Dear Dr. Seckel, I had fat pearl grafts placed into my eyelids as part of a blepharoplasty to correct dark circles under my eyes. I had the pearl fat grafts transplants placed into my eyes about five weeks ago. On my lower eyelids I have lumpiness above my cheeks. Will these lumps go away? Thank you, Erica, Los Angeles CA.
Dear Erica
It is normal following fat transplantation or pearl fat grafts to the eyelids to have some noticeable lumps initially. Some of the fat will dissolve as the fat graft “takes”, only about 35 to 60% of the fat survives to fill out the dark circles under the eyes.
I find that massage is very helpful to smooth the lumpiness and would encourage you to do it but check with your surgeon to see if he/she agrees.
I use a different eyelid rejuvenation technique than the pearl fat grafts to correct dark circles under the eyes. I use a transconjunctival technique-that is through a small laser incision on the inside of the eyelid, I release the arcus marginalis-the tisssue that is tethering the lower eyelid to the bone of the eye socket and causing the dark circles under the eyes. Then I place one uniform fat graft along the entire dark circle to plump the dark circle uniformly. This avoids the individual discrete lumps caused by multiple pearl grafts and works well for me. I call this procedure a transconjunctival laser blepharoplasty with arcus marginalis release and fat grafting or fat repositioning. If possible I leave the blood supply to the eyelid fat intact, which helps survival of the fat-this is called fat repositioning which is different from fat grafting.
For more information on blepharoplasty, dark circles under the eyes and eyelid rejuvenation read Save Your Face or contact me.
Boston, Massachusetts