affected, the corner surgery is completed first as it releases some of the tension in the eyelid because people with BPES don't have enough skin vertically.

The following is my interpretation of what a person's eyelid is like with BPES. Like a shade going up and down over a window, such is a person's lid who has BPES. In a person without BPES, the open eyelid will roll back over the eyeball creating a lid crease because of the increase amount of skin and because the eyeball seems to stick out a little further. Paige and I never had that crease until it was surgically created by our doctors and I feel like in our case our eyeballs are set back a little in our heads (thus the shade over a window example). Like I said, this is ONLY my humble interpretation of how I understand BPES. The doctors never described it like this to me. I just noticed the difference when my second daughter was born without BPES and I thought her eyeballs stuck out too far but I think it was just me getting used to seeing someone without BPES. I also remember seeing my second daughter's

ultrasound pictures and I immediately noticed that her eye-sockets were huge when I compared them to my first daughter's eye-sockets and I knew then that my second daughter probably wouldn't have BPES. I haven't shared this information with anyone else and if you think I'm crazy - I apologize. They are only things that I have noticed.

Anyway, back to what the doctor said... The other reason for doing the surgeries separate in Dr. Dutton's opinion was that he didn't want the two incisions working against each other (i.e. the stitches and silicone strands) during her recovery. Not sure if it is due to swelling or simply having 6 incisions on each eye. I just know that doing it all in one surgery was not an option for Paige's doctor.

I would encourage you to go with what your doctor advises for Sam, especially since your surgery was successfully done in one surgery as well. I just went with what I knew, and my surgery was done in two separate surgeries. Also, maybe your doctor has another explanation as to why the surgery is completed in one operation. If you have that, please share because it would be interesting to hear that perspective as well.

Best wishes for Sam's upcoming surgery!

Charlotte, NC, USA

blepharophimosis Re: Paige's Second Surgery

Hi I was really interested reading your posts because I have a son who isdue to undergo surgery on July this year, he will be 4 and a half. Hewill have the same as Paige but in one surgery. Ever since I got thecall from the hospital, it has been going through my head constantlywhether or not I get both done. I have BP like Sam and I have had the same surgery as yourself butdone in one operation. I had never thought twice about having bothdone for Sam before until recently and then I read your explanation asto why it is good to have the inner corners done. It is so hard tochange his appearance but at the same time....Paige look amazing. The surgery is fantastic. Where did Paige havethis done?, Glasgow x

[Guest guest]

I forgot to mention that I posted a recent picture of Paige (and her sister) under "Paige and ". It is about 1 month post-op. Paige is doing really well.

blepharophimosis Re: Paige's Second Surgery

Hi I was really interested reading your posts because I have a son who isdue to undergo surgery on July this year, he will be 4 and a half. Hewill have the same as Paige but in one surgery. Ever since I got thecall from the hospital, it has been going through my head constantlywhether or not I get both done. I have BP like Sam and I have had the same surgery as yourself butdone in one operation. I had never thought twice about having bothdone for Sam before until recently and then I read your explanation asto why it is good to have the inner corners done. It is so hard tochange his appearance but at the same time....Paige look amazing. The surgery is fantastic. Where did Paige havethis done?, Glasgow x

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I just looked at your pictures...what gorgeous girls you have.

Paige looks wonderful.

Take Care,

Ontario, Canada

blepharophimosis Re: Paige's Second Surgery

Hi I was really interested reading your posts because I have a son who isdue to undergo surgery on July this year, he will be 4 and a half. Hewill have the same as Paige but in one surgery. Ever since I got thecall from the hospital, it has been going through my head constantlywhether or not I get both done. I have BP like Sam and I have had the same surgery as yourself butdone in one operation. I had never thought twice about having bothdone for Sam before until recently and then I read your explanation asto why it is good to have the inner corners done. It is so hard tochange his appearance but at the same time....Paige look amazing. The surgery is fantastic. Where did Paige havethis done?, Glasgow x

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeniffer,

Paige looks really great!!! My daughter a had her first epicanthus surgery done 5 month ago by Collin in London.

Unfortunately there were some complications with the self resorbable stitches, which did not resorb but got infected and had to be pulled out after 8 weeks, she has bad scars now. I wonder what you have done to treat the scars and if they are still visable.

a's 2nd surgery is scheduled for July. Mr Collin said that she might not be able to close her eyes after the sling procedure any more. I wonder if Paige had or has any problems with closing her eyes after her second surgery?

Thank you!

Anja (Germany)

blepharophimosis From: happyappykd@...Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:26:47 -0700Subject: Re: blepharophimosis Re: Paige's Second Surgery

I forgot to mention that I posted a recent picture of Paige (and her sister) under "Paige and ". It is about 1 month post-op. Paige is doing really well.

blepharophimosis Re: Paige's Second Surgery

Hi I was really interested reading your posts because I have a son who isdue to undergo surgery on July this year, he will be 4 and a half. Hewill have the same as Paige but in one surgery. Ever since I got thecall from the hospital, it has been going through my head constantlywhether or not I get both done. I have BP like Sam and I have had the same surgery as yourself butdone in one operation. I had never thought twice about having bothdone for Sam before until recently and then I read your explanation asto why it is good to have the inner corners done. It is so hard tochange his appearance but at the same time....Paige look amazing. The surgery is fantastic. Where did Paige havethis done?, Glasgow x

Immer dabei! Holen Sie sich Ihre Mails aufs Handy!

[Guest guest]

Hi Anja,

I'm sorry to hear about your daughter's stitches. Paige's scars are still visible, however, they are healing nicely with some scar ointment I found at my local pharmacy. I also make sure I put sunscreen on her scars each time we are out in the sun. The scars on the inside corners have healed very well (that surgery was done in January) and are barely visible. The doctor assured me that all of her scars would become less and less visible over time. I agree with him as the scars from my surgery are barely visible.

Regarding a's ability to close her eyes, Paige's doctor said it was possible that her eyes would not fully close either. However, he was only referring to when she is asleep. I have always slept with my eyes slightly open and it never bothered me until recently as it has led to dry eyes. The doctor explained that as you get older, you produce fewer tears, which can lead to dry eyes especially if you sleep with your eyes open. So in the past few years I have begun using eye drops. Not the water-like drops but the gel-like drops and they help tremendously. It is important to keep the eyes lubricated because otherwise the eyes can become infected if the cornea is scratched due to the dryness. I put them in Paige's eyes most nights as well. One thing to note, when a has her lid-lift surgery, the ability to close her eyes right after surgery will be a

little more difficult at first due to the swelling. In Paige's case, as the swelling went down, I was amazed at how much better she could close her eyes (while sleeping) only a few days later.

Best wishes to a and you for her upcoming surgery! It is difficult to go through with them but for Paige it was definitely worth it. The day Paige had her surgery she was so excited because she said she could see her grandmother's hair and face at the same time. I was thrilled for her!

blepharophimosis Re: Paige's Second Surgery

Hi I was really interested reading your posts because I have a son who isdue to undergo surgery on July this year, he will be 4 and a half. Hewill have the same as Paige but in one surgery. Ever since I got thecall from the hospital, it has been going through my head constantlywhether or not I get both done. I have BP like Sam and I have had the same surgery as yourself butdone in one operation. I had never thought twice about having bothdone for Sam before until recently and then I read your explanation asto why it is good to have the inner corners done. It is so hard tochange his appearance but at the same time....Paige look amazing. The surgery is fantastic. Where did Paige havethis done?, Glasgow x

Immer dabei! Holen Sie sich Ihre Mails aufs Handy!

[Guest guest]

my son lynden has had 5 surgeries... and his second last surgery was a redo of his inner corners, however he scarred differently and had raging red scars, we were told by our surgeon to put cortisone, after putting it on "very sparingly" the scars are starting to fade.. maybe try that or see what your doctor thinks about thatTonikka and Lyndenedmonton CANADAOn 19-Jun-08, at 2:42 PM, Anja Shahin wrote: Hi Jeniffer, Paige looks really great!!! My daughter a had her first epicanthus surgery done 5 month ago by Collin in London.Unfortunately there were some complications with the self resorbable stitches, which did not resorb but got infected and had to be pulled out after 8 weeks, she has bad scars now. I wonder what you have done to treat the scars and if they are still visable. a's 2nd surgery is scheduled for July. Mr Collin said that she might not be able to close her eyes after the sling procedure any more. I wonder if Paige had or has any problems with closing her eyes after her second surgery?  Thank you! Anja (Germany)blepharophimosis From: happyappykd Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:26:47 -0700Subject: Re: blepharophimosis Re: Paige's Second SurgeryI forgot to mention that I posted a recent picture of Paige (and her sister) under "Paige and ".  It is about 1 month post-op.  Paige is doing really well.  blepharophimosis Re: Paige's Second SurgeryHi I was really interested reading your posts because I have a son who isdue to undergo surgery on July this year, he will be 4 and a half. Hewill have the same as Paige but in one surgery. Ever since I got thecall from the hospital, it has been going through my head constantlywhether or not I get both done. I have BP like Sam and I have had the same surgery as yourself butdone in one operation. I had never thought twice about having bothdone for Sam before until recently and then I read your explanation asto why it is good to have the inner corners done. It is so hard tochange his appearance but at the same time....Paige look amazing. The surgery is fantastic. Where did Paige havethis done?, Glasgow xImmer dabei! Holen Sie sich Ihre Mails aufs Handy! Tonikka & ChrisLynden,Hunter,Avery