“Bad blepharoplasty leads to depression”
Eyelid Surgery: NOT worth it
Pain: Uncomfortable
I’m three months post-op from a very depressing upper and lower blepharoplasty. My eyes look uneven, I have wrinkles and excess skin where my bags used to be, and I have dealt with depression over how I look.
For the first month and a half after the operation, I noticed all of these issues intermittently but I didn’t panic because I was still recovering. A friend of mine chalked up my baggy eyelids to water retention after the operation too. But by the two-month mark when I went for my follow-up, I wasn’t getting better and my doctor knew it. He didn’t seem pleased with things either but nonetheless he kept telling me to wait for it to get better. He also said that, if things didn’t improve, I could always have the issues fixed with a laser or another bleph. I didn’t want this! I already paid for a blepharoplasty (the monthly payments are still coming out of my bank)!
I got depressed then and am still today dealing with the way I look. Some days I start to think I am getting better, my eyes are evening out, but more often than not I can notice the difference between my baggy left eye and my wide-open right eye. It’s obvious to everybody and this makes me feel sick.
If I had known a bleph could leave me this asymmetrical and odd-looking, I never would have had it done. But I was warned of none of these things! It was all about how great I would look; nobody bothered to mention I might look worse than before the operation
May 10, 2007Comments and replies (90)
2 posts
18 May 2007
I hear ya. I'm in month 4 of upper and lower surgery. My left eye is still open 3 millimeters. I recently had a tasorophy (sic) to correct the droop in my lower left lid and to enable my left eye to close a bit more. I've been plagued with dry corneas, sensitivity to light and sun and having to sleep with ointment in my eyes every night. The vision in my left eye is blurred all the time and my quality of life is greatly diminished.
I thought it would be so simple, just a conservative removal of barely hanging loose skin on the upper lid and making my eyes more symetrical...we'll see how this last surgery goes, because my left eye HURTS all the time.
At this point, I'd trade my slightly fleshy top lid for the pain and suffering I've endured any day.
31 Jul 2007
It is very depressing indeed. I too, had surgery a year and a half ago and am still severely depressed. I deal with it every day. The scars are absolutely horrible. The worst part is that doctors are telling me there's nothing they can do to correct everything that's wrong. I would do anything to undo this. I used to be an advocate of plastic surgery, but never again!
unregistered guest
12 Feb 2008
I had my first lower blepharoplasty one year ago. The doctor advised my to do the upper lids at the same time, I did, and I am not unhappy with the upper lid appearance. BUT, I have now had the lowers redone two more times and the results are bad, indeed. Three surgeries later, one eye is much worse than the other -- I still have a bag and now two folds of loose skin underneath, while my other eye looks entirely different! Not as bad as my right eye, but a smaller fold of skin higher toward the eye than my right eye disaster. My eyes burn and tear and the doctor had told me that the surgery would help this which it did not. He now refuses to perform another surgery but did a "Blue Peel" which achieved nothing. I am scheduled for another peel soon, but I have no hope of an improvement in my appearance. I, too, am very depressed and do not want people to see me. I missed my class reunion, a family reunion and will miss other upcoming events due to being so self-conscience. My appearance is not that of natural aging, but of surgery gone awry.
6 posts
9 Mar 2008
I have said before that blepharoplasty is quite an invasive surgery that should only be considered where there is significant aging to be corrected such as pouching or drooping bags of fat above or below the eyes and that the removal of a little bit of skin does not fall into this category. Marybeth's comment ratifies my opinion. The surgery is not a precision tool that will yeild perfect symmetrical results for the following reasons: 1. we are all asymetrical to start with and often tinkering with the eyes can highlight this; 2. each side of the body heals at a different rate and in a different manner; and 3. a surgeon cannot control his movements and work in precisely the same manner on each eye. I have asymetry and obvious scars after my upper and lower bleph but I'm happy with the results because these costs outweigh the significant disadvantage of my aged and unattractive my eyes pre surgery.
unregistered guest
23 Mar 2008
I am seriously thinking about getting my upper eylids done, but am very worried about the right doctor. I have done thermage and it did nothing, so I am left with the option of surgery. Can anyone please tell me what doctors are good and what doctors are bad. I live in Boise Idaho... anyone from around this area with some doctor advice?? Please e-mail me... {edited} Thanks Editor note: you must join RealSelf so you can be contacted privately with doctor recommendations and feedback. This requires free registration for an account. When registering you must opt-in to receiving private contacts (a check box).
1 post
30 Apr 2008
I am looking into having my upper eyelids done. What is the difference between laser vs the other? Can anyone comment on this? I have an appointment on May 5 to see an optomologist who does the laser eyelid surgery.
5 posts
13 Jun 2008
This is the first time I have read reviews on eyes. I am SO SORRY for you all! I could never have believed eye surgery could go so badly wrong. I am no expert, but have had to re-condition my mind to relieve various trauma from my past, albeit emotional. But, if I can help in any way, I would like to. Send me a private message here, or type my name in your browser to see what I am about. It is such a shame that people take dreadful risks with all kind of cosmetic surgery as symmetry cannot be guaranteed, nor the outcome. Skin reacts differently in each of us, and surgeons are only human. Some are not even artists and cannot draw! Yipes, how can you trust such a person? I feel surgeons can be inhuman, especially, when they operate instead of talking people OUT of surgery, where acceptance can be their best bet. It will be against their wallets, to convince that ageing signs are not really that bad. At least you will still look like yourself and not a stretched out robot. Too much adverse publicity about celebrities and on trying to be 'beautiful.' It is ridiculous, as personality and character is what people like best in others. All this trying to look younger is damaging so many, and some may have to live the rest of their lives with regrets and not being able to recognise themselves. A few lines and wrinkles show that you have experience of life, do not make it such a big issue! I will be 59 years of age this July 2008. That means 60 next year! I look at least 20 years younger than my age, and although my genes may be part responsible, I do use Firming Cream and several easy exercise techniques. I also do NOT drink, never have, (although I smoke cigars daily). Drink is the worst offender for wrinkling the skin and damaging skin cells! All of you reading this who are contemplating surgery, please try using Skin Firming Cream. Nivea are the original makers and my preference, but chemists have their own brands. Probably, from the same source, and they all work at tightening the skin! You can use it everywhere, as well as around and under the eyes. Even if you think surgery is the only thing for you, as you hate your tired looking eyes too much, TRY the firming cream anyway. I am sure you will be cancelling your surgery appointment, as there WILL be an improvement! It might be enough for you to feel better about yourself! Surely, it is worth a try first! Living with regrets would be a terrible thing and much worse than what you are going through now. You can get the firming cream in any chemist. I am not selling anything, and am only an author and performer. Donni-Jay
40 posts
18 Jun 2008
what is the best thing to do with hollowness beneath both eyes. I guess gravity is taking its toll. I would like to restore the volume in that area but don't know if its a facelift or a filler. Any suggestions?? thanks
22 posts
4 Sep 2008
I had an upper bleth two years ago, I ended up with hollowness, a higher crease on one eyelid and a thick white scar starting from the inner corner of the upper eyelid curving upward due to too much skin being excised. I received no help from my p.s. and he was very defensive from day one. I wish I had never met him. I ended up having orbital fat strip grafting with fat pearls one year later to try to fix the problem. This has not resolved the problem and caused me to have ptosis in the eyelid also.
14 posts
16 Sep 2008
Did your fat grafting last at all? I had restylane today in my hollowed out eyelid and the derm says it may last a year. I'm hoping it will stimulate a collagen reaction and become permanent - some say this has happened with restylane in the upper eyelids.