Should I expect my ectropion to resolve? 1 year post op (photos)

Question

hello, I had lower blepharoplasty 1 year ago I got ectropion. Then I had 2 revisions + canthopexy (5 months ago) and again ectropion. I feel dryness in my eye and discomfort, like I have a foreign body. Will it ever resolve - is it cicatricial ectropion or the doctor took too much skin. The strange thing is that only on one eye.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

Your lower eyelid is deficient in skin and soft tissue. Further lateral canthoplasties do not have power to fix your issue. Don't let well meaning surgeons use up more of your precious lower eyelid resources. Lateral canthoplasty even with a drill hole in the bone does not have the power to fix your post blepharoplasty lower eyelid retraction. Do not accept an unsightly skin graft in the lower eyelid. This is disfiguring. I developed and practice the most effective surgery to repair these retractions. It involves the vertical elevation of the cheek skin and soft tissue into the lower eyelid with the an orbital rim implant that provided a location permanently hold this soft tissue into the eyelid. A hard palate graft is also used to shape the lower eyelid. This allows the lateral canthal angle to be closed without tension. Each case is unique so there is no substitute for a detailed in person assessment. I am attaching a link and a surgical video so you can learn more about this approach.

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

Based on your photos, you're under eye appears puffy. And you appear to have a lovely repair. I do not think you are feeling your final result right now, only 5 months after canthopexy. Keep using eye lubricants and sit tight for another 6 months and I think you'll be happy. Sincerely, Dr Joseph

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

You should wait at least 1 year before next correction if needed. Eyelid massage/stretching and taping overnight may help in the meantime. Good luck.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

I’ve gone away from removing any skin from the lower eyelid.
Often skin is removed with the orbicularis muscle which weakens the muscle that closes the eye.
Removing skin and especially removing skin with the muscle, put a downward tension on the lower eyelid and this generally Results in creating an ectropion either now or prematurely in the future.
The ectropion is not going to improve it with time.
Typically, as we aged, we all develop some weakness in the lower eyelid and having had skin removed from the lower eyelid, causes this to happen more rapidly.
I’m not sure if the same provider did the revision work, but in my opinion, if a plastic surgeon Lacks sufficient skill to do the procedure in the first place and they probably don’t have the skill to do the revision work considering that revision surgery is many times more complicated than the primary procedure.
I suggest you have in person second opinion consultations with oculoplastic surgeons in your community.
 I have seen good improvement from a midface lift. The typically the standard approach is a canthopexy/plasty.
Anytime you’re contemplating having cosmetic surgery I recommend you ask providers to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of before and after pictures of previous patients, we have similar characteristics for whatever procedure. They are recommending
ThisAnytime your contemplating having cosmetic surgery I recommend you ask providers to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of before and after pictures of previous patients, we have similar characteristics for whatever procedure they are recommending.
This includes both primary and revision surgery.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD

Should I expect my ectropion to resolve? 1 year post op (photos)

Answers (4)