I am 29 years old, and had upper/lower blepharoplasty 12 days ago, with outside incisions. I cannot put into words how upset I am with myself for doing this. I feel I will never be able to leave the house again without large sunglasses. My left eye is much larger than my right now. My right eye was bigger than it is now before the surgery. My left eye looks like I thought both eyes would look. I have been to my Dr., crying in his office just today. Although he says I still have swelling that needs to go away, he acknowledges the difference in my eye size. I have recently read that Botox can cause your eyelid to droop, and I know he used that. Could that be why my eye looks so much smaller than the other? If so, can I use eye drops so soon after surgery?
Answer: Almost everything gets better with time Dear Daisy Your anguish is clear in your note. You are very early after your surgery. At this time, it is common for one eyelid to look a little different than the other. Typically, these differences get better as you heal. This is a good time to put away the magnifying mirror. It is very difficult to be patient after surgery. Photographs would be very helpful to understand the differences you are describing. It sounds like the two eyes appear different. It may be that this was the case before surgery and now after surgery, the differences seem more exaggerated. Some times more skin and fat is removed from one side that another. However, these differences will often be the most obvious while healing and then get better as the dust settles. Another very important issue relates to your feelings. You are expressing remorse for having had surgery. I find that it is not uncommon for my patients with a history of depression to become somewhat depressed while they are healing from surgery. However, sometimes there is no history of depression. The reasons for this are not completely clear. We think of surgery as a stressor and we often have a finite capacity to handle stress. Another factor is simply being out of ones normal work schedule. It is like the normal structure of your life as been taken away during the healing processes that follows cosmetic surgery. Ask yourself if you are feeling depressed, are you having difficulties going through the day, low self esteem, difficulty eating or distrubances in your ability to fall asleep. In extreme cases, there can be thoughts of suicide or feelings that life is not worth living. My experience has been that many of these issues resolve as one heals and returns to a normal routine. However, I have gotten psychotherapists involved for emotional support as needed. Remember, you need time to heal. Most surgeries can be improved with revision but this may not be necessary. Please share with the Realself community your experiences so others can learn from how this situation resolved or what further actions you took to address your concerns.
Helpful 7 people found this helpful
Answer: Almost everything gets better with time Dear Daisy Your anguish is clear in your note. You are very early after your surgery. At this time, it is common for one eyelid to look a little different than the other. Typically, these differences get better as you heal. This is a good time to put away the magnifying mirror. It is very difficult to be patient after surgery. Photographs would be very helpful to understand the differences you are describing. It sounds like the two eyes appear different. It may be that this was the case before surgery and now after surgery, the differences seem more exaggerated. Some times more skin and fat is removed from one side that another. However, these differences will often be the most obvious while healing and then get better as the dust settles. Another very important issue relates to your feelings. You are expressing remorse for having had surgery. I find that it is not uncommon for my patients with a history of depression to become somewhat depressed while they are healing from surgery. However, sometimes there is no history of depression. The reasons for this are not completely clear. We think of surgery as a stressor and we often have a finite capacity to handle stress. Another factor is simply being out of ones normal work schedule. It is like the normal structure of your life as been taken away during the healing processes that follows cosmetic surgery. Ask yourself if you are feeling depressed, are you having difficulties going through the day, low self esteem, difficulty eating or distrubances in your ability to fall asleep. In extreme cases, there can be thoughts of suicide or feelings that life is not worth living. My experience has been that many of these issues resolve as one heals and returns to a normal routine. However, I have gotten psychotherapists involved for emotional support as needed. Remember, you need time to heal. Most surgeries can be improved with revision but this may not be necessary. Please share with the Realself community your experiences so others can learn from how this situation resolved or what further actions you took to address your concerns.
Helpful 7 people found this helpful
Answer: Post-operative Eyelid Asymmetry It's not unusual for patients to have significant asymmetry in the immediate post-operative period following blepharoplasty surgery. This asymmetry is often related to swelling which takes time to resolve. When this situation arises, patients are often emotionally distraught. After all, they had surgery to look better, not worse.In your particular case, it's hard to understand why Botox was combined with blepharoplasty surgery. It's also difficult to make a recommendation without pre and post-operative pictures.Unfortunately, there's probably no quick fix for this problem. It may take two to three months for your swelling to resolve. In addition, the Botox may be contributing to your asymmetry as well and Botox can last for three months.Once these issues have resolved, your aesthetic result can be evaluated. It's still possible that you' be happy with your surgical result. If you're not happy, secondary surgery may be a consideration. Revisional surgery shouldn't be performed until you're at least six months post-op. In the interim, it's essential that you maintain close contact with your plastic surgeon.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
Answer: Post-operative Eyelid Asymmetry It's not unusual for patients to have significant asymmetry in the immediate post-operative period following blepharoplasty surgery. This asymmetry is often related to swelling which takes time to resolve. When this situation arises, patients are often emotionally distraught. After all, they had surgery to look better, not worse.In your particular case, it's hard to understand why Botox was combined with blepharoplasty surgery. It's also difficult to make a recommendation without pre and post-operative pictures.Unfortunately, there's probably no quick fix for this problem. It may take two to three months for your swelling to resolve. In addition, the Botox may be contributing to your asymmetry as well and Botox can last for three months.Once these issues have resolved, your aesthetic result can be evaluated. It's still possible that you' be happy with your surgical result. If you're not happy, secondary surgery may be a consideration. Revisional surgery shouldn't be performed until you're at least six months post-op. In the interim, it's essential that you maintain close contact with your plastic surgeon.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
November 11, 2015
Answer: I refuse to discuss patient results for at least 3 weeks You have no idea what your final result will be so relax and wait until at least three weeks post op before you start beating yourself up about your decision to proceed with eyelid surgery. Talk to your doctor about post operative maneuvers to treat eyelid skin retraction.
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November 11, 2015
Answer: I refuse to discuss patient results for at least 3 weeks You have no idea what your final result will be so relax and wait until at least three weeks post op before you start beating yourself up about your decision to proceed with eyelid surgery. Talk to your doctor about post operative maneuvers to treat eyelid skin retraction.
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March 11, 2009
Answer: You are only 12 days post-op You are only 12 days post-op. There is considerable swelling that has to resolve and the tissues have to settle. You should not worry one bit for at least two more months. You really need to be patient to see the final results. Having surgery is not like buying new clothes. There is a recovery phase and you are just at the beginning of it. Good luck.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
March 11, 2009
Answer: You are only 12 days post-op You are only 12 days post-op. There is considerable swelling that has to resolve and the tissues have to settle. You should not worry one bit for at least two more months. You really need to be patient to see the final results. Having surgery is not like buying new clothes. There is a recovery phase and you are just at the beginning of it. Good luck.
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March 8, 2015
Answer: Complications
I am very sorry that you are suffering but the good news is that most likely this asymmetry wil resolve as things heal. This is a very very short time after surgery and I would not be worried at this point. I am not clear why your doctor used botox during your blepharoplasty unless you asked for it but Botox can cause a droopy eyelid so I would wait until the botox wore off....3 months.
Helpful 3 people found this helpful
March 8, 2015
Answer: Complications
I am very sorry that you are suffering but the good news is that most likely this asymmetry wil resolve as things heal. This is a very very short time after surgery and I would not be worried at this point. I am not clear why your doctor used botox during your blepharoplasty unless you asked for it but Botox can cause a droopy eyelid so I would wait until the botox wore off....3 months.
Helpful 3 people found this helpful