Puffy and hyperpigmented under eye area after Pearl Fat Grafting

I had hollowness in my lower eyes from a Blepharoplasty that was done 1 1/2 yr ago. I went to a few doctors in NYC who said putting fat back in the lower eyes is easy, but fat grafting the eyes may look lumpy. So I started looking for doctors online, and found one who does this and he says he's a specialist in this. I had Pearl Fat Grafting done through him 2 months ago, and my eyes went from hollow to puffy. I don't like the way I look, and I don't see the puffiness going down, yet he said it takes time. He told me i also had tear trough deformity, which i noticed before he did anything. I also have hyperpigemention under my eyes, which got darker after the procedure. He said it will fade in time. The photo below shows a day pre-procedure, and 6 weeks post-procedure. This doctor always tells me "give it time", but I'm concerned because I have to go back to work soon, and I need something that can help me as soon as possible. What are my options for getting these fixed?

Puffy and hyperpigmented under eye area after Pearl Fat Grafting
4 answers to “Puffy and hyperpigmented under eye...”

A: No easy answer; Consider fillers

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

There is no easy answer here. It is possible that your fat grafts will persist and remain firm. However, it appears that your cheeks and body rim remain untreated with relative lack of projection as discussed by Dr. Moelleken and termed the "negative vector" look. For the most immediated option, I... more

A: Fat grafting to lower eyelids

Brent Moelleken, MD

Fat grafting by any technique is a tricky process for the lower eyelids.  Grafts take a long time to incorporate, metabolize and stabilize.  most surgeons perfoming a great number of lower eyelid revisional cases wait six months before assessing the final results.  However that does not mean you... more

A: Sorry, but patience is the key

Samson Lee, MD

Unfortuneately, you have a common stigmata after standard blepharoplasty, which is hollowing under the eye. 6 weeks post-procedure is still very early and you will need to wait months to know what your results will look like. Generally speaking 20-30% of fat will survive, but sometimes none of it does. Every... more

A: Unfortunately need to wait at least 6 months

Min S. Ahn, MD

It is generally believed that after fat transfer you won't get a sense of what fat will have survived the procedure until the 6 month mark. At that point, if more needs to be placed, or some needs to be diminished, appropriate steps can be performed. Just by your pics it's hard to know if removing fat or... more

Comments

Lucette
unregistered guest

29 Jan 2009

If my math is right, you should be at about 3 months post transfer now. I'm at one month. I've got bags, too, and my PS said the same as the doctor who commented you except that she gave a time limit of 3 months rather than six. Has your puffiness subsided?

babyjoe
26 posts
6 Mar 2009

Hello I forgot to put in the above posting with my 2 photo's of me. That i had Pearl Fat Grafting done to my lower eyes. It's alittle different than Fat Grafting. Now i'm almost 3 months and no change. Still have puffiness under the eyes and Hyperpigmentation. And the Doctor calls it Post hyperpigmentation marks as you can see on the bottom picture.If you look that both pictures you can see the top mark is faded and the bottom one is darker now from surgery. Is there anything i can put for Hyperpigmentation(creams or IPL).I'm really not happy. When i went to see the doctor he told me 2 months.What i see than thats how its going to look. So when i sent him the 1 month pictures he couldn't believe i was still 100% swollen still.He said to sent him he 3 month pictures thats going to be in feb. Now the doctor who wrote in on the top posting is saying 6 months. I dont see my the puffiness changing in 6 months(That would be in MAY 2009) and the pigmentation. I guess time will tell. I went to 1 doctor 2yrs ago for puffiness he made me very hollow(TOP Photo). And now this. I dont want to go to anymore doctors. All there answers are wait or thats what happens with Revision surgery. I dont want to hear BS anymore. I went to a Eye Specialist. For this i paid alot of money. Now i hear all this you have to wait. This doctor you have to use Hush for email and to send pictures and to talk to.I want from Bad to Worse.

I'm an aesthetisian/skin care specialist,and have done lots of these post-op cases succsefully in New York Area for Plastic surgeons. There is no surgery or injections in this procedure.

B. Sepulveda
1 post
29 Jun 2009

I had lower blepharoplasty done about 4 years ago. More fat was removed from the lower left than from the right. This was supposed to be followed by laser under the eyes but it was never done, although I paid up-front for it. My ophthalmologist said I had gone through too much pain and wanted me to recoop a little before doing the laser. I was sent home with my left eye oozing blood that continued to ooze for about 2 hrs. Anyway, about a year ago my friends noticed that my left eye was sort of bulging, the lower rim of the lid was red and my eye was red and dry and I have double vision when I turn a certain way. I have lost faith in this doctor and I hate what he did to me. How can this be corrected?

I'm sorry to read about your dilemma. You sould see another opthalmologie surgeion.You have a bigger problem when your eyesight is not clear. Marita Hanson

Jen Nolan
1 post
22 Jul 2009

I had lower eyelid surgery two months ago and I also have hyperpigmentation under my eyes. My surgeon says I'm still healing. Just curious if yours is starting to fade any?

Post your question
IMPORTANT: As noted in our Terms of Service, the information found on RealSelf.com, including that provided by professionals in the Questions & Answers area, is a general educational aid. The Questions and Answers contain opinions and views created by community members. RealSelf.com is not responsible for the accuracy of any information posted by community members. Do not rely on this information as a substitute for personal medical or healthcare advice, or for diagnosis or treatment purposes.