"It made a big difference in my overall self-confidence," Connell shared on Instagram
Credit: paul_g_connell/Instagram (2)
Paulie Connell is showing off his plastic surgery transformation.
The Irish entrepreneur, who's engaged to Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dolores Catania, shared that he underwent a lower blepharoplasty. In an Instagram post on March 7, Connell said that he got the procedure, which removes excess eyelid skin, to address sagging after his dramatic weight loss.
"Last year during my weight-loss journey, after dropping a significant amount of weight, as you would, I started to notice some extra skin around my eyes," he started the caption. "It’s one of those things that can happen when your body changes."
Connell revealed that his surgery was done by New Jersey surgeon Dr. Mark Karolak, "who performed a small skin pinch procedure."
"It’s a very simple, minimally invasive procedure, but for me it made a big difference in my overall self-confidence," he explained. "Just sharing part of the journey. Improving your health and yourself sometimes comes with small adjustments along the way — and that’s okay. Progress is progress and self care is what makes you as a person happy 😊"
Credit: paul_g_connell/Instagram
Connell went on to say that while some men question the procedure, it can make "a significance change in how you feel from the second you get up in the morning when you look in that mirror."
"Looking rested feeling fresh is a good medicine by any measure 🤌," he concluded.
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The blepharoplasty is an increasingly popular cosmetic surgery. Dr. Peter Lee, blepharoplasty specialist and CEO at Wave Plastic Surgery, previously explained the procedure (which can also be done on the upper eyelids) to PEOPLE.
“As we age, the upper eyelid skin loosens and sags over the eyes. This is especially true towards the outer corners of the eye, resulting in a more tired and sad appearance,” he said. “Upper blepharoplasty, commonly referred to as eyelid surgery, is a cosmetic procedure aimed at rejuvenating the upper eyelid region. It involves the removal of excess skin, fat, and sometimes muscle to create a more youthful and alert appearance.”
Dr. Lee also shared how the surgery is performed.
"The procedure typically starts with an incision along the natural crease of the upper eyelid and excising the excess skin, prominent fat, and muscle,” he said. “The goal is to naturally restore the upper eyelid to a youthful state. Typically, the surgery takes about an hour to perform, with recovery time of 2 weeks, the sutures are removed anywhere from 5 to 10 days after surgery.”
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