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Remaining Eyebag and Slight Asymmetry After Lower Blepharoplasty

I had a lower Blepharoplasty done 2 1/2 weeks ago where the incision was done on the outside corner of my lower lids. Before the surgery, I had a bigger eye bag under the left eye but my eyes were symmetrical. Now, 2 1/2 weeks later, I still have the bag under my left eye (some slight bruising still showing) and the left lower lid is slightly higher than the right (probably because of the skin that was excised). How can I tell if the left eye bag is still there or if it's just residual swelling?

Asked 39 months ago by Sueesquisite in Commack,NY

Tags:

eye bags

Patience is the toughest thing to have

Since your surgery was just performed, it is way to early to assess the long term results. Usually the 6 month timepoint is a good final result timepoint. Your doctor will likely have massage exercises for you to perform and may suggest injections, taping, etc. Once the final result has been achieved, hopefully you will be very satisfied with your result. If asymmetries are present, then the really tough decisions start. Revisional lower eyelid surgery is one of the hardest of all... more

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Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Too early to tell final Blepharoplasty results

Sue, As most of the other partcipants have suggested, it's far too early to know what your final result will be. Fluid accumulation and bruising can often be noted for weeks to months post-op. Communicate your concerns with your surgeon - most surgeons welcome an open honest dialog. I often suggest light massage to the area of concern. A low-salt diet may be helpful with the fluid retention. The scarring along the incision line often takes months to soften up and mature, and the scar may... more

Wilfred Brown, MD

Fairfield Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS

Need to give it more time

Unfortunately it is common to have swelling and mild asymmetry that early after surgery, particularly when a lower lid incision on the skin rather then on the inside of the eyelid has been performed. It is impossible to achieve complete symmetry in any plastic surgery procedure, but if you notice some mild asymmetry it probably will resolve. It will take several months before knowing the final result and any potential long term asymmetry that may result. Hopefully you will have an excellent... more

Samson Lee, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Time will tell

At only 2.5 weeks after surgery, there is still substantial swelling present so it won't be possible to know the answer to your question for another 3-4 months. Stay in close touch with your surgeon and be patient and give it some time. It's too soon to be worried.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Eyelid healing takes time

After a blepharoplasty, like any surgery, there will be some swelling and bruising. The swelling and bruising may not be the same on each side, so you will see differences. Expect 3-6 weeks for most all of the swelling and bruising to go away - one side may clear up faster. Be patient and discuss your concerns with your doctor!

Randy J. Buckspan, MD

Austin Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Wait for 4-6 weeks for evaluation after Blepharoplasty

I would recommend that you wait long enough for the swelling to resolve. Evaluation could be done following 4-6 weeks from surgery if necessary a revision could be done but not before 6 months.

Hisham Seify, MD, PhD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Give it some time, communicate with your surgeon

Hi Sue, Like you've seen in most of the answers, the main thing here is to wait a couple of months and see how the swelling settles down. Very likely some of the differences you see from one side to the other will settle down. Obviously your anxious about the situation. The best way to overcome this is to communicate your concerns openly with your surgeon. He should have made clear prior to the surgery that there's a lot of variation in the healing process in different people,... more

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Paul L. Leong, MD

Pittsburgh Facial Plastic Surgeon

The lower eyelids take several months for full healing

The lower eyelids take several months for full healing to settle in so that some residual edema, swelling, and bruising can be in effect for several weeks after the surgery. The goal for lower eyelid surgery is to remove fat bags, which are composed of fatty tissue underneath the eyelids. There are three fatty tissue bags in the lower lids and two in the upper lids. The bags are removed through an incision made inside the lower eyelid; this is referred to as transconjunctival approach. If... more

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William Portuese, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Keep the faith

Sue, As you can see from virtually every answer that you have received, it is WAY too early to start obsessing over your results. The effects of swelling and scarring are just beginning. Relax and trust in your surgeon. You must have trusted him/her before surgery. Keep the faith. Good luck!

Kenneth R. Francis, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Wait a bit longer

Like with any surgery, it is very difficult to evaluate the final result until the swelling has dissipated, and even then the results may not be fully present for several months. You really should give it some time to heal.

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Everyone wants immediate gradification - just needs more time

You are still very early in the healing process and you need to give it more time. I usually advocate early gentle massage of the lower eyelid from medial to lateral. This generally helps to keep the lower lid supple. As far as the asymmetry, this is extremly normal and will just take more time to resolve. Speak with your surgeon, voice your concerns and you can be assured that the best advice is just more time.

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Don't Bag on Your Surgeon Just Yet

At just over two weeks after Blepharoplasty surgery, it is normal to have some asymmetry. This may affect both the skin and the fat of the lower eyelids, and may also affect the shape of the eye. There can be more swelling or bruising on one side versus the other, even if the identical procedure was performed, and identical amounts of fat were removed. Four to six weeks after eyelid surgery, most of the early asymmetry caused by the above problems should be resolved. In the interim,... more

Athleo Louis Cambre, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Relax and enjoy your new looks.

With all due respect, 2 and 1/2 weeks is way too early to examine your blepharoplasty to determine if it was done well or not. Even when we start with symmetrical eyes, it is difficult to have post-operative swelling that is identical on both eyes. When you start with severe assymetry, the swelling will most certainly be assymetrical. I routinely tell my patients to wait 4-8 weeks before making any judgement as to the quality of the outcome. So the best thing you can do to help your recovery... more

Robert M. Freund, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Too Early to Tell

Hi Sue, You should consult with your surgeon who will likely tell you that it is still too early to judge your results. Give it another few weeks. The reward of patience is patience. Good luck and I wish you a rapid and symmetric recovery. Dr. P

Michael A. Persky, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Difficult to tell

At just 2 1/2 weeks after surgery I wouldn't count out healing. It is not unusual to get a fair amount of swelling under the eyes after lower eyelid surgery that can take a while to go away, sometimes even a month or two. Slight asymmetries in the eyelid as well can resolve given time and sometimes a little massage. I would highly suggest speaking with your physician about your concerns and getting his or her opinion.

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D.J. Verret, MD

Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

Give it some more time

This is a good question. After any surgery, you are bound to have swelling and bruising that can last for several weeks to months. Blepharoplasty is not an exception. The skin around the eyes is some of the thinnest in the body. Likewise, these tissues are even more susceptible to prolonged swelling after any trauma or surgery. It is not surprising that after two and half weeks you still are experiencing these issues. In fact, you may have to wait several months to see the final result... more

David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

After eyelift, wait until healed and swelling goes down

Swelling can last for months after surgery. In my practice, if a patient is concerned about a fat pocket remaining, I recomment to wait at least a month before considering additional surgery.

Amiya Prasad, MD

New York Oculoplastic Surgeon

Persistent Swelling after Blepharoplasty

Bulges after blepharoplasty can be disconcerting to the patient. Early on after blepharoplasty, it is not uncommon to see some asymmetry of the lower eye / cheek complex. Persistence of lower lid swelling under the eye can be from the following causes: Malar edema Festoon persistence Lower lid fat Medical condition (especially thyroid or allergy) Discussion with a well qualified surgeon can identify the solution to the persistent bulge after... more

Anil R. Shah, MD

Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon

After blepharoplasty surgery asymmetry

This key thing is to give it some time at this point. I would wait atleast a full 3 months after surgery. When the eyelids are operated on, you can have swelling and bruising on the skin but also inside in the eyelid. Though the skin bruising disappears, the inside swelling and bruising can continue resulting in an asymmetrical appearance. This should resolve with time. Most surgeons would not do anything for 6 months on average for a small amount of asymmetry. You are in the very early... more

Chris Thiagarajah, MD

Washington DC Oculoplastic Surgeon

2 and 1/2 weeks after eyelid surgery is not nearly long enough to draw conclusions about the final result.

Everything you descibe can be explained by post-operative swelling. Each week, you should see some improvement. Eventually, all the asymmetries and contour issues should resolve. This may take a number of months. As long as there is ongoing improvement, just follow things along with your surgeon.