“Devastated After Lower Eyelid Surgery - Washington, DC”

Is there a way to tell you privately? I've read other comments about patients getting sued by their doctor when they post a bad review online.

Sure please thanks so much

Could you send me a private msg about?

Went back to original PS and tried filler a couple of days ago and while I thought I had seen some improvement, I am now thinking that it just made me look even wierder. Unfortunately the area immediately below my eyes is the area that is hollow which cannot be filled. The filler was placed right at the intersection of the ocular bone and cheek bone which made the ridge under the eye even more prominent - which is not what is needed. I have an appointment for second opinion with oculoplastic surgeon in a couple weeks.

I'm curious what the 7 procedures you had were and how they turned out? How many months/years ago was your original surgery?

Re my surgeon - the sad thing is that he is one of the most highly regarded doctors in the country. Highly reputable and on the PS board if not the chairman. If I can't trust a doctor with his credentials I'm not sure who I can trust.

It's all so depressing. Does anyone know a good shrink for disfigurement that takes phone appointments?

I have a similar problem with the hollowness under the eyes. I have read quite a few articles by Dr. Steinsepir and even messaged him with photos. I am in Australia so it is a bit expensive to go see him. Another good doc I believe is Hoenig. Apparantly it is not uncommon for people to feel that the filler has not helped. According to Steinsepir this is because there is not enough used. It takes quite a bit of filler to fix these areas. Send these docs some pictures for advice. I am thinking that you should move on from your original PS. It seems obvious he has no idea what he is doing. My advice is not to rush into anything too quickly...be absolutely comfortable with your surgeon and get him to explain EVERYTHING. Only go to one who specialises in repairing.

Portland3 - your situation sounds exactly like mine. The circles under my eyes had just begun to form but I felt I could successfully refresh my look with makeup and I still received compliments every day for how great I looked at 54 (like I was in my early 40's) I too expected to look exactly the same with just a little skin tightening under the eyes. I don't recognize the person I see I the mirror and I feel like such a freak. I too am having anxiety attacks and am having thoughts I've never had before. I have nightmares every night. Thank god for my loving husband. He has been so supportive, but I know it is hard for him too as he has always seen me strong and confident, and has never seen me in this very vulnerable state. I am planning to see a threrapist and feel like I too need anti-depressants. Does your therapist counsel over the phone? If so, could I get her contact information through private message? We need to turn our experience into a book or movie to get the word out to others. Unfortunately, most people don't look at these sites until it's too late.

Thanks, Washington and ERNurse, for your candid replies. My heart aches for those of us who have had to learn this information the hard way. As the nurse in Australia said, the surgeons cannot guarantee how your surgery will turn out. Sounds like it is a crap shoot. This would explain why even very reputable physicians have some very disappointed, even devastated, patients. ERNurse, I wonder, too, is there a way to get the word out? On the Today Show here in the U.S. the gals talk about aging and appearance all the time (especially in the last hour with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb). Wouldn't they like to expose this nasty truth about cosmetic surgery, that it is not all it is cracked up to be?

Washington8, my heart goes out to you. I know the feeling, that every morning you wake up to the awful truth that you went in for elective surgery expecting to look and feel great and instead now look worse and feel like you've been cheated, disfigured, or violated. I would say that, in appearance, my case is mild but I was to the emotional breaking point only a couple weeks ago. My husband was understanding and loving, too, but did eventually have a meltdown and told me to get over it, "or else" (an act of tough love on his part, I believe). Hence the anti-depressant so I would stop obsessing over my anguish and the unexpected changes in my appearance. It does help and now I am trying to focus on other, more important things. I am looking into Restylane as a way to improve the hollowing I see under my eyes. Expensive (considering it is not permanent), but a lot less scary than the poor outcomes that I have read about regarding fat transfer complications (which are much harder to resolve, if at all). As for the therapist, I would recommend that you find one in your area, probably someone middle-aged or older who specializes in women's issues or aging and women. Another thought is an anxiety counselor who can help you to at least learn to live without that panic-stricken knot in your stomach all day. Keep us posted as to how you are doing and I shall do the same. Best of luck, my dear. (Maybe part of our experience will culminate in somehow getting the word out, as you say. I often wonder if it would be therapeutic. Here we thought we could recommend a great surgeon to our friends and instead we are spending our time trying to warn others. Big sigh...)

I've been trying to think about the best way to get the word out. I thought about the book/movie which could really go into the depths of the emotional trauma patients like us are experiencing and could really make for a compelling story. I just wish I was a better writer and I had more time. I like the idea of the talk show but I wouldn't know how to approach them. There must be a way to reach across the US (or globe) and ask people to respond anonymously about their experiences. Maybe on twitter or some other social media site. If we could get a feel for the scope of the problem and we knew it was massive I think the media would be interested in the story. ERNURSE is right though, it's the embarrassment that prevents people from speaking up which is why we have to do this anonymously.

I contacted both Dr. Meronk's and Dr. Parsa's offices in CA and have scheduled an appointment for a consult. I'll be in CA for a wedding in May and decided it wouldn't hurt to talk to both of them who appear to specialize in eyelid correction surgery. I talked to the receptionists at both of their offices at length and they said it is a huge problem and people come from all over the world seeking help. It's just so sad.

I am also scheduled for a consult with Dr. Perman in DC, and Dr. Grant at John's Hopkins in Baltimore.

Have either of you heard anything about any of these doctors?

It's so nice to have you both to consult with and to talk to:)

Portland - could you point me to any articles or stories about poor outcomes and complications re fat transfers. I tried the restylane and I think it made things worse as now my orbital bones are even more pronounced. It is all such a nightmare!!

Hello again Washington8, of the doctors you mentioned I have only heard of Dr. Meronk and that was by Googling 'blepharoplasty revision.' His website is extensive and full of information. In fact, early on I learned more about the recovery process from his website than from my own plastic surgeon. The other names I have come across that I thought sounded very experienced and honest are Steinsapir (corrective eye surgery specialist), Amir Karam, Philip Young (both fat transfer specialists), and Samuel Lam. I have found all of them on RealSelf and have only actually consulted with Dr. Young. I am sorry to hear the Restylane didn't help. As I said before, it all seems to be a crap shoot. The negative stories I read about fat transfers were also on this website (mainly that the fat turned lumpy and couldn't be removed or was almost completely reabsorbed by the body leaving little to no improvement). I will look into ways to get on talk shows...Gotta run for now.

ernurse - would it be possible to get a redacted copy of the letter you sent to Australian authorities? I'd like to also do that here in the US. There are dozens of relevant plastic surgery boards, associations, societies, etc in the US that need to hear about this problem. Several of the top docs who correct the hollowness problem all say that doctors are taking out too much fat and in most cases shouldn't take any out at all, and in fact should be adding it back in for most cases. Dr Phillip Young has a video on his website where he speaks to this very issue. He said cutting the eyelid and repositioning fat is an older procedure. So why hasn't the word gotten out to these plastic surgeons who are being so aggressive? I think it might be helpful if I used your letter as an example in drafting one to send here in the US. Many thanks!

McCord wrecked my eyes also. However, my surgery was not a revision, but an initial surgery that was supposed to correct a minor amount of under eye fat with a slight (I was only 41 and with excellent skintone) cheek descent. I specifically expressed my fears about altering the shape and size of eyes, which were my best feature. He assured me that I had nothing to worry about.

My surgery involved a canthoplasty, which resulted in a most unnatural slant to my eyes, along with a shortening of the horizontal plane. Now my beautiful eyes are small and my face no longer resembles that of my old self. I went through a major depression as a result, unable to leave my house for a couple of years. I am no longer ashamed that I was so vain, but angry at the arrogance of my former surgeon. I write this with the full realization that he and his colleagues at Paces have been a God-send for many who have undergone revisions. But I want to warn others who may not know to ask precisely what technique will be utilized in their surgeries, especially when they are first-time patients.

Another lady I correspond with, had a revision with McCord and he completely wrecked her eyes. Did a drill hole canthoplasty, which gives her great discomfort and left her with two different sized eyes. She now has to pay thousands to get someone else to fix his mess. His technique seems very aggressive.

Did you complain to him about your result?

Ernurse, I complained one month out and then again at 6 months. In fact, on the day that I had the stitches removed, I perceived him to be condescending and dismissive of my concerns. For instance, it was clear to me (as well as to my sister and mother who stayed with me during the initial post-op period) that the outer corners of my lids were sewn shut--upon researching this I learned that the name for this procedure is "tarsorrhaphy." I panicked and obsessed that my eyes would remain permanently narrowed, but when I asked him about having done that particular procedure, he irritatingly denied doing that and then smirked to his nurse, something to the effect of "why's she talking about a tarsorrhaphy?". All that was missing was the eye-roll.

Yet at my one-month appointment, he admitted that a tarsorrhaphy was done in order to prevent my eye from opening and falling. I was still very upset and worried that my eyes would be permanently changed but agreed to remain calm and allow some time for my eyes to heal for them to go back to their normal size and shape, which of course they never did. More research indicated that he had performed a canthoplasty, which I would have never agreed to, given the invasiveness of the procedure, its nature (which was contraindicated for my goals) and the permanence. However, during my six-month appointment, he denied having performed the canthoplasty, and dismissed me. I later came upon a professional paper that McCord authored in which he admitted to performing a cantholpasty in all his surgeries, not just the revisions but also the initial blephs and cheeklifts, in order to prevent ectropion. I saved that paper but never confronted him. Why bother?

Of course, I have the telltale small, slanted eyes and the little knot on my lateral orbital rim that says otherwise. I never went back, but sunk into a deep depression. After two years, my savings were exhausted and I had to get back to work. Complicating matters is that I am a PhD and my field happens to frown upon women who wear makeup, let alone those who have cosmetic surgery. Dr. McCord knew this (assuming he was actually paying attention, which I believe he was) before my surgery. I reiterated just how important it was for me NOT to look "done" or different in any way. He even went back over my goals on the morning of surgery, asking me if I wanted him to turn the lower lid slightly outward (because it was a popular request at the time) or if I wanted him to change the axis to make it more like (I can't remember the supermodel's name). As tempting as it was (sarcasm), I said, no, you'd better keep them the way they are. I also was assured that I would be presentable (with concealer) in approximately two weeks and could return to work. Ironically, one of the main reasons I elected to have this surgery was because I was finding myself more dependent on concealer and eye shadow, and I wanted simply to get back to the way I was at a younger time, sans makeup.

Even more ironically, the only way now that I can make myself resemble my former self is to rely on eye liner and shadow. The little raised lump where the hole was drilled and my canthus attached? No amount of shadow can hide that. And I need eyeliner because my lashes never grew back where the corners of my eyes were sewn together.

I suppose I have digressed here, so to answer your initial point regarding the aggressiveness--yes--I believe that technique is very aggressive, and while I realize that I'm not an expert, I have read that same opinion expressed by a number of the experts who post on this board. If you do a search for canthoplasty, that is. The consensus seems to be that a canthoplasty ALWAYS results in a smaller eye and in most cases, an unnatural upward tilt.

I can't speak to your friend's case as you said she had a revision performed, but you didn't specify why. I'd be interested to know if you care to say more. My understanding is that a canthoplasty is oftentimes necessary in a lower bleph revision--especially when the lid has been lowered far below its normal axis and the skin so stretched out that the eyes have lost their ability to close. In those cases it makes sense that the surgeon would have to shorten the canthus and stabilize it by affixing it to the orbital rim, but to take an eye that has a good shape and no laxity and perform such an invasive procedure? Yes, very aggressive.

Melissa, it seems McCord treats all his unhappy patients the same way. He dismissed my friend with a letter saying that he could do no more for her. He did a drill hole canthoplasty which has given her terrible pain. Her eyes were two different sizes. He also used spacer grafts, but not hard palate, some substance that is only temporary. Her eyelashes at the lateral corners where also wrecked. She now is getting a doc in California to attempt to fix the disaster. She chose McCord initially because she had heard he was very good at revision. She had a lower bleph that had not worked out and left her with retraction etc. She too was very specific as to what she wanted. It seems he just ignores this and does what he wants. When the patient legitimately complains he just dumps them. My initial surgeon did the same thing. He denied everything. I know now that my surgeon had no idea what he was doing or how to fix the complications.

I believe that we need to keep on complaining, otherwise these egocentric doctors will just keep butchering women. Write to any organisations that he claims membership of and state your case. Do not let him get away with this.Even though time has passed I believe it is still important to let them know how the surgery has affected your life. These doctors bank on the fact that we will just go into hiding forever. Surely there must be some organisation that you can contact that acts as a "watchdog" for medical procedures.These doctors really must be stopped!!