Lower eyelid drooping and tired look after Blepharoplasty

I had an upper and lower blepharoplasty almost 3 weeks ago by an eyelid specialist cosmetic surgeon. I'm 41 and always had beautiful big eyes. However, the upper lids were starting to sag a bit and the lower lids were prematurely losing elasticity. I decided to go with the surgery, and now I'm totally discouraged and unhappy as I see myself looking tired. The left eye drooped a bit too, my doctor is saying that it's due to the swelling that is pulling the skin down.

I had added fillers added in the past to the lower eyelids to give me a fuller face and accentuate my eyes. Now that the fillers are gone, my face looks hollow under the eyes, and the skin also looks that it's pulled upward. Please help me, I'm desperate. Is this a passing phase or am I stuck with these results? Will these eventually improve over time?

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14 answers to “Lower eyelid drooping and tired look...”

A: Could take 3 months for swelling to subside

By William Portuese, MD - Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Even though it has only been three weeks after your blepharoplasty, it takes time for the swelling to subside. A low-salt diet will help reduce some of the swelling in the eyelids and prednisone pills also help if your physician is willing to prescribe them. Drooping in the eyelids can be normal in the first... more

A: Traditional lower blepharoplasty will create hollowness

By Philip Young, MD - Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Aging many times involves a volume loss. For the lower eyelids, this means that you lose volume in the cheek and under eye area. This reveals your lower eyelid fat and also exposes your muscle that surrounds your eye. With the more exposed orbital rim under your eye, you have many reasons for bags under the... more

A: Blepharoplasty swelling may take several weeks

By David A. Robinson, MD - Munster Plastic Surgeon

It takes several weeks for swelling to resolve following a blepharoplasty. In the mean time, I would recommend gently massaging the lower eyelid to prevent a scar contracture from forming. Once your swelling has resolved, reevaluate the results with you surgeon. At that time, if you are still not... more

A: Don't be discouraged

By Andrew Miller, MD - New Jersey Facial Plastic Surgeon

Hello, Usually, it can take 4-6 weeks for the lower lid to regain its tension after lower lid blepharoplasty. During that time you should be massaging the lower lid consistently which helps scar contracture from forming. For hollowness around the eye, fat transfer can have a long lasting and... more

A: Patience and Lid Stretching

By Richard Gentile, MD - Cleveland Facial Plastic Surgeon

If the lower lid appears pulled down slight lid stretching can help the position until it is healed. Be patient and positive and work with your surgeon.

A: Blepharoplasty results can be evaluated after 6 months

By Hisham Seify, MD, PhD - Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Three weeks is a very short time. Please wait until you get the final result. The upper and lower lids are very delicate structures and they will be affected by the swelling as well as by scar formation. Your board certified plastic surgeon will be able to help you during this process. At the 6 months mark, a... more

A: Be patient

By Christopher L. Hess, MD - Fairfax Plastic Surgeon

It is not uncommon to not have a perfect result immediately. There likely is swelling that is causing the problem. If fat was removed this may be adding to the change of the lower lids. See your surgeon often to get reassurance but don't look for further action for months.

A: Wait till swelling is gone

By Kamran Khoobehi, MD - New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Please wait till swelling is gone. Discuss your concerns with your doctor and if you have lost your confidence get a second consultation from a board certified plastic surgeon.

A: It will probably improve as you heal further

By Stella Desyatnikova, MD - Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

It is difficult to say without seeing you in person. Sometimes, swelling takes a little longer to resolve and hopefully it will improve for you shortly. Discuss this with your doctor again. You might benefit from a lyphatic massage by a specially trained aesthetician. You might need a filler injection in the... more

A: No way to know

By Robert M. Freund, MD - New York City Plastic Surgeon

While there are many horror stories of excessive removal of tissues from the lower eyelids, the majority of patients who have your complaints are the result of swelling to the lower lids. It will take up to 6 months for the swelling to resolve. So, relax and follow the advice of your doctor.

More answers to Lower eyelid drooping and tired look after Blepharoplasty
Atlanta - Give it more time
Boston - It can take 6 to 12 weeks to see final blepharoplasty results
New York City - It is probably the swelling
Southlake - Three weeks is too early to tell final Blepharoplasty results

Comments

desperate
9 posts
11 Feb 2009

Hi there, I have posted a question about 2 weeks ago and I want to thank all the wonderful doctors out there who took the time to respond. My blepharoplasy is better now, it'll be 5 weeks this Monday. I still see some drooping in the left eye, and a small nodule on the corners of both eyes. I went back last Friday & my doc gave me a cortisone shot in the corners, and did some laser treatment on the incisions. Since she had removed some fat that was accumulated from previous injections in the past and had formed a ridge, under my eyes became hollow. So we both decided to use some Radiesse in the cheeck area that would lift up and fill some of the hollownes. And this is when my nightmare happened, did I mention that it was Friday the 13th?? Well she injected me with Novocaine and within seconds, I was unable to blink my right eye and my mouth was crooked. I can't even express to you the fear that engulfed me. I thought I was having a stroke (i'm 41 & in good shape). The worst was she kept telling me that there was nothing wron with my eye instead of just explaining to me that this was the effect of the numbing, which made me feel worse. I called my husband (who's a physician) and he arrived immediately and he was the one to explain it to me

Regret
1 post
24 Feb 2009

Having had upper and lower eyelid surgery, neck and face lift and arm liposuction and reduction, I am concerned that the results will not be expected. It is 3 weeks since surgery, my lower lids are drooping and arms are lumpy and distorted. I am assured that time will resolve these problems or there will be corrective surgery. We plan to leave for an extended holiday in 8 weeks and I am now regretting my decision. At the time I was told that 1 month would be sufficient healing time for the face and 6 weeks for the arms. There is extensive scarring around my eyes both upper and lower. One doctor whom I consulted said the surgery would require 4 hours and 6 hours to be done a week apart. The doctor who did my surgery did everything at once and took a total of 5 1/2 hours. I wonder now if the surgery was rushed . I was never told of the possibility of drooping lower lids as a result and would not have agreed had I known. To my knowledge the surgeon is well qualified with over 20 years experience.

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