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POSTED UNDER Eyelid Surgery REVIEWS

Too Aggressive - Some Nerve Damage - Santa Monica, CA

ORIGINAL POST

I was 40, and my eyelids were starting to go - the...

JewelD
$5,000
I was 40, and my eyelids were starting to go - the uppers were getting droopy and crepe-y, and the bags underneath were getting obvious. When I went in for the consult, I said I didn't want an obvious, "ping-pong ball", lady-newscaster look - I wanted to go as subtle as possible, not look obviously different, just the minimum.
But when I woke up after the surgery, my right lid drooped - it wouldn't open equal to the left. And the right lower lid line wasn't tight to the eyeball. Massry and his staff assured me this was only temporary. Except for that, the work looked subtle. But as it healed and the swelling went down - guess what I had - the exact over-done ping-pong ball look I didn't want! It looks especially bad in photos- my eyes just look hollow. I avoid cameras now. And as for my right eye - it definitely has deep/thick scarring in the upper lid crease, I can still feel it, it's slightly tight when I blink (unlike the left, which I don't feel). And the lower lid never did completely tighten again against the eyeball, as the left did. And I still have bags! He took out the wrong part of the lower lid fat! So annoying.
All this left me with the distinct feeling that something went wrong in surgery, but they covered it up / never told me.
This all happened just before the internet became a real search resource - I looked for Massry's office to leave a review - but he'd closed and I couldn't find him for years. The date I put is approximate, but it was definitely in the spring of 2000.
Since then I've dreamed of getting it fixed elsewhere, but lacked the funds. If I had to do it again, I would suggest a slight eyebrow lift and just laser the lower lids - not a quad blepharoplasty, as Massry suggested. Not only was that option too much to suggest, but he was definitely too aggressive in the overall look.
Choose carefully & do the least procedures possible. Definitely consider going elsewhere. Take care.

JewelD's provider

Guy Massry, MD

Guy Massry, MD

Oculoplastic Surgeon, Board Certified in Ophthalmology

4.9 | 190 Reviews
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Replies (124)

August 20, 2014
Thank you so much for your post, I too am suffering from the same exact thing. I am so depressed and very scared to go for skin grafting to correct the problem. I can't even close my eyes completely. Would you be so kind as to include pictures.
August 20, 2014
I'll see what I can do about the pics. I remember Massry took a lot of pics, but not so much after the swelling went down, which is when the sunken look became more evident. Before you go for any skin grafting, give it some time. Even scarred skin can stretch enough to lessen the problem. I remember that for a long time after the surgery - probably the better part of a year - my eyes wouldn't close completely at night, and I'd wake up with dry eyes and blurred vision (from the dryness). Be sure to use moisture drops if this is happening to you.
August 20, 2014
Also, consider getting any scars needled. You need to wait at least 6 months before trying that on scars, but it may help normalize the scar tissue. Google needling online - also, if needling, don't just go to a "dry" tattoo artist - tattoo needles are too big.
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August 21, 2014
may I ask who did your surgery? was it Dr. Massry?
August 21, 2014
Yes
August 21, 2014
Someone here contacted me privately that they planned to see Massry for a revision, but if it were me, I wouldn't do it. I would take my time and keep looking for someone really experienced and successful at revisions. In fact, that's what I'm doing, researching and creating a list of doctors to check out, though I need to save the money. In the meantime, just dealing with it, doing good skin care generally (gentle enzyme exfoliation, then peptide and vitamin C topicals; also - I don't smoke) and staying grateful for my health in general. :)
August 21, 2014
Also, some years ago, a doctor turned me on to .5% estrogen cream for my eyelids. It helped improve my look by subtlely rejuenating my thin eye skin. BUT - He charged me $50 per half-ounce. (!) After I ran out, I scoured the internet for a source of "weak" ("friendly") estrogen cream - which I found - a 1% cream. Now I buy that and mix it down 50% with a peptide cream. I can't tell you to do that - but that's what I do.
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August 21, 2014
Jewel what did Dr Massry say when you went in to discuss your dissatisfaction with your procedures? I am surprised that he didn't fix it honestly.
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August 21, 2014
I alternate topical estrogen with tretinon (retinA) all over my face and neck, most nights. Works fabulously.
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August 22, 2014
i agree StillSouthern .I met Dr Massry and he seems like such a nice genuine human being. He was honest with me about everything,even his confusion as to the initial outcome of my previous surgery leading me to a revision in the first place.As he told me he had never seen a doctor do the procedure i had done on me for a cosmetic purpose.
August 27, 2014
He blew me off. Denied every concern I had. (I've since read other MD's call this "pulling the wagons in a circle" against any complaint. I would say that was my experience. Total denial/avoidance.) Months later, when it looked even worse, I tried to find him to seriously complain (again) - that's when I *discovered* he'd moved. I couldn't find a trace of him or his office/ practice - just... gone! That was really weird - any other doctor I'd ever used (GP, orthodontist, etc - who moved (and doctors generally seldom moved, in my experience) would notify all their patients, or just keep in touch generally. Not this guy. Just - Poof! Gone. I remember back then when I was searching, it looked like he'd moved out of state, last I'd heard/ read. As I said, the reason I'm even on this message board at all is b/c I found it while doing another search for him. Then when I saw this thread, I decided to tell what happened to me.
August 28, 2014
Thanks for sharing your story. I'm sorry this happend to you :(
February 6, 2015
SS: Just curious, does your dermatologist prescribe the estrogen cream for you? Also, what strength of estrogen and retinA do you use? Thanks. I've never heard of using estrogen cream on your face. This forum is great!
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February 6, 2015
I'm sorry but I think you are asking the wrong person cause I am not using any estrogen cream or retinA, I'm not even seeing any dermatologist
February 6, 2015
No....my message was intended for SS (StillSouthern) regarding percentage of facial estrogen cream/Retin-A. These threads are sometimes difficult to follow.
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September 4, 2018
that was me i think.you never got back to me
February 18, 2021
I am so sorry JewelD! My eyes to this day look awful and Dr. Massey did mine about 15 years ago. I can't even tell you what he did to mine but it looks like he took a drill and hollowed everything out from under my eyes. What he did to me was ridiculous and very careless. He surgery also caused what I presume to be nerve damage because my face to this day burns all over. It is not as bad as it was at first but it doesn't feel great. He tried to say I had dry eyes but that did not cause the burning. I was one if the fools that did so much research before I did my eyes that I thought I found the perfect doctor in Dr. Massry! Was I ever wrong! And I came from another state to have him do my upper and lower eyes. It cost me a small fortune not to mention the pain and embarrassment I feel now every time I look at myself this many years later!
May 21, 2022
Sadly me too. Only wish I saw this before my surgery.
May 21, 2022
My response was to disgruntled
May 23, 2022
I wish you had too. I am so sorry. He needs to stick to writing papers and giving speeches and maybe not do surgeries. Just my opinion
May 24, 2022
I have been so traumatized by the results of my surgery, in pain, my face is distorted, my eyes made smaller, asymmetric and heavily scarred. Other procedures performed really are painful and look horrible.
June 10, 2022
He blew off my complaints as well. Denied every complaint and says he does not agree. He has made me look so much worse. Plus a lot of scarring. There is not a moment that I regret doing this surgery with him.
June 10, 2022
I just came from a dermatologist office visit to see if there was anything she might be able to do for my burning face that I continue to have ever since my surgery some 17 years ago. She has called me in 2 prescriptions. I don’t know what they are yet so I will be interested to see if the medicines will be of any help!
June 10, 2022
Pleas let us know, as my face burns from his revision 4 months ago
June 10, 2022
Definitely, I will! Praying so hard for relief for both of us!
January 23, 2024
Dr mary stefanysyn in Philadelphia at wilseye hospital can take revisions but wait is long.
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August 20, 2014
Yes please. include photos
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August 20, 2014
I am trying to envision your procedure. Please post pictures. Thank you
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August 21, 2014
Before and now pictures would be helpful to visualize what you describe. Thank you!
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August 21, 2014
What do you mean by "nerve damage"?
August 21, 2014
Well, when I first woke up from the procedure, my right eye wouldn't open more than partway. It just drooped (while my left eye opened as expected, given the swelling). This went on for some time after - gradually improving - but it never completely returned to 100%. The thick (14 year old) scar tissue still pulls when I blink, and my lower lid is slightly pulled down & away from the eyeball. Though "hollow' looking, my left eye is more akin to my natural look than my right, which looks especially bad in pictures. This [hollow look] has been the case ever since the swelling receded, and still remains today.
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August 21, 2014
Ah, what you describe after the procedure is normal. Eyes should look similar after tho and pulled away isn't right. I am not a patient of Dr Massrey but he has a reputation as an excellent surgeon. In your shoes I would follow up and see what he says. I look forward to examining your pictures, as I am (was?) considering Dr Massrey. Thank you.
August 22, 2014
Tried that - when I did try to follow up, his office and his staff brushed everything off, and then moved and disappeared. Other doctors call that sort of brush-off a "circling-the-wagons" mentality. I was not happy. I searched on the web for him, and he was gone for quite awhile. Every once in awhile I'd search again - nada. In fact, it ws my most recent search for him that led me to this thread. I was surprised to find he'd popped up again in BH. But now I'd have no case, I couldn't find him in time. I don't care what his "reputation" is, that sort of thing can be crafted to some degree. My result was not only an aggressive, hollow look, but as I said, the lower lid has pulled away. it's somewhat better now, but still not right. It is visible.