When People Look Worse After Eyelid Surgery
It goes without saying that each and every cosmetic surgery requires skill, training and experience on the part of the plastic surgeon. Some procedures are trickier than others, however, and eyelid surgery falls into this category. Given the proximity to the eyes, the delicate skin and the role the eyes play in a man or woman’s overall appearance, a good outcome requires sound surgical strategy and precision in execution.
That’s why we’re so glad when patients choose us for eyelid surgery in New York. We have performed blepharoplasty—as the procedure is called in medical circles—thousands of times in our many years in practice. We truly enjoy the procedure, and we feel very secure in our abilities to make those decisions and millimeters count.
When Eyelid Surgery Goes Wrong
Most of us have read about eyelid surgery disasters—when a patient is left unable to close their eyes, for instance. Fortunately, that kind of result is quite rare. But when patients choose surgeons who are less than well-prepared, poor outcomes can happen. Here are some cases we have seen:
– Persistent Redundant Skin: Some patients find that their upper eyelids still droop after surgery. We have performed revision eyelid surgery for New York patients with this exact issue. The problem can be simply that the original surgeon did not eliminate enough skin, perhaps thinking it’s better to err on the safe side than remove too much.
– Upper Face Proportions All Wrong: Occasionally, we find that a blepharoplasty revision patient would have been better served with a browlift, or a browlift/eyelid lift combination. Removing upper eyelid skin when a saggy forehead is present can cause the eyebrows to seem too low and result in an unnatural, hooded look to the eyes.
– Hollowed Lower Lids: When fat bags make lower lids look puffy, it’s natural to believe the bulges should be removed. But in reality, lower lid strategy should be planned with the entire lower eye area in mind: skin, muscles, fat and bone. In some cases, fat should be removed; in others, it should be reduced or repositioned. Sometimes a filler for dark tear troughs is a better solution. Some patients benefit from having their lower lids lifted; some don’t need this step.
Experience Makes the Difference
When it comes to eyelid surgery for our New York patients, we walk a fine line. On one hand, we lean toward a conservative approach to making changes. Preserving complete eye functionality and creating a natural appearance are first and foremost in our minds. On the other hand, decades of experience with satisfied patients like Claire give us the confidence to deliver the dramatic refresh our patients expect. Cosmetic surgeons without this kind of background may be too conservative, too aggressive or even rely on a cookie cutter approach.
Interested in finding out more about eyelid surgery in New York with us? You can read about our philosophy here, including the way we tend to approach subtle male and female differences. We also offer detailed information about the procedure, including risks and recovery, here, and we have also answered frequently asked questions about eyelid surgery here.
We also welcome you to schedule a no-obligation consultation. Just give us a call at 212-570-6080.
