Blepharoplasty

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had upper and lower blepharoplasty surgery about two years ago. My upper eyelids have scars, the left eye is worse than the right. Another surgeon said the right eye just has some extra fat that needed removed. I have very high cheekbones and when I smile or laugh I still have extra skin below my lower eyelids that bunches up and makes me look a lot older than I really am. I didn’t know if that could be fixed by doing a little tuck. The only problem is I do have dry eyes. I also had a neck lift which I was very pleased with but my double chin seems to be coming back. The other surgeon I spoke with said he would do a chin tuck up. I would go ahead and book with you because I have read all the great reviews about you and I’m not really satisfied with my current plastic surgeon. 

A: Thank you for sending your pictures. What I see are upper blepharopasty scars that are not in the eyelid crease line and are above it. The actual appearance of the blepharoplasty scars are not atypical but because they are high they are ore noticeable than they otherwise would be. Unless there is more skin to remove (and there is in the right eye) the scars ca not be lowered or made less noticeable. While a pinch lower blepharoplasty can be done, whether there would be any worsening of your dry eyes is unknown. It often is not a good idea to do an operation based on excess skin that appears in facial animation. While that may be effective during smiling, the critical question is what impact that may have in eyelid position when you are not.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana