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“Lower Blepharoplasty - Hertfordshire, UK”

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Spent: $2,500 in Hertfordshire uk

Comments (32)

Posted 12 Oct 2011

I had a lower blepharoplasty one month ago and feel very unhappy with my results and very worried. I had the traditional approach, by removing fat with an incision under my eyelashes.

My left eye looks really good and is healing fine but my right eye had a problem I could see straight away. You can see more of the White of my eye under my eyeball making my eye look bigger and very strange. It looks like it is drooping compared to my left eye. It is also sore and uncomfortable. I also have a very deep crease under my right eye. I think that maybe he has taken too much fat? I have been told to massage and go back in two weeks time. My surgeon has told me I have nothing to worry about and it will all sort itself out by 3 months.

Besides some of the swelling subsiding I cannot see any improvement in this eye and am so worried I will need another operation. If I do is it a major op and should I let this surgeon do the revision or go for a second opinion? Is it likely it will resolve by itself?

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Comments (32)

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Sharon at RealSelf (Community Manager) 13 Oct 2011

Hi Shazz -- It's good that your doctor knows about it. I've heard that massaging can help bring the eyelids back into place.

A second opinion can't hurt, even if it gives you peace of mind, but I think most surgeons are reluctant to actually operate on you when you're under someone else's care (if that makes sense). Still, it's worth calling around or emailing your photos to doctors' offices to see what they say.

Hang in there and I hope it turns out well for you. :)

Santa Barbara7926 13 Oct 2011
I had upper and lower done 8 months ago. Originally one eye, like yours, was much more "open" than the other. I wasn't sure if this was the result of the upper or lower lid swelling. Eventually, after 5 months, the assymetry got better. One eye is still a little more open (the right eye) than the left, however it is mostly unnoticeable. You are still early in your recovery. Give it more time and hopefully you will be pleased with the result. While my surgery wasn't "perfect" it does look better than before surgery. I still have some under eye swelling that hopefully will resolve by one year. I do not want any revisions. I couldn't go through another surgery!
Shazz 13 Oct 2011
Thank you for that. I feel the same as you, I really dont want to have revision surgery. This whole experience has been so much worse than I ever expected. Today I woke up and my right eye (the one causing my problems) was red. I've been given antibiotics for it. Did you have to massage your eye and if so how long for?
It has given me hope hearing from you and looking at your picture you look great. I hope I can look as good as you in time!
Santa Barbara7926 13 Oct 2011
Yes, I was told to massage the lower right area- gently and not pushing against the eyeball. I had, and still have, a small bulge there at the outer corner. Doctor said it could be swelling or residual fat and that it might go away in time. It has become smaller so I am hopeful! Sometimes it takes up to a year for everything to even out. I have hypothyroidism so it means I heal slower... When I wake up I still have some issues under eye swelling and in this spot in particular. I massage it gently and it looks better in a matter of minutes. Hang in there for a few more months and see if time will resolve the swelling and assymetry issues. After 4 months you should be the only one noticing any type of difference. If it is still very assymetric you should get a second opinion after 4 or 5 months. I can tell you that I saw the biggest difference between the fourth and fifth month, although I still see improvement but much slower. Good Luck!
Shazz 13 Oct 2011
Thanks once again. I will just have to be patient!
Bartlett4047 13 Oct 2011
Go for a second opinion if you are worried. Any
revision surgery has to be done by an expert in the
field, an oculoplastic surgeon, in this case. You
will get excellent advice on this site if you post
pictures of your eyes and ask about the affected eye.
It takes a day or two, but it's free and worth it.
Bartlett4047 13 Oct 2011
The eyes heal, each, at a different rate. No one can
say anything for certain under a full year post
operative so you do need to wait. Six months is the
minimum and they are considered quite healed at a
year and a half. One year is when you will know where you stand.
Santa Barbara7926 13 Oct 2011
I forgot to ask - was your eye red from infection? Are you sure your eye is closing at night? My left eye had some issues with dry eye for about 3 months that drove me absolutely crazy. My eye felt like there was something in it and the slightest breeze would dry it out badly. I had to use drops for months. The opthamologist said I had some minor dry eye that should resolve with time - and that my eye wasn't fully closing at night causing the issue. Be careful!
Shazz 13 Oct 2011
My surgeon said my eye is closing but I wonder? Every morning I wake up and my eye feels sore. I think they have been dry and I have now got some drops and ointment which I will use regularly. Today it has been very sore and red! The doctor wasn't sure if my eye was red due to infection, but gave me antibiotics just in case!
ernurse 13 Oct 2011
If you get no response from the drops and ointment, go and see an occuloplastic surgeon. I agree with all the above comments. Wait, wait wait. However if your doc is not able to spot an infection there is a little something lacking in his knowledge base. Did he view your eye through the slit lamp? If it is concluded that you do need further surgery. DO NOT let your original doc do this. If he cant get it right the first time.....Seek expert knowledge,NOT a general PS.
Bartlett4047 13 Oct 2011
Dry eyes feel itchy, the vessels become red and
irritated. Swelling prevents lids from fully
closing leading to redness and irritation. Use
drops and ointments without fail until this subsides.
anon1497 17 Oct 2011
I think you are being far to hasty. My lower eyelid has only just started to look normal and it is 3 months since my op. Massage the area regularly and use eye drops for the dry eye that you are experiencing. All will turn out well....be patient!
Bartlett4047 17 Oct 2011
This message perhaps was meant for someone else. I
had an upper blepharoplasty a year and a half ago.
kcad 19 Oct 2011
sounds like everyone is having trouble with their lower lid surgery.. I was thinking of having it done this year but now I am nervous.!!
ernurse 19 Oct 2011
Dont have it done!! Try fillers first with someone who is good at it. there is no going back after bad surgery, and it will set you on the roundabout of trying to get it fixed.
Bartlett4047 20 Oct 2011
I chose not to have the lower lid done due to the
risk of retinal detachment leading to permanent
blindness. I am glad I did not do it. It's
more complex surgery than the upper lids and it can
require revision from an expert later on. I might
have laser skin tightening done under the eye only.
Few doctors do it, but it works well in the right
hands. The risk is far lower for anything untoward.
Best of luck to you.
kcad 21 Oct 2011
sounds good maybe i should do that too.. I am quite nervous to have surgery which is permanent and could come out freakish.. If anyone who had bleph of the lowlids, can you comment on your outcome and revisions please? Thanks a lot. K
Santa Barbara7926 21 Oct 2011
I had upper and lower bleph done in January 2011. I definitely needed the upper done (skin was hanging over my eyes), but I was talked into the lower. My surgeon said that I would not be happy if I just did the top. I had some minor bags but I was ok with that. No problems with the upper surgery, however the lower was another story. One eye (left) is still slightly smaller than the right. i can see this in the area closest to my eye. Not sure if he took too much skin off that area or what. It was a profound difference for the first 4 months and then evened out a little. I have what I call a "bulge" under my right eye still - it is not as big as it was 8 months ago but it is still there. Doctor says it could resolve in time or he may not have taken enough fat out. I had dry eye in my left eye for 4 months. Always felt like something was in it. Now, at 9 months I am pretty satisfied with the surgery despite the assymetry and tiny bulge. Dry eye issues are resolved. The dangers of this surgery are overwhelming compared to the benefits. I would definitely recommend upper bleph as it is more forgiving. Lower bleph should only be done by a surgeon that has done thousands of them - it is not for a rookie. Read Read Read before you go through with this Kcad. I see my doctor in January and we will see if I need a revision although, truth be told, I don't think I could go through with another eye surgery again.
kcad 21 Oct 2011
Thanks so much for your reply.. Glad that your uppers came out good.. I have fat and bags under my eyes and the upper are OK. I have been researching and all the DR's are eager to do right away when I see them.. How can they just think someone would jump right in on such a major surgery? That made me nervous. I understand your issues with your outcome and I would be the same way with worry. So I am now thinking of just laser treatment which is about $1,500.00. What could possibly happen there? Glad you are getting a better outcome with your eyes as time goes by.
ernurse 21 Oct 2011
As someone who needed 7 procedures to correct a very badly done lower bleph despite this doctor telling me he had done over 900 of them....of course he didnt tell me how many complaints. He really had no idea and was clearly over confident in his cookie cutter procedure. He denied anything was wrong. I had to travel to another city to find an occuloplastic surgeon who did a wonderful job trying to repair the disaster left for him. I developed full blown entropion (which I had, but only occasionally prior to the original surgery) my original surgeon just ignored this ( I know now it is because he didnt know how to assess for it). Upshot of this is DONT DO IT. Read Dr Steinsepir's information before you do anything. Everything he says is totally correct. If you do decide to go ahead go to a really good occuloplastic surgeon. Not just one who says he is good. Look for humility and honesty.
kcad 22 Oct 2011
Did you go to a General Surgeon to have your lid done or a Plastic Surgeon?
Bartlett4047 22 Oct 2011
Plastic surgeon. General surgeons remove appendixes,
tonsils, etc., although you can encounter a plastic
surgeon that also chooses to do general surgery, however, this is not the norm.
Bartlett4047 21 Oct 2011
Even highly experienced surgeons can encounter a bad
outcome in a given patient (poor healing, prone
to infection, bleeding, poor skin quality, etc.) since they are dealing with what is already there. Factor in human error which is inherent in most handiwork, and there could be a less than perfect result. Was everything you crafted perfect?
Scalpels are by nature razor sharp. Imagine what
can go wrong in a complex and delicate operation.
Plenty. ALL SURGERY HAS ITS PRICE.
kcad 22 Oct 2011
Is an Occuloplastic Surgeon the same as a Plastic Surgeon?
Bartlett4047 22 Oct 2011
No. Think of a plastic surgeon as a general practitioner in different surgical areas. An
oculoplastic (occuloplastic) surgeon is this
already, but went on to specialize in the field
of eye surgery. They deal best with the eyes.
Some plastic surgeons are face specialists, some
have breast/abdominoplasty as their specialty,
the so called "mommy makeover".
Always ask what their speciality is. Use oculo-
plastic surgeons for the eyes only. Check them
out, not all are excellent.

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