Why can’t I get used to my new eyes after upper bleph? 5 months post op. (photos)

Question

I don’t look like me. Many people have to look twice before they recognise me. 5 months after upper bleph I still can’t seem to get used to my new eyes. I always had hooding and loved my eyes. But at age 55 the hooding was getting worse and eye make up was a daily chalenge. My eyes feel as if I have been crying, tired and tight. What is possible at this point (or later)? Oh and I have bad under eye hollowing / bags /after my UPPER bleph surgery!! How is this possible?

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

This is the post upper blepharoplasty syndrome. Your have mild upper eyelid ptosis with a high crease.  The upper eyelids are mildly ptotic compared to what you were like before surgery and you have a compensatory eyebrow elevation. There is upper eyelid lash ptosis.  Notice that in the before photo, your eyes looked bright.  Afterward they look lifeless.  That is because the heavy upper eyelid and lash ptosis shades the top of the cornea making the eyes look dull and lifeless. The compensatory eyebrow elevation causes a pinch across the brow that makes you look cross.  Before surgery, your eyes were bright and you had a wonderfully full upper eyelid fold.  Unfortunately the fold rested on the lashes.  The answer was not the over-resection of skin, muscle and fat. A better choice would have been a small anchor blepharoplasty to create a 2 mm strip of visible eyelid platform and would have supported the upper eyelid lashes.  This can still be achieved by reconstructive surgery.  The upper eyelid crease can be lowered, the upper eyelid ptosis corrected, the anterior orbital fat can be mobilized from the scar tissue created by the eyelid surgery to help reestablish the upper eyelid fold.  You can have this reconstruction at any time.

Mehryar (Ray) Taban, MD, FACS · Answer

Best to get personal consultation to determine exactly what is bothering you. You might benefit from upper eyelid filler injection as one option.

Ahad Mahootchi, MD · Answer

I agree with the others that your photos show a nice result. 
Often when you improve the appearance of one part of the face, other issues are more obvious. This is a very common issue with many patients noticing their lower lid imperfections after great upper lid surgery. The upper lid surgery won't make the lower lid worse. 
You should see an ophthalmologist about the tired and tight sensation.
If thera-tears four times a day and Systane gel at night don't help the way your eye feels in two weeks I often go to unfrozen autologous serum tears because it cheaply resolves dry eyes faster than just about anything else.

David A. Sieber, MD, FACS · Answer

Based on your photos you look to have a very nice result from your surgery. It looks like your eyes are closing normally which is good. The dry eyes could be happening for a variety of reasons. I recommend following up with your surgeon for an evaluation. Best,~Dr. Sieber

Why can’t I get used to my new eyes after upper bleph? 5 months post op. (photos)

Answers (4)

Answer: Eyelid surgery

Answer: Eyelid surgery

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Why can’t I get used to my new eyes after upper bleph? 5 months post op. (photos)

Answers (4)

Answer: Eyelid surgery

Answer: Eyelid surgery

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Everything you need to know about Eyelid Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.