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POSTED UNDER Eyelid Surgery REVIEWS

Devastated After Lower Eyelid Surgery - Washington, DC

ORIGINAL POST

I went to PS for a consult on upper eyelids that...

Washington8215April 25, 2011
$5,000

I went to PS for a consult on upper eyelids that were slightly drooping onto eyelashes. PS pointed out my tired look and showed me how he could also correct my bags under my eyes with a simple procedure to remove a little excess skin. I did not have a problem with the way I looked but he made me feel like I did have a problem. He made the correction seem so simple and convinced me to do it, and asked me to trust him that he was an expert in eye procedures. I asked if we could try a little filler between the tear rim and upper cheek bone but he said fillers were not very successful in this area (ironically this is what he is now suggesting to correct the problem!)

It is now 5 months post surgery and I am devastated by the result and am on verge of a nervous breakdown. My eyes which were originally large and my best feature are now smaller, more rounded, and pulled up in an unnatural way. He also took too much fat out below my eyes and they now have a hollowed sick look. I get physically ill when I look in the mirror.

I'm very confused about how to correct these problems. Some doctors say try filler (e.g Restylane) for the hollowness, others say I will need a fat graft. I'm scared to death to do anything else for fear it will be worse - but I hate the way I look and am desperate to try to fix it.

Replies (61)

essence1981
April 28, 2011
may I know who your doctor was? so I can avoid him..sorry to hear about the bad results..:-(
Washington8215
April 29, 2011
Is there a way to tell you privately? I've read other comments about patients getting sued by their doctor when they post a bad review online.
essence1981
April 29, 2011
Sure please thanks so much
essence1981
April 30, 2011
Could you send me a private msg about?
Bartlett4047
April 28, 2011

What one doctor advised (on this site) was to first try a filler to see if you liked the results and then proceed to the fat graft. Use a highly recommended, qualified oculoplastic surgeon only for this as their specialty is eyes. There may something else that could be done to make you feel better. Your eyes will not look normal until almost one year post-op due to the swelling which distorts (eye) tissues. They start to look much better after 6 months, but continue to improve thereafter. Get a second and third opinion so you know what you are dealing with & what you can realistically expect.

Washington8215
April 29, 2011
Went back to original PS and tried filler a couple of days ago and while I thought I had seen some improvement, I am now thinking that it just made me look even wierder. Unfortunately the area immediately below my eyes is the area that is hollow which cannot be filled. The filler was placed right at the intersection of the ocular bone and cheek bone which made the ridge under the eye even more prominent - which is not what is needed. I have an appointment for second opinion with oculoplastic surgeon in a couple weeks.
ernurse
April 29, 2011
This is a repeat of an often heard story, one of which was mine too. I feel so sorry for those of us who trust in the doctors we consult and they let us down. Lower eyelid surgery is NOT simple. Yes, filler is the best choice first up...but like you I beleived the surgeon, forgetting that there first intention is to drum up business. I have needed 7 procedures to fix my eyes. I agree with Bartlett..Wait till at least 6 months and then see 2 or 3 or even more occuloplastic surgeons! DO NOT waste time and money on general surgeons. Meantime, write to your surgeon and try to get your money back...point out to him the problems and back this up with what other docs will tell you. Write letters of complaint to any boards he has membership of. These dodgy surgeons must be stopped!!!
Washington8215
April 29, 2011
I'm curious what the 7 procedures you had were and how they turned out? How many months/years ago was your original surgery?

Re my surgeon - the sad thing is that he is one of the most highly regarded doctors in the country. Highly reputable and on the PS board if not the chairman. If I can't trust a doctor with his credentials I'm not sure who I can trust.

It's all so depressing. Does anyone know a good shrink for disfigurement that takes phone appointments?
ernurse
April 30, 2011
I have a similar problem with the hollowness under the eyes. I have read quite a few articles by Dr. Steinsepir and even messaged him with photos. I am in Australia so it is a bit expensive to go see him. Another good doc I believe is Hoenig. Apparantly it is not uncommon for people to feel that the filler has not helped. According to Steinsepir this is because there is not enough used. It takes quite a bit of filler to fix these areas. Send these docs some pictures for advice. I am thinking that you should move on from your original PS. It seems obvious he has no idea what he is doing. My advice is not to rush into anything too quickly...be absolutely comfortable with your surgeon and get him to explain EVERYTHING. Only go to one who specialises in repairing.
Portland3931
May 1, 2011
Dear Washington8, I am so sorry to hear that your results from upper and lower blepharoplasties are not at all what you expected. I just had a similar experience; my surgery was in February. While others say my results are very subtle, I feel like I don't look like me anymore. I expected to look exactly as I did before, only with slightly less upper eyelid skin and a smoothing of the barely-visible bags which were only starting under my eyes (I am only 41). Anyway, I wanted to offer my help. I was completely freaked out by the not-so-conservative results that I ended up with. I went to see a trusted therapist who specializes in women's issues and I am now taking an anti-depressant to help with the anxiety I feel on a daily basis due to my disappointment in the results and in myself for choosing this elective surgery. I, too, have looked into fillers and fat grafts/fat transfers. It is my opinion that the filler Restylane is the place to start as it is the most viscous (good for working with the thin skin under the eyes)and it is not permanent, in case you don't like it. As others have said, be sure to find someone who has tons of experience with this as filler is only successful if administered by the right (i.e. very experienced) practitioner. Also, I had hoped to prolong my youth a bit by having these procedures and am now trying to get my mind off it by pursuing other things that are important to me, such as volunteering with causes that mean a lot to me. I am also going back to school in the fall so I can go back to work someday after taking 19 years off to raise kids. I wish I had accepted the notion of aging gracefully instead of fighting it. I wonder, is anyone ever happy with a lower blepharoplasty? Unless you are correcting HUGE bags under the eyes, I don't think it is ever worth it; I have read so much about unhappy patients. Kudos to you and me for getting the word out there that the lower bleph is not such a great idea...
Washington8215
May 1, 2011
Portland3 - your situation sounds exactly like mine. The circles under my eyes had just begun to form but I felt I could successfully refresh my look with makeup and I still received compliments every day for how great I looked at 54 (like I was in my early 40's) I too expected to look exactly the same with just a little skin tightening under the eyes. I don't recognize the person I see I the mirror and I feel like such a freak. I too am having anxiety attacks and am having thoughts I've never had before. I have nightmares every night. Thank god for my loving husband. He has been so supportive, but I know it is hard for him too as he has always seen me strong and confident, and has never seen me in this very vulnerable state. I am planning to see a threrapist and feel like I too need anti-depressants. Does your therapist counsel over the phone? If so, could I get her contact information through private message? We need to turn our experience into a book or movie to get the word out to others. Unfortunately, most people don't look at these sites until it's too late.
Portland3931
May 2, 2011
Thanks, Washington and ERNurse, for your candid replies. My heart aches for those of us who have had to learn this information the hard way. As the nurse in Australia said, the surgeons cannot guarantee how your surgery will turn out. Sounds like it is a crap shoot. This would explain why even very reputable physicians have some very disappointed, even devastated, patients. ERNurse, I wonder, too, is there a way to get the word out? On the Today Show here in the U.S. the gals talk about aging and appearance all the time (especially in the last hour with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb). Wouldn't they like to expose this nasty truth about cosmetic surgery, that it is not all it is cracked up to be?
Portland3931
May 2, 2011
Washington8, my heart goes out to you. I know the feeling, that every morning you wake up to the awful truth that you went in for elective surgery expecting to look and feel great and instead now look worse and feel like you've been cheated, disfigured, or violated. I would say that, in appearance, my case is mild but I was to the emotional breaking point only a couple weeks ago. My husband was understanding and loving, too, but did eventually have a meltdown and told me to get over it, "or else" (an act of tough love on his part, I believe). Hence the anti-depressant so I would stop obsessing over my anguish and the unexpected changes in my appearance. It does help and now I am trying to focus on other, more important things. I am looking into Restylane as a way to improve the hollowing I see under my eyes. Expensive (considering it is not permanent), but a lot less scary than the poor outcomes that I have read about regarding fat transfer complications (which are much harder to resolve, if at all). As for the therapist, I would recommend that you find one in your area, probably someone middle-aged or older who specializes in women's issues or aging and women. Another thought is an anxiety counselor who can help you to at least learn to live without that panic-stricken knot in your stomach all day. Keep us posted as to how you are doing and I shall do the same. Best of luck, my dear. (Maybe part of our experience will culminate in somehow getting the word out, as you say. I often wonder if it would be therapeutic. Here we thought we could recommend a great surgeon to our friends and instead we are spending our time trying to warn others. Big sigh...)
Washington8215
May 2, 2011
I've been trying to think about the best way to get the word out. I thought about the book/movie which could really go into the depths of the emotional trauma patients like us are experiencing and could really make for a compelling story. I just wish I was a better writer and I had more time. I like the idea of the talk show but I wouldn't know how to approach them. There must be a way to reach across the US (or globe) and ask people to respond anonymously about their experiences. Maybe on twitter or some other social media site. If we could get a feel for the scope of the problem and we knew it was massive I think the media would be interested in the story. ERNURSE is right though, it's the embarrassment that prevents people from speaking up which is why we have to do this anonymously.

I contacted both Dr. Meronk's and Dr. Parsa's offices in CA and have scheduled an appointment for a consult. I'll be in CA for a wedding in May and decided it wouldn't hurt to talk to both of them who appear to specialize in eyelid correction surgery. I talked to the receptionists at both of their offices at length and they said it is a huge problem and people come from all over the world seeking help. It's just so sad.

I am also scheduled for a consult with Dr. Perman in DC, and Dr. Grant at John's Hopkins in Baltimore.

Have either of you heard anything about any of these doctors?

It's so nice to have you both to consult with and to talk to:)
Washington8215
May 2, 2011
Portland - could you point me to any articles or stories about poor outcomes and complications re fat transfers. I tried the restylane and I think it made things worse as now my orbital bones are even more pronounced. It is all such a nightmare!!
Portland3931
May 2, 2011
Hello again Washington8, of the doctors you mentioned I have only heard of Dr. Meronk and that was by Googling 'blepharoplasty revision.' His website is extensive and full of information. In fact, early on I learned more about the recovery process from his website than from my own plastic surgeon. The other names I have come across that I thought sounded very experienced and honest are Steinsapir (corrective eye surgery specialist), Amir Karam, Philip Young (both fat transfer specialists), and Samuel Lam. I have found all of them on RealSelf and have only actually consulted with Dr. Young. I am sorry to hear the Restylane didn't help. As I said before, it all seems to be a crap shoot. The negative stories I read about fat transfers were also on this website (mainly that the fat turned lumpy and couldn't be removed or was almost completely reabsorbed by the body leaving little to no improvement). I will look into ways to get on talk shows...Gotta run for now.
ernurse
May 1, 2011
despite lower blephs being touted by some surgeons as being a simple operation, it is NOT. The actual mechanics of the procedure may be simple, but doing it the right way for the right person is not. Some PS that I have spoken to in both a professional and private capacity have stated that it is one of the most difficult procedures to get right. Most surgeons who do this lack the professional technique to correct their mistakes. So they just deny that they have done anything wrong. Technically they may have done the procedure 'by the book' it is just that it does not suit that individual. That is why general PS of CS should be a 'no go zone' for eyes.
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