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Rubbing Eyelid to Fix Botched Blepharoplasty?

asked 1 year ago by Jpriestly in Austin, TX
Latest answer by Joseph A. Eviatar, MD
Question viewed 756 times
Tags: complication, normal, rubbing, uneven

6 weeks post blepharoplasty and one upper eyelid is higher than the other. My doctor says he may have removed a "tiny bit too much skin" from this lid. He says that if I rub the eyelid in a downward motion I can rectify the problem. This sounds like BS to me. Could this possibly work? The eye is noticeably wider than the other, and it feels dry during the day. I'm worried that more surgery will be required. Thanks.

15 answers to Rubbing Eyelid to Fix Botched Blepharoplasty?

Eyelid skin can be stretched after eyelid surgery

Well, in theory the upper eyelid skin can be stretched so that it allows the same, or similar, amount of tissue fold above the upper eyelid crease. The trick would be to be able to grasp the upper eyelid skin in order to apply constant, gentle downward, stretching motion. I have had patients, who had eyelid surgery elsewhere and had dry eye symptoms use a similar technique to allow complete closure of the upper eyelids. Skin stretches, so it can be done...not sure... more

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Eyelid asymmetry

It sounds like you have ptosis (a lower lid) on one side after surgery. If only blepharoplasty was performed this is unusual but does occur. Eyelid massage can help a number if issue. It's success depends on what is being treated and timing. The ptosis can be mechanical (from swelling), neurogenic (from nerve injury), myogenic (from muscle trauma), or simply may have been present prior and not identified (if skin was droopy and covering lid). I do not know... more

Guy Massry, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Massaging the scar may help.

Hi there. Massaging your scar may help things. Massaging a scar helps re-orient the collagen fibers. It can also help get rid of some of the extra swelling. That being said, and without examining you, I'd have to say that if there is a substantial (~1-2 mm) difference between the two lids, a revision surgery may be necessary. Reasons for a height discrepancy between the lids could be due to any of the following (and more): - too much skin excised... more

Michael G. Brandt, MD
Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon

Massage can help soften the lids after bleparoplasty

If more skin has been removed, you may be able to massage the lids enough--gently--to soften the skin and make the correction. This will work for small differences, not large ones. But there is nothing to be lost. Try it and do your best; if time progresses with no improvement, you can always have a sliver of skin added. The scars are excellent and in year you may not even remember which lid was lid affected.

Mark B. Constantian, MD
Nashua Plastic Surgeon

Eyelid Massage After Blepharoplasty

I would suggest speaking to your physician about your concern. Massage can help in situations where there may be swelling or scar tissue which must be broken up. From what you describe you may have an eyelid ptosis that was undiagnosed and needs repair, too much skin was taken off, or the eyelid is not closing for some other reason. More than the cosmetic look, I would be concerned with the dry eye symptoms and I would definitely talk with your surgeon about how to take care of dry eyes. more

D.J. Verret, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

innovationsfps.com

Massage might help

No photos to help us. Push down the forehead skin above the eye brow on the eye of concern and see if the eyelid closure is improved.........if so then maybe too much skin was removed. Regardless, I'd massage and stretch the skin downward and wait for the healing to progress. If still a problem after a few months then more surgery may be needed such as a full thickness skin graft from your other eyelid if it had some excess still present or from some other site such as lower eyelid... more

Harlow Hollis, MD
Victoria Plastic Surgeon

Rubbing Eyelid to Fix Botched Blepharoplasty?

Your wounds have not healed well. Give 6-9 months then you can make better judgement about the result. Scar tissues have not matured yet and with time the eyelid skin will relax.

Mohsen Tavoussi, MD, DO
Huntington Beach Facial Plastic Surgeon

You may require more surgery, but wait 3-6 months first

There is a possibility that you may require additional surgery but I would follow those recommendations for the time being. I would hold off any additional surgery at this point for at least 3-6 months until the swelling and healing has finalized. see video

Babak Azizzadeh, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

No photos, no exam but here are some general comments.

Dear JPriestly Hard as it is to believe, lid message can help many issues. It is best if it is done with close follow up by the operating surgeon. Unfortunately, it does not fix all issues. Things can happen during surgery that are not benefited by eyelid message. At 6 weeks out, I would not expect too much from eyelid message. The good news is that you are in a town with great oculoplastic surgery. I can recommend Texas Oculoplastic Consultants.... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Uneven eyes after blepharoplasty

For one eye to be higher after blepharoplasty because an excessive amount of skin was removed is highly unlikely. The more likely symptom after too much skin is removed would be difficulty completely closing the eye. A close examination of preoperative photos may reveal that one eye was actually higher even before surgery. It's also possible that a muscle was injured during surgery, but this would cause an eye to be lower, not higher. Postoperative swelling can be... more

Alan Brackup, MD
Philadelphia Oculoplastic Surgeon

Post-blepharoplasty problem

It is difficult to assess your problem without looking at preop and postop photos. You may have underlying ptosis (droopy eyelids), facial asymmetry, postop swelling, or possibly asymmetrical surgical result. Consult an oculoplastic surgeon. (Massaging eyelid 6 weeks after surgery should not have much effect on anything.) Mehryar (Ray) Taban

Mehryar (Ray) Taban, MD, FACS
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Please send your pictures

You may have uneven results and without picture it is hard to give recommendations. You may need revision if you are not happy with the result.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Rubbing Eyelid to Fix Botched Blepharoplasty?

At 6 wks you still have some swelling, as this resolves the lid should relax a bit. Since you did not submit pictures it is hard to comment, but if too much skin was taken and the difference is the two eyes is from this, as opposed to an asymmetry present and not noticed before surgery, massage will not help. If you have a large gap, even when the swelling settles, it will not correct. If it is a mm or so difference, then once the swelling is corrected the issue should resolve. Other... more

Michel Siegel, MD
Houston Facial Plastic Surgeon

houstonfaces.com

Unequal upper eylids after surgery

Your pictures do not show enough. I think your surgeon thinks that skin stretching will occur. This will probably not happen enough to satisfy you. If possible removing more skin from the fuller lid will help. However if that is not a good idea, then a graft mey be needed.

David A. Bray, Sr., MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Blepharoplasty can be uneven sometimes

Blepharoplasty can be uneven sometimes. Too much skin and tissue can be removed from one side. Rubbing the lid is actually a very good way to create symmetry, and since no surgery is exact (and no person’s face is exactly symmetrical) I find that rubbing can really help. Depending on how the doctor tells you to do it, to even it out or for scar tissue, it is very effective within the first couple of months after surgery. It’s not BS. more