Three weeks is early in recovery after blepharoplasty. However, typically you see swelling, not the hollow look. I concur that the hollowing of the left lower eyelid is unusual and concerning as is the apparent downward retraction of the left lower eyelid. See your doctor and ask if massage to stretch the... more
Hollowing after Blepharoplasty
It will be 3 weeks this Friday since I had lower Blepharoplasty. I'm getting really nervous. As the swelling goes down it looks as though there may be some hollowing. And when I look in the mirror in certain lights I can still see small puffy bags. I hope I'm just over analyzing all this. I talked to a nurse at my doctor's office and she said this is normal, that once the swelling goes down that it will lift back up and even out. I'm worring myself so much over this, I so wish I would have researched before the surgery. I rushed into it way to fast. Please tell me, is this really normal?
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6 answers to “Hollowing after Blepharoplasty”A: Full healing takes 2-3 months
Since it has only been three weeks since your blepharoplasty, patients need to wait until at least two to three months postoperative until full healing has taken effect to assess whether too much or too little fat has been removed from the orbits.
A: Blepharoplasty swelling
Three weeks is way to soon to evaluate your eyes after Blepharoplasty. In fact, I still see some brusing around your eyes in the photo. Relax and give it some time.
A: Three weeks is way too soon
In spite of some others who have screamed that something is wrong, I do not see that at this time. Three weeks is way too soon to be screaming. The bumpiness that you talk about is normal for many within the first 2 months after lower blepharoplasty. The pulling down of your lower lids can be the result of... more
A: You have a problem, but it can be corrected.
To izzy2008, Hi. Based on your picture, you have a complication. The border of your left lower eyelid is pulled down, and this will not get better with time unless steps are taken right away. I cannot prescribe treatment but there are a number of things that can be done. See your surgeon and if he is not... more
A: Be patient, it is still very early
Izzy2008, Please be patient, it is still very early after surgery. You will continue to see chances over several weeks to months as the swelling resolves and the tissues settle. This is due to healing characteristics which go through a normal progression over 6 weeks to 3 months. During this time the... more
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20 posts
10 Jan 2009
Izzy, I can tell you that each eye heals at a different speed. The bags under my left eye were bigger, and the surgeon had a more difficult time on that eye. It remained puffy longer than the other eye. It has continued to improve, and I am around three weeks out.
unregistered guest
14 Jan 2009
i had the internal approach done on my lower lid and in my 4th week now, having the same problem as you, hollowing plus puffy lower bag under lights. i felt somehow regreted for having surgery that cause the hollowness which makes me look aged.. really hope that your nurse is right and eventually our lower lid will lift back up and even out. lets keep our finger cross..=)
unregistered guest
22 Jan 2009
hi suzyque, only the 1st 3days i slept with two pillows, i'm back with one after that. my swelling is better now, my eyes looks fine during the day. but it looks different under lights, slight hollowing under the lid and at the same time looks baggy underneath the bony rims of lower lids as yours, particularly the left eye. i'm beginning to think its permanent too..! i have e-mailed my doctor and he say that its due to the remaining swelling which will take another 1 or 2 months for the eyes to settle and firm up. he also suggested massaging the lower lid towards the corner of the eyes to improve circulation. really hope that things will turn out fine for us, let's pray for a speedy and beautiful recovery, take good care =)
109 posts
8 Jan 2009
After enlarging your photo I still have a hard time seeing if there is a skin scar from a lower eyelid blepharoplasty done externally (as opposed to a transconjunctival or internal approach). The reason I ask is because those two surgeries heal differently. Either way, 3 weeks is still very early from surgery and there is still a lot more healing that needs to occur before the final result. The appearance that you have right now is likely just due to swelling that will need time to resolve. However, if you had any skin excised (or if you had a laser resurfacing or chemical peel along with the lower bleph), your appearance could be from early ectropion (down and outward displacement of the lower eyelid). However, it is very difficult to see from a two dimension photo that is quite small. If there was no skin manipulation during the surgery, it is likely due to swelling rather than over-aggressive skin tightening (via excision or laser/chemical peel). I hope this helps!