LAM FACIAL PLASTICS

Hi Dr. Lam,

I'd like to ask for your advice. I had double eyelid surgery (full incision) done 4 years ago and I am mostly very satisfied with the results. My problem is my left eye, which still looks slightly swollen/puffy. It is not noticeable when I have my eyes wide open, but it is bothersome since it takes more effort to raise the left eyelid. Otherwise, if my eyes aren't fully open, it does look swollen and rather weird compared to my other eyelid. A year after the surgery, my surgeon assured me nothing was wrong (since my eyes look symmetrical and there were no apparent complications) and that it would eventually look normal with time. I know that poor scarring and permanent puffiness can result from cigarettes, etc. but I have never had a smoke in my entire life. Is there anything I can do about this problem? Someone suggested massaging the eyelid using the pinching technique. But I am not sure and I'd rather not aggravate my situation.

Thank you for your time!

massaging most likely won't help. if it is scar tissue which would be firm in nature, 5-FU injections could help. however, if it is soft then it is probably just extra tissue there that won't go away unless you have a revision surgery, which sounds rather excessive and also risky. swelling at 4 years is quite unlikely. hopefully, what you are seeing is something only noticeable to you, but i could be wrong. if that is the case, put down your closeup magnifying mirrors. see my blog in which i talk about how asymmetry is an impossible thing to fix (you have to go back pretty far to find it). in my consent forms i have, "The two sides of the body are not the same and can never be made the same." I say that every day because everyone is obsessed with symmetry, whereas I am obsessed with beauty and proportions, which are not the same as symmetry. Anyway, I don't know your situation, and you should probably ask your own surgeon what he/she thinks.
best,
sml