Laser Peels/ Cosmetic Surgery Recovery- recovering fast tips
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free skin care · Tue Nov 02, 2010 10:37 am

I am thinking about doing another Micro Laser Peel. I love the results, but of course, I hate the recovery.

Is there anything I can do to make myself recover faster? It stinks being stuck at home for days and you keep wanting to go out, but can't because you're face is covered in Aquaphor.

I think I read on here recently that emu oil helps with recovery? If so, would that burn the skin?

Any tips one can share about how to recover faster from a big laser peel? Besides taking arnica, Vitamin C, pomegranate pills, etc...

Also, has anyone ever gotten their upper eyelids done? I feel like I'm too young for it, but I do think it would help. I have noticed that when I open my eyes more they look much better. It's just hard to keep that "open" position at rest and not concentrate on it.
If so, did it hurt? What is the quickest way to recover from it?

Any advice one can give for those or any procedures would be extremely helpful! Thanks.

free skin care · Tue Nov 02, 2010 3:34 pm

Skitahoe wrote:

I am thinking about doing another Micro Laser Peel. I love the results, but of course, I hate the recovery.

Is there anything I can do to make myself recover faster? It stinks being stuck at home for days and you keep wanting to go out, but can't because you're face is covered in Aquaphor.

I think I read on here recently that emu oil helps with recovery? If so, would that burn the skin?

Any tips one can share about how to recover faster from a big laser peel? Besides taking arnica, Vitamin C, pomegranate pills, etc...

On the emu oil - I used it after a couple of peels (glycolic and TCA). No burning; it is gentle. I don't think it sped up my recovery.

You may want to research copper peptides. They are supposed to be helpful for wound healing. There are some pros/cons to CPs.

free skin care · Sun Nov 07, 2010 12:53 pm

Thanks for the tip.

I love the results of laser resurfacing, but I never have the time to go through the recovery process.

What's the best makeup for covering redness and dry, flaky skin due to the peel? I have a good sunscreen that's tinted. It worked for the most part. I looked like a lizard for about a week. The redness by my temples was the slowest to go away. It almost stayed that way for a month! It's very good now and not there anymore.

Any mineral makeups that cover well? It's very hard to cover up dry, flaky skin. Usually, my skin is an oily mess.

Any other tips are greatly appreciated.

free skin care · Sun Nov 07, 2010 12:54 pm

Also, I wonder what I can put on my face to hydrate it (they tell you to put Aquaphor on), but it always clogs my pores.

Can I put any other thing on that doesn't clog the pores, but hydrates it?

Hyluaronic Acid is good, but it goes right through the dry, flaky skin.

free skin care · Sun Nov 07, 2010 1:15 pm

Skitahoe wrote:

Also, I wonder what I can put on my face to hydrate it (they tell you to put Aquaphor on), but it always clogs my pores.

Can I put any other thing on that doesn't clog the pores, but hydrates it?

Hyluaronic Acid is good, but it goes right through the dry, flaky skin.

How about Aloe gel to hydrate? Or maybe am oil over the HA? Jojoba, rosehip, or maybe something else you have on hand that doesn't clog your pores.

To cover the redness of your skin, try one of those green tinted creams. Eucerin and LaRoche-Posey both make them. It seems weird to put on green colored cream (I thought I would look like a martian or something...), but the Eucerin really helped to offset the redness. Just put in lightly on the red areas, under your makeup.

free skin care · Sun Nov 07, 2010 1:53 pm

Thanks ShastaGirl,

That's a great idea! I used to use aloe vera gel all the time.

Does it make you grow more facial hair though? I have a problem with ingrowns...

Are the Eucerin green creams oily? If so, then that's a problem... Laughing

free skin care · Mon Nov 08, 2010 10:07 am

I use emu oil, biafine, but I love Aquaphor. It doesn't clog my pores for some reason, but it is my number one stand by!

free skin care · Mon Nov 08, 2010 10:50 am

Thanks for responding!

AnnieR,

Did you not like the Emu Oil? I like Biafine and need to get some more. I don't know where to get it. CVS or Walgreen's?

You are so lucky that Aquaphor doesn't break you out! What's your secret?

free skin care · Mon Nov 08, 2010 2:12 pm

Hi There
I had eye lift surgery (bleph) done at the end of September - next to lazer eye surgery for my vision, this was the best thing I've ever done for myself. I was young to get it done (44yrs) ... at least my Dr said I was young !! .... The skin wasn't drooping; it was firm, but I had A LOT of it. I have always been self-conscious of it. The DR said that as I age, it would eventually start to droop. I couldn't even stand the feel of it. I felt like I had a truck sitting on my eyebrows, particularly if I had a headache or any sinus congestion.

I didn't have a complication as such, but did experience some side effects that the Dr didn't expect. My vision was blurry for a few days and my eyes got REALLY sensitive to light. The DR told me that he has never had that happen with someone who only had their lids done - it is normally something he sees when he does the skin under the eyes. I was off work for 3 weeks. If I didn't work on a computer all day, I would have been able to go back after 2wks. Even when I went back, my eyes were really tired and sore for the 1st week back. They also got dry really easily.

I tried using Mederma for the incision scars, but it didn't agree with me. I just started using CP's; however, I am progressing really slowly with them. I've started at the mildest eye cream and only use it once a day. Because of the issues some people have had with them, I am nervous to over use it or progress too quickly. My Dr okay'd using it, but said that I had to take it really slowly with them.

I have never been able to see my eye lid. Even though I have large eyes, It was pretty much eye and eyebrow. Now you can see my lid. It is pretty cool. My DH didn't mind me doing the procedure, but thought I was silly because it bothered me so much. He can't get over the results. He said my eyes look so much bigger and I look more awake. As far as procedures go, it is fairly inexpensive. It cost me $1600. It was done in his office under local anesthetic.

free skin care · Mon Nov 08, 2010 4:03 pm

Skitahoe wrote:

Thanks ShastaGirl,

That's a great idea! I used to use aloe vera gel all the time.

Does it make you grow more facial hair though? I have a problem with ingrowns...

Are the Eucerin green creams oily? If so, then that's a problem... Laughing

Wow, I've never heard of aloe causing facial hair. I use it in a serum instead of SKB, and I've not had problems, but I'm not prone to facial hair anyway...actually wish I DID have some eyebrows! Bad Grin

I didn't find the Eucerin green tinted cream oily. I know some of the Eucerin creams are incredibly rich - this one didn't seem quite so much. You might want to check if your derm may have a sample of one of the green-tinted creams. Mine did at one point.

free skin care · Mon Nov 08, 2010 4:54 pm

Another option to conceal redness is yellow. Benefit has a product called Lemon-aid; it is a yellow concealer meant for eyelids.

I actually find yellow works better to conceal the redness associated to a pimple than green. I have a yellow mineral makeup concealer that hides the redness almost completely.

free skin care · Tue Nov 09, 2010 9:18 am

I found the eventually the redness just fades on its own. I am very fair so it took a little longer, but it wasn't bad.
I love both emu and argon oil just out of both at the moment.
My biafine I had to have a RX for. Out of that as well! But my derm also recommends that to put on an acne spot as it is healing, takes the redness out and helps it heal faster.
As for Aquaphor, I am lucky but if i use it too long it can break me out. I just have to not overuse it. But we use it for hands, nose, feet, face and it is so multi-purpose.

free skin care · Wed Nov 10, 2010 7:25 am

My derm advised me to use Lucas Paw Paw Ointment after my Pearl Laser. I also applied Emu Oil and I healed very quickly. Emu Oil is supposed to be very good for burns. After a laser treatment it's very important to keep the skin "wet" which is why you have to apply a whole heap of grease to the skin to avoid it from drying out. I don't think Aloe Vera would be suitable because it sinks in. You have to apply a product that stays on the surface of the skin to provide a protective coating. Most derms suggest Vaseline/Petroleum Jelly.

I've also had an upper and lower bleph. Eyelid reduction isn't a major procedure - it's not painful. The worst thing is having to sleep upright for a week or so.

free skin care · Sat Nov 13, 2010 8:03 pm

Keliu, AnnieR ... or any other bleph people Smile

.... Did any of you have a problem with light sensitivity or dry eyes after the surgery?

I'm still having an issue with it. I had my surgery on September 24th. My eye lids didn't quite close as tightly as they should for quite a few weeks after the surgery. I could tell when I went to wash my face; I couldn't clamp my eyes tight enough to keep water from getting in them.

I am starting to think that my light sensitivity may be related to dry eyes. I have made an appointment to see my regular dr and will see if she thinks I should see a specialist. I was concerned that I may have scratched my cornea, so I want to rule that out.

free skin care · Sat Nov 13, 2010 8:14 pm

Time2Bme wrote:

Keliu, AnnieR ... or any other bleph people Smile

.... Did any of you have a problem with light sensitivity or dry eyes after the surgery?

I'm still having an issue with it. I had my surgery on September 24th. My eye lids didn't quite close as tightly as they should for quite a few weeks after the surgery. I could tell when I went to wash my face; I couldn't clamp my eyes tight enough to keep water from getting in them.

I am starting to think that my light sensitivity may be related to dry eyes. I have made an appointment to see my regular dr and will see if she thinks I should see a specialist. I was concerned that I may have scratched my cornea, so I want to rule that out.

No, I didn't have that problem. If you weren't able to close your eyes properly, then they could have dried out. Have you been using a saline solution to relieve them? BTW, the doctor shouldn't have removed so much skin that you were unable to close your eyes - have you talked to the surgeon about it?

Let us know what the doctor says.

free skin care · Sat Nov 13, 2010 8:15 pm

Lasers and IPL can ruin your skin. It happened to me a lot of other people.

Please, do chemical peels or microdermabrasion or anything else instead.

free skin care · Sat Nov 13, 2010 11:01 pm

Keliu wrote:

Time2Bme wrote:

Keliu, AnnieR ... or any other bleph people Smile

.... Did any of you have a problem with light sensitivity or dry eyes after the surgery?

I'm still having an issue with it. I had my surgery on September 24th. My eye lids didn't quite close as tightly as they should for quite a few weeks after the surgery. I could tell when I went to wash my face; I couldn't clamp my eyes tight enough to keep water from getting in them.

I am starting to think that my light sensitivity may be related to dry eyes. I have made an appointment to see my regular dr and will see if she thinks I should see a specialist. I was concerned that I may have scratched my cornea, so I want to rule that out.

No, I didn't have that problem. If you weren't able to close your eyes properly, then they could have dried out. Have you been using a saline solution to relieve them? BTW, the doctor shouldn't have removed so much skin that you were unable to close your eyes - have you talked to the surgeon about it?

Let us know what the doctor says.

My surgeon said that I would notice a big improvement within 2 wks. It has been one already. It has improved, but I really think that my eyes have gotten dried out. I haven't been as diligent as I should about the lubricating drops. I'm making a more conscious effort to put them in throughout the day. I'll feel better once my family DR takes a look at them ... and if needed refers me to a specialist. I just want to confirm that my cornea hasn't been irritated or scratched somehow.

I think (hope) that they will be fine once the swelling has completely gone down. I have a feeling that he didn't allow for swelling when it considered how much skin to take off. He kept having me close my eyes when he was marking my eyes with the Sharpie, but with the swelling, my eyes don't close the way they will once the swelling has completely gone. If you look at me, they look shut, but I know they definitely didn't when I first had the procedure done.

I'll post what the DR says ... it will definitely be something worth knowing about for anyone who is considering this procedure in the future. I wasn't counting on my eyes being effected ... hopefully it is a minor thing. Will keep everyone updated.

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