Is 10 months post blepharoplasty, is it too late for 5FU injections?

Question

I have lower eyelid retraction from a blepharoplasty from 10 months ago. I saw a few surgeons around the 6-7 month mark and there was some retraction but it has gotten worse over the past 3 months. From what I understand I'm borderline in terms of the need for reconstructive surgery. Would 5FU injections or any other non-surgical methods potentially help keep me above the line for needing reconstruction? If so are there any providers recommendations for the NJ/Philadelphia area?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Scar retraction should be initially managed with conservative measures followed by surgical release of scar tissue once the injections and massage have been exhausted. Best, Dr. KaramanoukianRealself100 Surgeon

Mehryar (Ray) Taban, MD, FACS · Answer

Photos and/or examination is needed to give you accurate response. Usually those injections are not helpful at this stage. Best to see expert oculoplastic surgeon.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

This response to your post a month ago still applies: I routinely fix unsatisfactory blepharoplasty. Seventy percent of my aesthetic surgery practice is fixing unsatisfactory cosmetic eyelid surgery. As you are aware, your lower eyelids are not satisfactory. Fixing this will require much more than canthoplasty, which lacks the power to address what is going on. While it is true that in this photograph, the lower eyelid are not as low as some, they are low enough and especially the outer aspect of the lower eyelids are significantly vertically deficient. I take a comprehensive approach to these types of eyelids and vertically lift the cheek onto a hand carved ePTFE rim implant that is used as a felting material to sew to. This permanently recruits skin and soft tissue into the eyelid space. The eyelid itself needs to be shaped with hard palate graft. I do one side at a time and as early as one week later, the second side is repaired.  You also have significant Post Upper Blepharoplasty Syndrome with upper eyelid ptosis.  This will also require surgical repair. Typically this should be done at least 6 to 8 weeks after the lower eyelids have been repaired. It is highly likely that the many surgeons you have seen perform eyelid surgery but do not offer this type of specialized reconstruction. There is help for you, you just need to look in the right place.

Is 10 months post blepharoplasty, is it too late for 5FU injections?

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Is 10 months post blepharoplasty, is it too late for 5FU injections?

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Eyelid Retraction Repair

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