“Bags Under my Eyes - Eyelid Surgery Ruined my Life”
moved to Florida 7 years ago. I was 55 then, and looking somewhat tired, with bags under eyes. I went to my Dr. to improve my appearance and look somewhat younger again.
I have always had pretty eyes, almond in shape and told I looked like Sophia Loren. My upper weren't that bad, but thought the removal of some fat, (never over 3 mil) wouldn't hurt. I remember stating to her the evening of my surgery, “please don't mess up my eyes, they are the window to your soul and my best feature.” She smiled with confidence.
My oldest daughter picked me up from the surgery, and immediately knew something was wrong. My eyes were surely swollen, and bursed, more than any photos she had seen regarding upper and lower eyelid surgery. One week later my eyes were still swollen shut and bruised. The Dr. put me on Steroids and that reduced the effects.
Weeks after the surgery, my eyes would not stay closed entire night during sleep. My daughter again was the one to notice, along with the altered appearance this surgery produced. My eyes were no longer almond, they were round and very wide. I looked like I was scared by something all the time. I have hollow eye sockets now and they still stay open when I sleep.
My entire appearance was changed to a negative effect, and with every visit I made to my Dr.'s office, I heard the same thing, "GIVE IT TIME". It became apparent after the 4-5th visit, she did not know what to do for corrections, nor was she going to admit any error. After conferring with another surgeon, I found out that she cut access tissue from my eyes, leaving a hollow socket. Too much fat was taken out as well, and leaving little skin, or muscle strength, to close eyes for the entire night. I can blink, thank god.
Since my eyes are wide and hollow, it has also changed my facial features. They are also hollowed in appearance, making face longer in appearance and my once high cheek bones adding to my skeleton look. My family back home did not recognize me when they first saw me. Only my voice indicated who I was. I have gone shopping in stores while visiting my hometown, running into old friends as they pass me by. I do not even resemble who I once looked like and too embarrassed and ashamed of what I look like now. I too, have looked in the mirror everyday and have a stranger looking back for the past 7 years.
Although I seek for some reversion type of treatment, they are more expensive than the original, and I could ever afford. I did have my own collagen injected into my upper lid, but only 20% stays while the rest is absorbed, so lasting effect was temporary. I've looked at Strip fat grafting, again the cost is too great and no guarantee this would work. I've heard all the statements, “why was I so vain,” and “I should of left my appearance alone“.
I remember over hearing my son say one day, “it must be hard for mom, she was once so beautiful and let that doctor butcher her face.” I've cried, thought what did I do to deserve this? Woman everyday have surgery done and it leaves a positive effect. I would not recommend this doctor for my dog. She maybe good at some work, but for eye lid surgery she ruined my life, and appearance.
Little can be done legally with elective surgery, and unless your left horribly disfigured, juries don't feel for you, and attorneys even less. I may still go blind one day from my eyes not completely closing at night. I have scratched my cornea during sleep at night, and have had to receive medical treatment for it.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK !!!! Do not assume because a doctor is Board Certified they know what they are doing. These postings are a great source of information. If I had pictures I'd up-load ,so everyone could see my “before and after“. I stopped taking pictures of myself 7 years ago. I rarely go out in public when visiting home. Not that I'll be recognized, but the mental and emotional effects are too difficult to deal with as time goes by, and little hope is left for any correction. Beware, of what this doctor performs on you. There are something’s in life, we may never recover from. For me this is one of them.
Updated on Jul 29, 2009:
The pro's were to improve my appearance. Con's, I did not do my homework. Just because a doctor is board certitfed, does not mean they are up and familar with all procedures. Mine was a very negative experience.
Help and suggestions for revision surgery?
Updated on Jul 23, 2010:
I have searched for revision on first eye lid surgery for 8 years. On June 24th I went to my home town Plastic/Reconstruction Surgeon ,whom I should have gone too originally for this task. Dr. W has been in practice for many years and is a skilled, experienced Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeron. He performed a mid face lift with focus on the upper area of my temples to elonggate my eyes and try tto give back my almond appearance. He used Pearl Grafting in upper eye lids, for volume and also tried to recreate my lid crease that had been totally removed my first unskilled surgeron. It has been over one month and I see some fat absorbing in upper lids, I am still very pleased with outcome, and family can also see a positive change, and softer appearance. I may need additional fat grafting to upper lids which is normal,and expected. I have taken photos to show and hope this of help to others seeking help in this area. I found his costs absolutely resonable and I am pleased with results this far. Very first pic: how my eyes looked before original surgery. Almond and long. Photo 2 is how my eyes looked after eye lid surgery ..Hollwed,empty,doll eyes,with hardness and no lid crease,round and wide. 3 photo is a side veiw of original surgery showing the hollwed eye socket and how I could almost place my finger in socket.Photo 4, day of revisio suregry.Photo 5,after surgery.Next photo showing third day out. Next photo of side, face appears fuller.
Updated on Aug 10, 2010:
Eight years ago I have aggressive upper/lower eye lid surgery. She changed my face and life to a negative for emotional greiving and loss of my genetic indentity. A good plastic surgeon will never change the shape or appearance of your eyes. Only enhaonce them. This is not a skilled or good Plastic Surgeon, and I highly recommend "NO ONE" have this butcher cut on them.She never took responabiltiy for her aggressive and negative outcome, and hurried me through her office so ohter potential patiences could not see her work. She is cold hearted, and shouldn't be allowed to preform surgery until she learns how to do it correctly.
On June 24, 2010. I traveled to my home town of Rockofrd ,Illinois where a skilled and experienced Plastic/Reconstruction Suregon , performed revision upper /lower eye lid surgery. I have extreme hollwed sockets, and sunken eyes from the original surgery performed. Dr. W gave me pearl fat grafting to upper lids, and a mid face life with focus on the temporal vertigal pull to help re-create my onve almond eyes, raped from me by the original doctor.This drastic change made my entire face look gaunt, hollwed and changed my genetic identiy. I no longer looked like my family. Dr. W helped give me my old appearance back and recreate the natural crease that was cut entirely away.leaving skeleton sockets for eyes.She turned me into a freak that for many years mourned the loss of my face and the emotional roller coaster this type of unskilled work can leave the consumer.
They say photos speak 1000 words, and my photos say much today on how I look and feel. Thereis hope out here and never give up. Just be careful whom you choice to do any P.S. and look at there record. If they are a bad P.S. the web will have them on here with compliants. If it had been around for me 9 years ago, I'd of saved myself allot of heartache, money and pain. First photo is how I once appeared before original surgery. Second photo,how I appeared after the first surgery for enhancment of upper/lower eye lid sugery. Many years of sorrow and depression followed.
Updated on 18 Feb 2011:
This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.
Anxious about eyelid surgery and whether you're getting the full story? Learn 9 secrets from a RealSelf community member who went through it all.
Thank you for your input. I called Dr. Clevens office ad was told he could not help me. So to give credit now and then to even those with bad reps. he declined to see me.
I went to the revision surgeon I wrote about and am totally happy with those results.
any questions regarding this surgery or the plastic surgeon that helped what was distroyed can be addressed through private mail...the cost was more than resonable.
I have not gathered enough bravery to address correcting it yet. But seeing your results has insipred me to start considering it again. I am almost at the point of financially being able to consider this again also. I am so scared as who to have do the repairs that I would even visit the area of your Dr. for a while to know I am seeing a good Dr. I am still in the Melbourne Fl area and other than Clevens who I talked to several years ago and who was well recommended, I just don't know who to see. He also suggested the lift back then as well. It was pretty expensive at that time and the prices seemed beyond my means then and I was too afraid to make things worse so I stopped searching and basically hid for the past several years. I am so tired of hiding from my family and friends and getting strange looks from people who've not seen me for a long time. I think I am ready for a repair. I have started gathering up old pictures again for comparison. Now I need to get the bravery part going and decide who to see. Congrats on getting yourself back and thank you, thank you many times over for sharing all this.
Thanks for sharing, it can help others avoid a bad doctor.
Thanks, and yes I remember you well.
It has been 9 years of education,research and saving my money. Plus,many consultations. Fortunately, you get to know the surgeons that make sense in there consults for revision/repair and those that "don't really have a clue", but for "a price" will do what "they think" may work:)Being a experiment was not in my game plan:)
I was very fortunate to find not only a skilled Plastic/Reconstruction Surgeon I already knew and trusted, but one that wasn't looking to charge my pocket book unrealistic amounts. Some had me reeling on the final discussion on costs, others laughing all the way home. Still very frustrating and sad at times.
Of course I will need more fat In my upper lids ( knew from research this would happen) and can already see some absorption. However, where he attempted to recreate my natural crease, lower crease on upper lid, is still visibly and holding.
Really helped on the rounder and hollowed eye appearance. No more skeliton look.
The lower, cheek vertical lift not only helped my lower hollowed lids, but took off 10 years.
So yes, needless to say I could not be more pleased and don't regret this decision.
Was going through 9 years of emotional suffering,depression, mourning my lost identify and emotional roller coaster ride something I would want to repeat, or wish on another?
Hell No! And why although I have found some form of revision, and it has helped in softening my appearance,and bringing my eyes/face back to some resemblence of original almond appearance, it is still very important to know your surgeon and see his work before entering into this or any surgery.
My upper lids never did need any surgery originally and this was done at the surgeons suggestion. So again, I'm not saying they are all wrong, but if you feel in your gut a suggested surgery is not really necessary, than "DON'T Have it DONE"!!
You know your face, body and all it's visible components better than anyone.You should always be given the opportunity to leave a consultation and take time to make this decision, if necessary. If pressured by a "one time promotion" or the "staff of the doctor, RUN"!!!
There are only a few thousand more P.S. out here to choose from:)
Read up on the surgery. Like I've said before, if I'd have known the manipulation of tissue, cutting and reshaping, muscles involved in the upper eye lid surgery from the beginning, I would never have had it performed. My upper lids were not drooping.
Some surgeon's feel were "to medically stupid" to understand the medical terminology on such things, so they omit them, or very vague on it's disscription.
Just tell me in "layman terms" and I'll get the picture,do the reserch, but TELL ME !!!
It is your right to know what is involved in this and all surgery and I mean from beginning to end! It's your FACE!
And those words I'll keep stating with each post I make.
You may want to consult with this surgeon. Although I'm not sure how many od these he has actually performed, I did know he was able to sew a man's hand back on and make it work again. Dr. Weisklpf has been around along time, a prefectionist, and affliated with the three hospitals in my home town and several in Chicago. The surgeries are preformed in his clinic/office, so no extra hospital or other facilitiy charges.
I was able to do a photo email consult and perhaps you can too.
Of course he is in my hometown and I knew of his reputation. He has been in practice over 30 years. Has tons of experience.His Web sight is short and to the point and he has no before or after photos posted.
Of course I always thought those photo's were silly, like a botched job would be included in those photo's anywhere. So they mean little except it shows how many surgeries has been performed. And that is important. You want an experienced P.S. in the eye department.
This can usually be accessed somewhere through that doctor's office and staff. Don't be embarrassed to ask and never feel your insulting this doctor. If he is skilled, he'll show you whatever you ask to see. Usually very proud to do so.
I personally think this doctor is one of the finest out here.
Thanks again and if you wish more info. please write.
Understand completely. Still fighting the ongoing battle since June 2006 when my eyes were butchered. I realize now that I did not need a bleth and only needed ptosis surgery, but of course, the doctor was willing to take my money and hollow out my eyelids. I had asymmetry due to one eye having ptosis, do you think the doctor mentioned this to me, no, he proceeded to take as much off one eye that he did to the other so needless to say I am left with my eyelid not closing due to lack of skin.
I am just starting to research plastic surgeon's in the Boston area for lower eye lift surgery and came across your comment on your experience with plastic surgery... I am grateful for your honest and heartbreaking story..I am now thinking twice about the surgery..there is a lot that can go wrong and i need to take this a little more seriously. My biggest question is.. how do we know we found the right Doctor? Every Plastic surgeon looks flawless on the internet...
Good Luck and take care
Flomac