“Failed lower bleph changed my look”
Eyelid Surgery: NOT worth it
Pain: Uncomfortable
In December 08 I had a Doctor in LA perform a Lower Transconjunctival Blepharoplasty on me. Unfortunately, I've had very unsatisfactory results despite having specifically discussed (Initial consultation and immediately prior to the surgery) the issue with fat removal and the issues I had with hollowness and wrinkling. However, he ended up removing an excess amount of fat from under eye area leaving me hollow, wrinkled, and aged in appearance.
I checked out the the surgeon's website and never thought about any complications. They told me it was a simple surgery. He would take care of the l side eye puffiness and the r side eye dark circle (no puffiness). I told him twice I didn’t want any hollowing and any wrinkling from this. Once in the first consultation and right before the surgery. The Dr. told me I have nothing to worry about. That won't happen. (he’s done thousands of these before according to him). I left it at that and the next thing I knew I was getting it done.
When I first looked at myself in the mirror the first thing I see is the bags are gone. At first I was elated. However, as the swelling went down it appears I've traded that for a different look. I know longer look like me. I look harder, older and more hollowed out then before. When I look straight in the mirror to figure this out it looks ok on first glance. It's when I tilted my head back I could see the reason for the new look. The lower eyelids no longer are flush with my cheek. They've collapsed and have created a sort of a trough between the cheek and eyeball.
I didn't really need the surgery. The "puffiness" was only on one eye and was really minor. You had to look close to it. I obsessed on something that now seems ludicrous. Now I get to obsess on something real.
I’ve now been educated on the cause of my problem instead of just its affect (losing overall volume/fat in my face causing it to withdraw over time). Thus making any swelling under my eyes a matter of perception.
I’ve tried in vain to see or at least talk to this doctor. He won’t take my calls or see me. He sent me a letter stating that basically I’ve signed away my rights before the surgery. Stating if anything negative happens he still gets his money. I sent him pictures of myself after this and he just emailed me back saying he sees no problem and according to him it was a satisfactory result.
I've submitted one before and one after picture.
Updated on May 12, 2009:
Please do your homework and check your doctor out first. Besides looking here check for references from other patients and your local superior court for any cases (malpractice, civil, & small claims) against them. Although, it's too late for me I was utterly shocked at what I saw.
May 11, 2009Comments and replies (14)
54 posts
11 May 2009
I know it's too late now, but for future reference it always pays to ask for before and after photos of procedures performed. Any good surgeon will gladly provide this for your review. Sorry you're disappointed =[
3 posts
12 May 2009
I agree with the above person. Do your research very carefully. I had a lower blepho done for bags, and was very disappointed with the results. One eye still has a huge bag in the corner of the eye. When I tried to go back, the doctor had retired!
2 posts
12 May 2009
Yeah, unfortunately I looked at all the glossy pics of the people he did in his brochure and they all looked good to me. However, it was all under controlled circumstances. They were very professional looking. Lighting, angle,photo shop?? etc..
1 post
30 May 2009
It must be horrible to not be able to go back to the way that you were. However... if you want my opinion, your eyes and eye "region" looks totally normal to me. You have an attractive face in the after pic AND the before pic. I know it's not what you'd hoped for, but you certainly don't look 'plastic' or hollow. Please don't bother to obsess over this!! You're a nice looking guy!
1 post
4 Jun 2009
Hi Jay, I must disagree with the others in that I can defnitely see the deep hollowness in your pix. A good doc should have been able to take out just the right amount of fat or use the right tightening technique for a natural effect. Sorry you have to go through this. Right now I am kind of going through the same thing, I think my eyes may look rounder or maybe it's an optical illusion because where I once had bags I have concavity. In particular, the right eye slightly droops & looks retractive and the sclera is very irritated. I am not sure if the drooping is causing the irritation or the other way around. I am only 7 days post-op and was told to wait. In reading all these sad stories, I feel kind of scared. It seems so scary how your ps could turn his back on a patient with legitimate concerns, which IMO show his lack of expertise in finding a solution. I am sure there are some talented ps' out there who may be able to revise; they just have to be found. I am learning that it sometimes takes a few surgeries to get things right. It seems at times that the "perfect bleph" can be elusive.
14 posts
26 Jun 2009
Do not accept this treatment from your surgeon. Make an official complaint to your Health Ombudsman or similar. Get a couple of opinions from reputable surgeons before you do anything else. He will not admit to any wrongdoing because he would make himself liable.
1 post
30 Jun 2009
OMG, another fett disaster. Four years ago he took my beautiful almond eyes away and gave me round hollow out eyes. one bigger than the other. When I realalized what happen to my eyes and went to his office he denied doing anything wrong yelled at me and stormed out of the office and slammed the door in my face. He told me I was being disrespectfull to him. I cried and cried for months and still do. He has the nerve to put his ads in the LA times and lure people in with his phrase eye's are what we do best. Makes me want to throw up. Not only did he round my eyes out he also shaved my eye lids, which now I have no weight in the lids to hold them closed at night. Ointment and a tight mask are a nightly ritual. I warned about him a couple of years ago. I said to run away from this man. Im sorry for you and Im sorry for me.
341 posts
5 Jul 2009
I also think you are good looking in both before and after pics but I take your point about the depressions post-surgery. Have you considered some juvederm etc to fill in the tear troughs a bit or is that out of the question now?
15 posts
6 Jul 2009
Hi there I think that part of the problem is that any kind of surgery/cosmetic fillers can change how you look and that is hard to deal with. I had tried restylane for under my eyes and hated how I looked - fortunately that was easily reversable. I do think however that fillers such as restylane may be an option for you to fill out the hollowed area or even fat transfer. I too think you look good before AND after. I think its because you look different thats causing you anguish. Maybe just do some in depth research before choosing another surgeon - i'm sure there are ways to fix the hollowness that you are unhappy with. good luck.
341 posts
10 Jul 2009
If you choose to have dermal filler put in your tear troughs and don't like it, there is a product that will dissolve the filler - hyaluronidase (branded as vitrase or hydrase etc). I have not had a good experience with and would urge anyone thinking of using hyaluronidase to read my review and look at my question to the doctors (and their answers) before going down this path. Mine was/is a complete disaster. If I can save someone else from this nightmare, then it would make me feel a little better.