Tuesday Day 1 –day of procedure

Everybody keeps asking me if I am nervous but I am not in the least bit apprehensive. I have worked with Mr Haseeb for some years now and I know him well, he did my Laser Lipo some years ago. So I know that if, at any point in the procedure, I feel any pain or get nervous he will stop and sort everything out. Prior to the procedure I have my neck resurfaced with a CO2 laser as one of my colleagues wants to perfect a new technique. I am nothing if not a glutton for punishment.

The procedure starts with nerve blocks. This involves injections either side of my nose, which are quite uncomfortable but not actually painful. Mr Haseeb then “infiltrates” the outer edges of my eyes with local anaesthetic. This is a bit weird but not painful. Within minutes I am numb down the whole centre of my face ( my top lip didn’t go back to normal until about 7 hours later-now that is what I call numb!)

Mr Haseeb then makes an incision under my right eye, following the line of my lower lashes. I can feel a slight tugging sensation but no pain or discomfort. He then separates the skin and works on the fat under my eyes. Eye bags can be caused by a number of different things, one of which is a movement, or herniation, of fat pads from their original position under the eyes. This fat is not removed as this would cause a hollow effect. Instead Mr Haseeb tightens it up using a diathermy instrument-it’s a bit like a Barbecue effect but I try not to think about that now. I have a small bleeding vessel on the inner part of my eye which slows things down a bit. As all of you who know me will contest, I am a real bleeder! Once this is dealt with by a mixture of pressure and diathermy the skin is closed and that eye is done.

The other side takes only minutes as there are no problems and the procedure is complete. Mr Haseeb uses a dissolving stitch under the skin so that there is no need for removal and they are invisible at the skin surface. The wounds are covered with a thin line of glue and left to settle.

Once back home, I rest, feel sorry for myself, ( an important part of the healing phase in my opinion), keep cool packs on my eyes for about 4 hours and-oh yes- eat chocolates ( another vital part of the process) I sleep virtually sitting up in bed. I repeatedly apply Vitamin K cream to both eyes.

Wednesday Day 2-the following Day

Didn’t sleep all that well, due to position rather than anything else. The most obvious sensation during the night is as the nerve blocks are wearing off- I have discomfort down the whole centre of my face, from top lip up to my eyebrows but it is nothing too unpleasant and doesn’t keep me awake.

When I get up the centre of my face across my upper cheeks and lower eyelids is swollen and I have dark purple bruising, more under the right eye where I had the bleeding during the procedure.

I spend the morning taking it easy and using ice packs and Vit K cream to reduce swelling and bruising. My eyes feel really tight- and even blinking was noticeable in a most unusual way. Strangely, although I look as though I have done ten rounds with Mike Tyson, I am not in pain but I am aware of the pressure sensation caused by the swelling and relieve this with the cool packs.

In the afternoon I go to work at the clinic to see two clients having Carbon Dioxide laser. Working the day after plastic surgery is NOT really recommended as it tends to scare people but these clients have been warned and one actually said “oh I can’t wait to see you looking horrendous- does that make me really mean?” I explained that it actually put her in the same category as most of my clients, one of whom insists that I take photographs of any outbreaks, blemishes or lesions I may get in case she misses them due to appointment times.

Thursday Day Three- two days after the procedure

 Still swollen and bruised and conscious of the swelling and pressure sensation, however I have had plenty of laser treatments which have caused every bit as much swelling as this.. My eyes still feel tight, partly because of the glue covering the scars. I spend the day taking it easy except for a dental appointment where both the dentist and receptionist were fascinated. I use some oil to start to soften the glue but, once it spreads into my eyes it is like looking at the world through a soft focus lens (I might do it more often as I looked OK in the mirror) I still use cool packs and Vit K intermittently.

I have a warm bath in the evening and catch sight of myself in the mirror- swollen purple eyes, a bright red neck and a red stripe down my abdomen from a test patch of deep laser for skin tightening- I look truly delightful!

Friday Day Four- three days after the procedure

I am less swollen and the area immediately under my eyes is clearing of bruising. The scars are so fine and thin and already not very noticeable, quite remarkable really.  As the lines of glue have lifted there is a small area obvious on the right eye where the skin does not look knitted together so well. I email Mr Haseeb to ask if there is anything I should/could be doing to help and he replies that it is too early to see anything yet and not to worry. It’s a good job that he knows me as he recognises that patience has never been a strongpoint of mine.

I go to work at the clinic to see three clients who are all very interested in my current facial status.  Because I am not allowed to do any vigorous exercise for 2 weeks I  simply spend the evening with the television, relaxing.

Saturday Day Five- four days after the procedure

It’s Blue Festoon Day!  However, I am much less swollen this morning and cool packs reduce it in a few minutes. The bruising is tracking down my cheeks (isn’t gravity a wonderful thing?) and changing colour. I will go over to the clinic later and get one of the girls to Vbeam laser me on a bruise blasting setting.

I go out and about and do my shopping as usual. I look a bit like a battered wife but nobody seems to notice or, if they do they don’t make it obvious.

The only odd sensation now is a general tightness of the area (which is the whole point of the procedure when you come to think about it) and a pulling feeling at the outer edges of my eyes if I close my eyes tightly. This is due to the separate holding stitches which Mr Haseeb has explained will take about 6 months to dissolve. They help to hold the outer edges in place but they will not feel as tight as this for the whole time.

Tonight is Latoyah’s birthday bash and I am not missing out on that so I put on the old mineral make-up and go. This is strictly NOT ALLOWED for the first week so I am breaking all the rules. Nobody outside out party seems to notice which is fine, and the only reason anyone in the party really notices is because I tell them all!

Sunday Day 6-five days after the procedure

My bruises are coming on a treat, so to speak. They are changing colour and tracking down my cheeks in rainbow colours. They virtually cover with mineral make-up and I can avoid the wounds with it as the bruises are not close to them now. The swelling is going down on a daily basis but I can still feel the pressure across the centre of my face.

I do some light exercise but otherwise spend the day taking it easy. I no longer need cool packs or Vitamin K cream through the day as there has been no actual bleeding or bruising for some days now.

Monday Day 7-six days after the procedure

Only very slight, localised swelling is visible this morning which reduces in minutes with cool packs. I use mineral make-up to cover again and it is very successful.

I have a dental appointment first thing and the dentist and receptionist are both intrigued with my progress. Because my dentist does Botox and fillers she is fascinated to see the results of laser and surgical rejuvenation treatments.

I see Mr Haseeb at the clinic and he is very pleased with my progress. He reassures me that the pulling sensation at the outer corners of my eyes is due to a combination of swelling and stitches and will not last. I can begin to exercise again in one week from now.

I update my blog and then make a start on my pre/post instructions for this procedure and I am so glad that I have had it done myself before doing this as there really is nothing like speaking from first experience.

Tuesday Day 8 One week after the procedure

Bruising and swelling still reducing- I didn’t need cool packs at all this morning.

The bruises are tracking down my cheeks and fading slowly. The tight sensation is also reducing as the deep swelling reduces. The skin feels slightly tender while I am applying cream etc but otherwise I am not aware of it now.

Wednesday Day 9 Eight days after the procedure

My left under-eye is very slightly swollen and red this morning so I apply antibacterial cream but do not need cool packs. My bruises have now tracked further down my cheeks and are visible beneath my glasses so several clients ask me what I have been doing to myself. The interesting thing is that, although they notice the bruises, they are most surprised when I explain and peer closely at me to check out the scars. As usual there are lots of clients waiting to see the results, with a view to possibly booking in themselves.

After work, Karen treated me again with the Vbeam laser. We did a healing treatment.  

I may even go down to only 2 pillows tonight, who knows how exciting that will be!

Thursday Day 10 Nine days after the procedure

 This morning I have 2 yellow headed spots under my left eye, looking rather like a stye, and it is tender to the touch. I cleanse carefully and photograph it.

During the day it feels like occasional pinpricks under my eye and at 1pm I feel a sudden marked pin prick and have a sensation of liquid trickling down my cheek but when I look in the mirror there is nothing to see. However, the yellow spot in the centre is much reduced in size and the pressure sensation is gone. I presume that it has popped internally.

We decide that it would be useful to take some antibiotics as Mr Haseeb feels that I may have some small “stitch infections”. I start on them in the evening. This is almost certainly because I applied make-up too soon but Mr Haseeb is remarkably forgiving about me potentially messing up his fine work.

Friday Day 11 Ten days after the procedure

Already my eye is much less tender and there are no more yellow spots.  There is still some general swelling but it is not very noticeable. The bruises are still tracking down and fading every day.

The tight sensation is slowly reducing and I am no longer aware of the outer edges of my eyes all the time.

Saturday Day 12 Eleven days after the procedure

Hardly any visible swelling this morning and the bruises are much lighter. There is no tenderness under either eye now and the stitch infections are settling well.

I am out tonight at one of Emily’s gigs so I am grateful not to be looking quite so much of a freak as last week in town!

I am still taking the antibiotics and will do so for another few days but that is no problem at all. I can’t actually remember the last time I took them for anything but they do not affect me so all is well.

I can use much lighter make-up as the bruises are so pale. I am sure that, if I wasn’t such a bleeder, they would be gone by now but never mind.

Sunday Day 13 Twelve days after the procedure

I am sleeping on just two pillows now and the swelling is no longer a problem The bruises are still fading and the stitch infections are getting smaller and reducing each day so all is well.

I don’t bother with make-up today as I am not going anywhere so I will give my skin a rest.

Monday Day 14 Thirteen days after the procedure

No real visible swelling this morning and the bruising is almost gone. There is just some yellowing on the mid/lower cheeks and two small crescents of reddish blue colour below my eyes, which cover pretty easily with cover cream and make-up.

Tomorrow it will be two weeks since my procedure and I can begin exercising again which will be good. 

There is no tenderness at all now and, even when I blink my eyes tightly, the tight sensation is reduced significantly. The stitch infections are very small now and hardly noticeable at all under make-up. I am still taking the antibiotics until Wednesday so all is well.

The scars under my eyes are fading at a most amazing rate and already they are quite difficult to see. The scars at the outer edges are still slightly raised but settling virtually by the day. None of the scars are very red and I am very happy with the progress.

Tuesday Day 15 Fourteen days after the procedure

Started exercising again today which is a good thing. My eyes are settling by the day and the bruising is almost clear on the left. The little bumps under my left eye are shrinking nicely. Even the tight sensation at the outer corners of my eyes when I blink hard is virtually gone so everything is really comfortable now.

With make-up on the bruising is pretty well invisible now.

Wednesday Day 16 Fifteen days after the procedure

Much the same as yesterday really and I am just waiting for the last of the bruises to fade. I think it will be clear by the weekend. The under eye scars are fading fast and the ones at the outer eye edges are flattening and settling nicely.

Thursday Day 17 Sixteen days after the procedure

I am at the stage now when there is little visible change from one day to the next so I am going to write periodically from now on.

Tuesday Three weeks since the procedure

I now have tiny pink spots on the apples of my cheeks as the only remnants of the bruises. The dissolving stitches have obviously gone now, as the tiny end thread protruding from the skin wiped away with a cotton bud as I cleansed at the weekend.

The slightly lumpy appearance is now virtually gone as well and the skin is looking good. I will be able to massage the area from next week.

From here it is just a waiting game.

Four weeks since the procedure

Mr Haseeb is very pleased with the results so far- and so am I! I can start to massage the skin now. Upward sweeps from the inner to the outer edge of the eye with emphasis on the sides. The outer scars are still a tiny bit lumpy but this will settle with massage over the next few weeks.

When I put make-up on now it is genuinely hard to tell that anything has been done, and it is set to improve from here onwards – brilliant. 

Valentines Day is fast approaching once again, and once again, we are seeing a sharp rise in the number of people wishing to have their “ex-partners removed without a trace”.

Tattoos have been around for centuries, and when you are in the throes of passion, having your love’s name tattooed about your person probably seems the height of romance. You’re always going to love them, right? Not necessarily.

A lot can change over the years, and if you and your beau’s relationship doesn’t go the distance, for whatever reason, you could be left with an unwelcome reminder of that person, which you may want to get rid of.

The latest celebrity to begin removal of a tattoo is actress Eva Longoria. She is having the word ‘nine’ – ex-hubby’s basketball shirt number – removed from her neck. There are also reports that Cheryl Cole is considering having her famous ‘Mrs. C’ tattoo removed. You can read more about this on the laserase blog.

Over the years we have treated huge numbers of tattoos like these, and the success rate with laser treatment is very good indeed. Lasers are medically proven (the only method of tattoo removal which is), and they are predictable. We use them, and have been using them since we first began in 1993, because experience tells us that they are safe, predictable, and deliver reliable results. The alternative methods may be cheaper, but if they were better, we would use them. The sad fact remains that they nearly always leave considerable scarring – particularly those which involve injecting acid or ‘organic substances’ into the skin.

So if you’re thinking about getting your ex-partner’s name removed, we would advise opting for laser. Tattoos may not be permanent any more, but the scarring resulting from some alternative methods most definitely is. And if you really want rid – you want rid properly.

This week our Clinical Director, Jo Martin, had her very first cosmetic surgical procedure.

We’re sure you’ll all agree that she already looks fab, thanks to years of anti-ageing treatments and always being the willing first person to try out new treatments.

But we’ve decided to introduce blepharoplasty at the clinic, and of course that meant Jo was the first to sign herself up, all in the name of science you understand!

Blepharoplasty is the removal of excess skin from the eye area. It can be performed on both the upper and lower eyelids, and can also be carried out under a local anaesthetic, meaning you don’t have to be put to sleep.

First, the area is numbed with local anaesthetic, then an incision is made along the length of the eyelid. The fat pad is either repositioned, or tightened with a cautery pen, and the skin is then pulled tight over the area and stitched back together, with any excess skin being removed. The incision is hidden behind the eyelashes and within the crow’s feet, so will be invisible when it heals.

The Plastic Surgeon who carries out the procedure is the same gentleman who performs our other surgical procedures, Mr. Harris Haseeb. These include Vaser Lipolysis, minor ops for lumps and bumps and hair transplants. Mr. Haseeb has many years of experience in both the Private and NHS sectors, and specialises in Skin Cancers.

We will be posting a case study on our website, much as we did with Jo’s ePrime, just as soon as her face is looking back to normal, and any post-surgery bruising and swelling has settled.

So watch this space…!

Another week, another celebrity regretting their tattoos. This week it’s the turn of the daughter of Black Sabbath star Ozzy Osbourne.

Kelly Osborne has a number of tattoos, some of which she says she still holds very dear, but the two she is most unhappy with - a keyboard on her forearm and a heart and cross bones on her wrist – she has begun removal of.

She first begun to think about having them removed after accepting various acting jobs, for which the inkings had to be covered up. She realised that she did not miss them, and decided to look into laser removal.

As always you can read more about this story and more on the laserase blog.

We’ve been away for a couple of weeks for the festive season, but the celebrity tattoo stories just keep on coming!

The latest ‘celeb’ to unveil a new tattoo is Justin Bieber, with an inking of Jesus Christ on his calf. This has sparked controversy, as Bieber is only 17 years old.

However, the rules are slightly different in America, with no set age for the legal tattooing of minors. Some states do put the minimum age at 18, while others say there are no strict regulations as long as the minor in question has written permission from a parent or guardian.

But this once again raises the issue of whether children are yet old enough to make those sorts of decisions about their bodies. You may remember that last year, in one of our earlier blogs, we covered Peaches Geldof, who has around 20 tattoos, the first of which she got when she was just 14.

Geldof now regrets her inkings, saying she wishes her Dad had not been so lenient on her. As she puts it: “Fourteen year-old girls should not be allowed to have tattoos.” We agree entirely. But whether Justin Bieber comes to regret his 2nd religious tattoo remains to be seen. If he does, we’re sure we can help.

As always, you can read more about this story and more on the laserase blog.

With the remake of ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’ imminently to be released, this week’s Laserase blog looks back at some notable tattoos from the history of film.

You can read the blog by visiting the laserase website: http://www.laserase.com/blog/i-dont-know-whether-to-look-at-h/