Dear Dr. Seckel, I had a blepharoplasty operation to remove puffy eye bags under my eyes and I think too much fat had been removed and now I have one eye that looks hollow and bulging out, and at a glance it still looks like I have a bag under my eye, but it actually its my eyeball sticking out! What can I do? Teri Los Angeles, CA.
Dear Terry,
From your description of the hollow appearance of your eye following your blepharoplasty I suspect your diagnosis is correct and that too much fat was removed during your blepharoplasty giving you hollow eyes. When too much fat is removed during the blepharoplasty on the lower eyelid, the lower eyelid sinks in and the eye looks hollow, but the eyeball protrudes and creates a bulge.
This can be corrected. However, correction of the hollow eyes appearance after blepharoplasty is a very delicate procedure and requires the expertise and skill of a specialist. What is required is a plastic surgery procedure called fat grafting during which a small amount of fat from a different area is transplanted back into the eyelid to plump up the depression.
I feel very strongly that no attempt should be made to do a fat injection with a needle-many plastic surgeons do this operation but my personal opinion is that fat injection with a needle is dangerous, especially since you have had prior surgery on the eyelid.
In my opinion, to correct the hollow eye after blepharoplasty, the fat transplantation needs to be done as a surgical procedure under direct vision. Personally I do this type of surgery through an incision on the inside of the eyelid called a transconjunctival blepharoplasty and I use a laser to make the incision. This is called a laser transconjunctival blepharoplasty with fat grafting.
In my opinion you need to seek consultation with a plastic surgeon who specializes in eyelid surgery. Many board certified plastic surgeons are experienced in this type of surgery and some, called oculoplastic surgeons only do eyelid surgery.
I am experienced in this technique but since you live in Los Angeles you may want to seek consultation with an expert in your area. Dr. Meronk in your area has a very informative website http://www.drmeronk.com/hollowed/hollow-eyelid-lower.html. Dr. Glen Jelks in New York City is another very reputable experienced doctor who specializes in eyelid surgery.
For further information on eyelid rejuvenation and blepharoplasty read Save Your Face or contact me.
Thank you.
Boston, Massachusetts