November 28, 2008
Eyelid surgery
Illustration by Roberto A. Regachuelo Jr.
Dear Dr. Perry,
I underwent an upper blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) due to excess fats on my upper lids last July 2007. My right eye was done satisfactorily, but my left eye was "murdered." Now it looks as though I am afflicted with goiter. My upper left lid was pulled too high and has made my eyeball look like it is popping out.
When I complained about this to this plastic surgeon, he insisted that it is still swollen. After two months without improvement, I asked him to re-do the surgery. But my eyelid still looks the same. Now everybody is blaming me for the problem because they say I looked more beautiful before the surgery. After a year without any solution in sight, I visited him again, and, this time, he confessed that certain muscles were touched, and the only recourse is another operation.
This was done two months ago and the problem has become worse. My upper left lid, this time, drooped halfway down my eye and two slits are visible. He devastated me morally. My friends criticize me openly for my face. Is there still hope for the damage done to my eyelid? Can I sue that plastic surgeon?
-Name withheld
 Dr. Perry replies:
I am at a quandary whether I should discuss the legal or medical aspect of your case.
At any rate, as far as your legal rights are concerned, it is your prerogative to sue whoever you think should be sued. It is up to the inquest fiscal to decide if there is, indeed, a valid reason for yor suit to warrant a litigation.
With regard to the medical aspect, it has been my belief that there is always hope as long as we live. What happened to you is but one of the many risks in the field of cosmetic surgery. But there are several factors we need to consider when pertaining to why some patients seem to be at greater risk than the rest.
The age of the patient is one important factor. Since plastic surgery deals mostly with "rearranging" the patients' tissues, a young and healthy tissue heals faster and gives better result. Of course, again, there are several factors that affect wound healing. The presence or absence of infection will greatly determine the end result of every surgical process. Naturally, an infected wound will heal badly.
To avoid this particular problem, proprietary medications are given a day or two before surgery, and these are continued from five to seven days after surgery. These medications include antibiotics against infection and hemostatics to minimize bleeding and hematoma formation (bruises) which is a good medium for bacterial growth.
Now, as far as your problem is concerned, I am sure we can do something about it. If there was, indeed, some injury done to the ancillary eye muscles used for eye movement, there are ophthalmologists (eye doctors) whose sub-specialization includes surgery of eye muscles.
As regards the double slits on your left upper lid, these can easily be converted to a single lid fold or slit by another surgical procedure, the purpose of which is to release the existing slits, and create a new one.
However, since you mentioned in your email that the last surgical procedure was done just two months ago, I am afraid we will have to wait for four to seven months before another operation can be done on your eyelids. This will give time for the tissues to "rest" and recuperate from the previous operations.
Dr. Perry de la Cruz obtained his medical degree from the University of Sto. Tomas. He is a diplomate of the Philippine Board of Cosmetic Surgery; a fellow of the Philippine Society for Cosmetic Surgery and the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery; and a member of the Asian Pacific Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. He pioneered research on "Serial Revision of Leg Scars" in 1988. His clinic is at:
Asian Hospital and Medical Center
Unit 518 Medical Office Building
205 Civic Drive, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Telephone no. (+632) 771-9246
Visit his web site at www.geocities.com/docperryster or e-mail him at docperryster@gmail.com.
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