I Had Lower Eyelid Skin Removed and a Face Lift. My Lower Lid is Drooping, What Can I Do? Is It Permanent? (photo)

On 11-29-11 I had lower bleph with skin removed and fat pockets removed. I also had a face lift. My right lower eyelid is now drooping and has a broken blood vessel. at the 2 week point the doctor gave me cortisone shots today. I am 56 yrs old and did not have any issues with my lids prior. I am massaging but am not seeing much improvement at the 2 wk post operative time frame. Should I be worried, what should I do? I am afraid this is permanent? Please help.

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7 Doctor Answers | Asked by Cindy W.

Doctor Answers (7)
Community Comments (0)

Post-blepharoplasty ectropion

I agree that your photos do demonstrate an ectropion and that you should not rush into revisional surgery. You are still in the initial postop period and the wound needs to settle down before any re-operation. The situation may resolve in part. Also, operating too soon, in a healing wound, carries its own risks because the tissues are still swollen, as demonstrated by your photographs. Conservative management and watchful waiting would be key here. Please... more

Eye issue after facelift and eyes

Commonly after blepharoplasty, especially if a skinmuscle flap was elevated from a lower lidi incision, the muscle fucntion is temporarily weakened. In patients with poor loewr lid tone before surgery and what is called a negative vector ( the cheek bone is not prominent to begin with), then often canthopexy is peformed to support the lower lid. Some patients get an early ectropion post-op and I would not ruch for furtehr surgery withmy patients. I usually recommend massage... more

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Lower eyelid drooping after eyelid surgery. What should you do?

Normally, I wouldn't answer this question as you have already received the appropriate advice from two doctors. But I will add my voice to counteract the dissenting opinion. IMHO, the advice you received to reoperate now, before scar tissue sets in is absolutely wrong. You are still significantly swollen and bruised and it takes time to heal. I agree with the last responder who stated that early intervention, however well meaning, may complicate your proble, ... more

Lawrence Kass, MD

31 reviews

Saint Petersburg Oculoplastic Surgeon

www.kassmd.com

I would not be in a rush to judge how this will turn out.

You are very early from surgery. I agree that you look like you have an issue. The important thing at this moment is finger winking the lower eyelid to help it from healing in a compromised position. WIll you need revisional surgery to address this? It is honestly too early to tell. Sometimes, well meaning early interventions just make things worse not better. I would strongly encourage you and your surgeon to stick with conservative measures for the time... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

8 reviews

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Lower lid drooping after blepharoplasty

Its only been 2 weeks. I would encourage you to closely follow with your surgeon, continue massaging as instructed and you may ask your surgeon if he or she feels there would be a benefit in taping the lower lid for support. I would be careful with cortisone injections in the lower lid as this may cause additional lipoatrophy and hollowing. It will take 3-6 months to see the final results and determine if you need additional procedure for correction of residual ectropion. In the mean time,... more

Early Ectropion

This is a known complication of lower lid blepharoplasty performed through a subciliary approach. It is still early in the recovery. Most early ectropion completely resolves with active massage. To help lubricate the globe during sleep, use taping or your surgeon can place a tarsorrhaphy suture. While awake, use lubricating drops.

You need revision sooner than later

Your lower lid has scarred down to the orbital rim and pulling on your lid. Please try to push up on your lower lid and if you see the tissue moves up and not stuck to the bone, then you have lax lower lid and will need canthoplasty. If the lower lid tissue stuck down,then you will need release of scar tissue and canthoplasty. The problem with waiting is the conjunctivitis ,dry eye and scar tissue buildup.