Swelling and indentation on face due to blepharoplasty

I had eyelid surgery to remove fat under my eyes. I still had swelling under my right eye at six months so my doctor injected the site with steroids. Now I have a big purplish indent in my face.

Is this going to go away in time? If not, can this be fixed? I am devastated. And I still have the swelling also. Please respond.

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7 answers to “Swelling and indentation on face due...”

A: Fat injection can help correct indent

By Andrew Miller, MD - New Jersey Facial Plastic Surgeon

Without seeing pictures, it can be difficult to determine the cause of the swelling, but you may have had some residual fat that was affected by the steroid injection. Fat injection can result in an excellent contour improvement and can be very long lasting. Be sure to see someone who is... more

A: Something else is going on

By Christopher L. Hess, MD - Fairfax Plastic Surgeon

Unfortunately, the swelling after eyelid surgery goes away very quickly, within 2-3 weeks total. The most aggressive surgery of the face, including a midface lift, eyelid lift and facelift result in edema that resolves withing 4-6 months. So I think you have another issue going on. Steroids are not the... more

A: 6 months is a long time to still have blepharoplasty swelling

By Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD - Los Angeles Oculoplastic surgeon

Dear Honey, Lower eyelid surgery swelling rarely persists beyond 12 weeks. So, I am wondering what issue you had at 6 months that compelled your surgeon to inject you will a depo steroid? Photographs would be helpful to answer this questions. The dent you are describing does sound like fat atrophy... more

A: It can be fixed, but it all depends on what the situation really is

By Philip Young, MD - Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

It really depends what the situation really is. You really have to come in for us to see you and to assess what can be done. If there is an indent, some type of filler can be used. Fat injections are another way to fill in a depressed area with minimal incisions. The discoloration will improve with time... more

A: Fat Atrophy due to steriod injection

By Jeffrey Zwiren, MD - Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

It sounds like a long acting steriod like Kenalog was injected into this area in an attempt to reduce swelling. Unfortunately a consequence of steroid injection can be tissue atrophy and formation of spider veins as well as thinning of the tissues. The fat atrophy can be somewhat reversed by... more

A: Steroid discoloration may be helped with IPL; in time fractional 1540 laser may plump depression

By Brooke R. Seckel, MD - Boston Plastic Surgeon

How long after surgery and injection are you? Steroid injections dissolve lumps but also dissolve normal fat beneath the skin. Steroid injections also cause the skin to form new blood vessels that cause the purple discoloration, which will get better but may leave small vessels behind that show on the skin... more

A: Indentation after steroid injection

By Frank P. Fechner, MD - Worcester Facial Plastic Surgeon

Your surgeon's goal was to speed up resolution of swelling by injecting steroids into the cheeks. One of the steroid's effect on fat tissue is atrophy, i.e. decrease in the fat volume. This is usually long-lasting (months) but can return to almost normal volume. Sometimes, some permanent volume reduction... more