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POSTED UNDER Facelift Reviews

Facelift Before and Healing...

UPDATED FROM tabithanash
5 months post

Progress....

I think and hope my lower eyelid retraction is getting better... I’m taping still after work with breathe right strips and doing my pushing up exercises. I’m hopeful about my eyes... and I’m still very pleased with my neck!!

Replies (5)

What is a lower eyelid retraction
It's when your lower eyelids pull down after a lower blepharoplasty. It makes the white part of your eyes show under your iris. I think and hope mine is resolving. My surgery was the beginning of July.
You can look at the posts earlier in my facelift review to see how my eye shape changed and how the lower eyelids were pulling down.
It is extremely subtle - no one would notice it, other than you of course. If you are concerned, it’s always worth speaking with your doctor. I think a repair would be a minor procedure wouldn’t it?
I had lower eyelid retraction after my facelift, and again after a lower lid blepheroplasty. Both times, the lid was brought up again by a procedure called canthopexy. Google "Canthopexy vs Canthoplasty". It sounds like your surgeon was suggesting a canthoplasty. If so, I'd consult another surgeon first, since canthoplasty is often unnecessary for this problem, is a lot more involved, and can change the shape of the eye and shorten the lower lid. All the best! Chtistine
Thanks for that info!! Glad you got yours brought back up!! Do you mind sharing who the surgeon was who did your canthopexy?
It was in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Jeffrey Fialkov. He is an excellent plastic and reconstructive surgeon, and is extremely honest, fair, and nice.
Thank you for that information! I wish I could travel to Canada to at least consult with him, but surely I can find someone closer :)
Your eye looks quite good in the picture now. Unless it is constantly dry and sore, I'm not sure any more work is required.
Wishing you the best, whatever you decide.
UPDATED FROM tabithanash
5 months post

Ok, some days I think it’s not as bad as I think...

I’m trying so hard to be hopeful and positive. Some days my eyes look better than others. I can’t exactly put my finger on what’s different about my eye shape, but I think it might have something to do with me not getting the brow lift that my doctor recommended, but I’m not totally sure...?? I do know that my eyes have changed from almond shaped to bowing shape on lower outer lids. I do trust my surgeon. His stitch work on my facelift left ZERO scars... My dilemma now is, do I risk more surgery/scars on my lower lids, or just trust him to correct my lower lids as easily as he did my amazing looking neck...??? I want to hear any positive stories about lower eyelid retraction that you ladies have.... Please and thanks for all your comments!!! This picture was actually today, but I was looking slightly down, so the retraction isn’t as obvious.

Replies (0)

UPDATED FROM tabithanash
5 months post

Lower Eyelid Retraction

This is a real thing that I had never heard about when having a mid face lift through the lower blepharoplasty incisions. This week it’s been 5 months since my surgery and now I’m going to have to have these lower lids revised. They don’t touch my eyeballs all the way across and my eyes are constantly irritated. My surgeon has offered to “take out a little more skin and pull up the lower lids” but that doesn’t sound right according to everything I’ve read. Ask lots of questions ladies. I’m thinking I need a oculoplastic to fix this...

Replies (5)

Who did you go to
I am 7 months post-op for upper/lower bleph and I also have ectoprion. Unless my face is animated, i.e. I am talking with expression, then my demeanour looks sad, as my eyes slightly droop in the corners. I knew it would not right itself, I mentioned it 3 times within a week post surgery, but the surgeon dismissed my concerns and asked me to tape them for a couple of weeks (which I did). I am due to arrange an appointment with him to establish what can be done. Not happy AT ALL as it will mean time off work. I do hope you can find an ocuplastic surgeon to correct yours. I sympathise with you.
Thanks Tweets. I had a facelift and cheeklift at the same time. I think the cheeklift is also a mid-face lift. Have you researched the procedures to correct lower lid retraction? I'm supposed to get my lowers revised next month but I'm not sure what technique is going to be used. I'm still asking questions and my surgeon has been very responsive so far. I'm just scared of more skin being removed because I think that contributes to the downward pull on the lower lids. Let me know how it goes when you discuss revision with your surgeon. I know what you mean about time off work and all that. I took 3 weeks off for my surgery and used up ALL my vacation days so anymore time off will be without pay :( I hope we both can get our lower lids resolved one way or another though!! I'd give up a months pay to get mine fixed properly!!! I just can't stop looking at my eyes and I wear fake glasses all the time now when not at home.
I am not seeing him until January, but I will let you know. If I push my skin on my forehead upwards, like a tight ponytail, it pulls my eye lids up in the corner, too, so I am wondering whether a facelift/browlift might help, but I am not willing to spend £££££ for a mistake that should not have occured and one which was ignored right at the start. Keep us all on here posted how you get on x
Same with me!! When I pull the brow up they look better. He did advise me to get the browlift all at the same time but I didn't think I needed it. I think if I had done the brow it might have been ok overall. Yes keep us posted!! Are you using the app for RS or the website?? I'm not getting many new posts on the app, they are all from 2014 2015 time frame.
I would not go back to him. I agree that you need a surgeon that specializes in eye reconstruction. You don’t want them to just look better; you want a well functioning eye! All that said - you really do look fantastic!! I really like your neck!!! I’m still afraid to ‘pull the trigger’.
I'm so confused as to what to do!! He says he can fix it but I need more specifics on the technique to be used. Thanks for the compliment on my neck thought!! I'm happy with that part of the surgery. I probably should have left my eyes alone :( Looking back they weren't bad at all.
And I don't want to make my surgeon mad at me or I'm afraid he will get frustrated with me and drop me :(. He has been really responsive so far, but it's been 5 months and I'm weary with these eyes...
I have the same issue. Very disappointed.
Don’t worry about him! It’s your prerogative and your hard earned money! Here is a link about the surgery done on your eyes and possible procedure for correction for your condition. http://www.dionparidaens.nl/lateral-canthopexy-a-crucial-step-in-cosmetic-lower-blepharoplasty/
Thanks for this information. I will check it out.
My PS said removing lower eyelid skin is absolute last resort because of this. Perhaps locate a PS that prefers different techniques for a different perspective.
HI, I had lower eye lift on August 1, 2019. Left eye healed nicely; however, the right eye has a retracted lower lid. Have been seeing the plastic surgeon every month for a combination cortisone injections and 5 FU. Gradually the skin is getting softer under eye but it is still a millimeter off. She said surgery would only cause more scar tissue but am wondering if I should go see ocular plastic surgeon. She said in time the eyelid will correct itself with the injections and some exercises I do with my eye.
That is very encouraging Botox girl!! Thank you for sharing the information!! I had terrible swelling and begged for a steroid shot, UT was told no, not till 3 months out. Now my lower eyelid retraction is being attributed to all the lower eyelid swelling I had.... Yes, I am afraid that more surgery will cause more scarring... I would love to try the 5 FU, but I wasn't even able to get a steroid shot for 3 months, so I know if I asked for 5 FU, I would probably be told FU!! Lol... but not really funny. Please keep me posted on how you are coming along. I have to rush home after work and wash my face and tape up my mid-face and lower lids because by the end of the day, it feels like someone is literally pulling my face down with fish hooks or something. My surgery was July 3, so I'm only about one month ahead of you as far as healing goes. Does your mid-face feel like it's pulling down all the time on the retracted side?? Thanks again for the encouragement!! Hope you continue to get that scar tissue broken up by the injections!! :)
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