Eyelid issue

[Cheryl R]

I had an interesting visit to see an oculoplastic surgeon at Univ of Iowa to see what could be done about my very puffy poochy eyelid on the side where have had the facial neuroma and nerve graft along with another AN.       My surgeon said he was the one to see when mentioned it at my appt earlier this year.        I can see a little of the overhang  even.     They first did a visual field test to see how well my vision is and then with the area taped up.          Residents drs saw me and said yes I do have some visual impairment.        The surgeon then saw me and immed told me that it is not the eyelid causing the problem but the eyebrow due to my lack of movement with that area.         Just pushing my eyebrow up made a difference.      Surgery to help this he said is cosmetic in spite of having some visual problem.      In time I might qualify.        I was quite surprised and also that why didn't I figure that out.         Even more is why my surgeon did not mention this.         I would think he might have a clue about that being the possibilty due to his doing ANs for many years.                I am going to talk to my ins co and see what their take is.     Other than they will agree it is cosmetic I am sure.              So made a trip for nothing but had a nice getaway as a friend went with me this time and not husband.       Plus would take a different surgery than expected to fix this is ever do go thru it. 
       I was also mentioned having some synkinesis in the eye area and he said Botox can be done for that.     I get by and not sure want that.                                                     Cheryl R                                 

[Debbi]

Hi Cheryl-

I've read about a couple of people who've had the eyebrow lifted to improve sight and I am pretty sure that insurance will cover it if the surgeon puts it through as medically necessary.  In fact, I have a good friend who had both eyebrows lifted and some fat removed from her lids - they had gotten so droopy that they were interfering with her vision.  And, insurance covered the whole thing.  Worth checking, even if you decide not to do it.  Seems like you've been through enough already! 

Debbi

[Cheryl R]

My whole visit had it all being done to show ins I needed it and everyone talked about that so is even more surprising that then the dr seemed to think different.        I don't know if my lack of movement is a factor too.    Anyway will try to check into it more. 
                                                 Cheryl R

[Kaybo]

"functional plastic surgery" I believe is the wording that they used for mine for insurance purposes...

K   

[moe]

I have also noticed that I can see so much better when I lift my forehead up on the affected side, so that is one of the things on my to do list after I recover from this face surgery.
Hopefully your insurance will cover it.
It may make a real difference for you!
Maureen

[mimoore]

I wonder if they would do blepharoplasty? I would need that, an eyebrow lift would make me look surprised. Maybe they would be reluctant to do it if your eye doesn't close or blink? Hmmmmm interesting.

 http://www.medicinenet.com/blepharoplasty__eyelid_surgery/article.htm

Michelle 

[Cheryl R]

Michelle,       I would think that the oculo plastic surgeon should have made some mention of that if it was an option for me.    The people who did my visual field test was talking to each other about my being a candidate for ptosis surgery.       I have not done any more checking into it yet and might be a bit of time before I do with some other things going on.       I am not the normal one for some of these surgeries with the no eyebrow movement.     Could I  get messed up and lose my blink which I do have and around 98-99% eye closure.       Add these all to the things ANs can cause.                     
                                                           Cheryl R

[sgerrard]

I wonder if they would do blepharoplasty?

Not every day that someone wonders that. You are getting into some pretty fancy lingo, I must say.   

Steve

[Jim Scott]

I wonder if they would do blepharoplasty?

Not every day that someone wonders that. You are getting into some pretty fancy lingo, I must say.   

I thought I was the only one who did that! 

For those who are wondering (all 3 of you) 'blepharoplasty' is the medical term for what most of us would call an 'eye lid lift'. 

Jim

[mimoore]

haha you guys are funny - isn't google a wonderful thing?

I have always wanted an 'eyelid life' but was told I need to wait but now with complications from an AN who knows?.
Michelle 

[Cheryl R]

Michelle, I hope you mean you wanted an eye lid lift as we all have an eye lid life!   Or we hope we do anyway!       LOL!            I am putting my interest in it off for  a while as several things coming up thru June.       it's not going to get any better on it's own but have lived with worse things!                         Cheryl R         

[mimoore]

That is so funny Cheryl - yes I want an eyelid life and lift! 
Michelle