My doctor doesn't know why the swelling and eyebags 8 months post-procedure won't go down. For the last 2 months, I've been using a special cream that he gave me, with little success. He says he removed enough fat, and there isn't a need to remove more.
I have more swelling on my left side, I believe due to the suture knot not being trimmed short enough. It is somewhat noticeable and causes a little discomfort at times. I can feel it though my skin, at the corner of my eye. He said he will trim this for me next month. I'm desperate for other opinions as I'm now trying everything from drinking green tea, eating more cucumbers, massive vitamin intake, etc.
Anything to help my body not retain the excess fluid? What can I do to improve the condition? I'm open to suggestions and professional opinions. Thank you all for your time.
December 11, 2008
Answer: A tricky balance It is difficult from the looking up photograph to see exactly what the problem is. It appears as though there is hollowness immediately below the eyes, some retraction of the eyelids, and fullness, perhaps with irregularities from ? fat injection below that at the eye-cheek junction. It appears that your eyes are quite prominent. Often when prominent eyes are operated on through a lower eyelid (subciliary) incision, the eyelids can pull down, as though seeking a lower position on the spherical globe (eyeball). This can present a problem visually and also functionally as the cornea becomes chronically dry. The issue you had pointed out, however, was none of the above; rather it was the persistence of fat below the eyes. In your photo this seems to be primarily low down at the eye-cheek junction, and does not consist at all of typical lower eyelid fat that can be removed readily. Consultations with surgeons skilled in the midface and revision lower eyelid surgery should clear this issue up further. Although we have written many publications and chapters on your topic, we are never quick to reoperate. Any revision to lower eyelid surgery with lid retraction would typically involve midface advamcent (some type of cheeklift), plus canthopexy. Canthopexy alone can give the eye a severe look with an uptick at the corner but unaltered central roundness of the eye, a characteristic "done" look. Also, grafts such as LiveFill (nontraumatized fascial fat grafts) placed directly in regions of hollowness can help. If there is lumpiness from fat injection, this is usually removed directly. Patients having revision lower eyelid surgery must be realistic about their outcomes, which are usually subtly better and not completely curative.
Helpful 2 people found this helpful
December 11, 2008
Answer: A tricky balance It is difficult from the looking up photograph to see exactly what the problem is. It appears as though there is hollowness immediately below the eyes, some retraction of the eyelids, and fullness, perhaps with irregularities from ? fat injection below that at the eye-cheek junction. It appears that your eyes are quite prominent. Often when prominent eyes are operated on through a lower eyelid (subciliary) incision, the eyelids can pull down, as though seeking a lower position on the spherical globe (eyeball). This can present a problem visually and also functionally as the cornea becomes chronically dry. The issue you had pointed out, however, was none of the above; rather it was the persistence of fat below the eyes. In your photo this seems to be primarily low down at the eye-cheek junction, and does not consist at all of typical lower eyelid fat that can be removed readily. Consultations with surgeons skilled in the midface and revision lower eyelid surgery should clear this issue up further. Although we have written many publications and chapters on your topic, we are never quick to reoperate. Any revision to lower eyelid surgery with lid retraction would typically involve midface advamcent (some type of cheeklift), plus canthopexy. Canthopexy alone can give the eye a severe look with an uptick at the corner but unaltered central roundness of the eye, a characteristic "done" look. Also, grafts such as LiveFill (nontraumatized fascial fat grafts) placed directly in regions of hollowness can help. If there is lumpiness from fat injection, this is usually removed directly. Patients having revision lower eyelid surgery must be realistic about their outcomes, which are usually subtly better and not completely curative.
Helpful 2 people found this helpful
June 4, 2012
Answer: Lower eyelid hollowness may be misinterpreted as swelling
Your lower eyelids appear to be very hollow with some bits of retained fat. Like other doctors have commented, it's hard to accurately assess your situation from the one photo in the upward gaze.
The easiest and most cosmetically desirable solution is carefully placed Restylane to the lower eyelids to restore the fullness and camouflage the fat.
Incidentally, you also seem to have a malar mount (pillow) on the right cheek which can also be camouflaged with filler.
Helpful
June 4, 2012
Answer: Lower eyelid hollowness may be misinterpreted as swelling
Your lower eyelids appear to be very hollow with some bits of retained fat. Like other doctors have commented, it's hard to accurately assess your situation from the one photo in the upward gaze.
The easiest and most cosmetically desirable solution is carefully placed Restylane to the lower eyelids to restore the fullness and camouflage the fat.
Incidentally, you also seem to have a malar mount (pillow) on the right cheek which can also be camouflaged with filler.
Helpful