Post Blepharoplasty Swelling?

I am 31 days post-op from upper and lower blepharoplasty. There was no fat removed, just skin. I believe he did something with my muscle, but i'm not quite sure what. I have a dissolvable stitch on my right eye that you can see in the picture that hasn't gone away yet, and still quite a large bag under my left eye. As you can also see, my left eye is still larger than the right. Is it normal to still have this?

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11 Doctor Answers | Asked by shenanigans in raleigh, north carolina

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Try to give yourself permission to heal for now.

Dear Daisy I suspect that you are unhappy with your surgeon. For certain you are unhappy with your eyelid surgery. It is very important to realize that you are very early from your surgery. Yes you appear to have some issues. The real questions is how will the eyelids look when the dust settles. It is important to not let yourself by driven to distraction while you wait for the paint to dry. God knows this can happen. I have seen pretty level headed people do that way. At this time,... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

8 reviews

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Gently massage on lower eyelids to help reduce Blepharoplasty swelling

I agree with Dr. Steinsapirs carefully thoiught out answer. You need time to heal, and I feel fairly confident you will improve. The dissolving suture will dissolve, and hopefully the lump or fold created by it will resolve. I also believe that the suture is pulling down on the Right lower eyelid. I would massage the lower eyelids 3 times a day. Place your finger near the inside corner of the lower eyeld and sweep out and up towards your ear. This will help the swelling resolve and... more

Swelling is normal after Blepharoplasty

The swelling that you have experienced following your blepharoplasty is normal. I advise my patients that after surgery they will most likely experience some noticeable swelling that will subside within two to six weeks. Patients should know some minor swelling can remain for as long as six months, and their lid contours may continue to change. Final results may not be seen until the six month mark. There are several exercises that you can do to assist with healing as... more

Ross A. Clevens, MD

25 reviews

Melbourne Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drclevens.com

Swelling after blepharoplasty

Since it has only been one month since your blepharoplasty, there is still some swelling left in the eyelids although rather minimal at this point. With respect to the muscle, the operative report from your surgeon would delineate the extent of any muscle surgery that was performed. Any dissolvable stitches should be removed because they are not doing any good at this point. If there are still large bags under the eyes, these can be removed at three months after the surgery.... more

Nothing too out of norm after Blepharoplasty here

As you are relatively short post operatively, many of the concerns you have written about will continue to improve. Lower eyelid surgery continues to be among the most challenging aesthetic procedures we do and the time for the results to mature also take proportionately longer to achieve the final result. The lower eyelid is quite dynamic and the constant motion of the lid gives rise to some of the appearances you are noticing. I agree with lower lid stretches and tincture of time.... more

It will improve with time.

Your result will improve with time as the swelling resolves and the tissues settle. It looks like you need to massage the lower lids - especially your left lower lid. However, you should discuss this with your doctor first. Some patients have also found that Arnica Montana cream is useful to help resolve the swelling and bruising faster. Good luck with your recovery.

Possibly due to Blepharoplasty swelling

Your eyelid size is actually not changed. What you are seeing is that the left lower lid is somewhat lower than the right. This may happen on occasion due to swelling, or traction on nerves, which causes the lid to not work that well for a while. Sometimes, this goes away by itself, and sometimes it requires additonal surgery. One thing that may help would be to support the lower lid with steristrips. Your doctor should provide you with some and teach you how to do it. You have asymmetry... more

It is hard to appreciate that the left eye is larger than the right

I may see that the left eye is slightly larger in the bottom part of it where the white is showing. This is sometimes due to the skin being taken which can cause contraction of the skin downwards making the eye larger appearing. The bags can be due to a number of things. When it is located right under the eyelid margin it is likely coming from the fat within your orbit of the eye. This fat can be easily removed. When it is lower it is likely due to the eye muscle that surrounds your eye... more

Philip Young, MD

6 reviews

Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon

Postoperative swelling is not unusual after blepharoplasty

Most of my patients have postoperative swelling, some greater than others. This is particularly true if I'm doing a lot of procedures such as lifting the cheek fat pads, elevating the muscle, repositioning fat, or performing a canthopexy (lifting the lateral aspect of the lower eyelid). I encourage my patients to actively blink and hold the squinting position for five seconds. They repeat this five times and repeat this maneuver three times a day. In addition, I have my patients... more

I always ask my patient to massage the lower lids after surgery

Make sure you follow up with your physician. Lower lids can take a significant amount of time for full recovery and best aesthetic appearance. Some people take longer to recover for example those with hypo-thyriodism. That should be always kept in mind personally I would suggest massaging and waiting for another 2 months, with close and regular follow ups.