HELP! Still swelling after all these years

golfgirl · 10-21-2009, 02:38 PM

Hi Everyone,

Three years ago I had a facelift, necklift, "cheeklift" and browlift. The browlift was done using a fairly long scar right at the hairline. The scar is pretty bad and is causing the hair to grow in funny directions in some places.

The real problem, however, is that I am still getting swelling in my brow and eye area. At first I thought is was related to what I ate or drank or even the heat. It seems to ALWAYS be the worst when I had somewhere to go. That's when it dawned on me. Most days I spend a lot of time at the gym so I just stick on a cap and go. But when I have someplace besides the gym to go I spend a lot of time fixing my hair. It seems to be the stimulation of the scalp that is causing all this swelling/distortion.

Whenever I fix my hair the top of my head becomes very numb and my scalp gets very tight. There is swelling above and below my brows which pushes/pulls my brows really far down and causes severe puffiness in my upper lids. This swelling continues onto the sides of my eyes and below my eyes causing the lower lids to pull out/down worse than they already do.

Has anyone else experienced this? If so what is causing it and is there anything that can be done about it? I just can't understand why THREE YEARS later I am still fighting this. It really does cause a very severe distortion around my eyes to the point that I can't even look in the mirror.

I've tried heat and ice but only time or something that is immediately dehydrating (like alcohol) seem to get rid of the access fluid.

Thanks in advance

jennifer · 10-21-2009, 05:53 PM

hi golfgirl, hope one of our expert doctors can write back to you, on your situation, what did your plastic surgeon tell you?

McKenna · 10-21-2009, 07:27 PM

Hi Golfgirl, this is McKenna, look at what I posted last week (micro laser peel, profractional laser) and the kind reply I received from Dr. Rubinstein, I would contact him, perhaps he can explain why this is happening and have a solution for you. All the best, McKenna

docblinski · 10-22-2009, 05:44 AM

My best advise is to see the original or additional plastic surgeons for their opinions.
Without a more detailed history and physical examination it is very hard, over the internet, to determine the cause for late facial swelling, especially after three years.
My best guess is a residual seroma pocket in the scalp or forehead that fills with fluids after strenuous exercise.
Keep us informed as to your course of action and the results;
Dr. Darryl Blinski, Miami

golfgirl · 11-02-2009, 10:55 AM

Thank you for your replies.

Although I exercise a lot the swelling isn't related to the exercise at all. It seems to happen when my scalp is stimulated (like when I blow dry my hair). It happens every time. It can also be exacerbated if I drink something like an energy drink. The distortion around my eyes is terrible and it even affects my vision.

It's very sad. There is no way I am going back to this surgeon. He has had so many bad reviews I wish I had seen that site prior to making my choice.

I researched and went to many surgeons before deciding on the one I thought would be right for me. So how do you choose? How do I know that the next doctor I go to for a second opinion will be reputable and accountable?

10-21-2009, 02:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
golfgirl Newbie Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2	HELP! Still swelling after all these years Hi Everyone, Three years ago I had a facelift, necklift, "cheeklift" and browlift. The browlift was done using a fairly long scar right at the hairline. The scar is pretty bad and is causing the hair to grow in funny directions in some places. The real problem, however, is that I am still getting swelling in my brow and eye area. At first I thought is was related to what I ate or drank or even the heat. It seems to ALWAYS be the worst when I had somewhere to go. That's when it dawned on me. Most days I spend a lot of time at the gym so I just stick on a cap and go. But when I have someplace besides the gym to go I spend a lot of time fixing my hair. It seems to be the stimulation of the scalp that is causing all this swelling/distortion. Whenever I fix my hair the top of my head becomes very numb and my scalp gets very tight. There is swelling above and below my brows which pushes/pulls my brows really far down and causes severe puffiness in my upper lids. This swelling continues onto the sides of my eyes and below my eyes causing the lower lids to pull out/down worse than they already do. Has anyone else experienced this? If so what is causing it and is there anything that can be done about it? I just can't understand why THREE YEARS later I am still fighting this. It really does cause a very severe distortion around my eyes to the point that I can't even look in the mirror. I've tried heat and ice but only time or something that is immediately dehydrating (like alcohol) seem to get rid of the access fluid. Thanks in advance

10-21-2009, 05:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
jennifer Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: miami Posts: 362 My Mood:	Re: HELP! Still swelling after all these years hi golfgirl, hope one of our expert doctors can write back to you, on your situation, what did your plastic surgeon tell you?

10-21-2009, 07:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
McKenna Newbie Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 15 My Mood:	Re: HELP! Still swelling after all these years Hi Golfgirl, this is McKenna, look at what I posted last week (micro laser peel, profractional laser) and the kind reply I received from Dr. Rubinstein, I would contact him, perhaps he can explain why this is happening and have a solution for you. All the best, McKenna

10-22-2009, 05:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
docblinski Just browsing Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 55	Re: HELP! Still swelling after all these years My best advise is to see the original or additional plastic surgeons for their opinions. Without a more detailed history and physical examination it is very hard, over the internet, to determine the cause for late facial swelling, especially after three years. My best guess is a residual seroma pocket in the scalp or forehead that fills with fluids after strenuous exercise. Keep us informed as to your course of action and the results; Dr. Darryl Blinski, Miami

11-02-2009, 10:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
golfgirl Newbie Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2	Re: HELP! Still swelling after all these years Thank you for your replies. Although I exercise a lot the swelling isn't related to the exercise at all. It seems to happen when my scalp is stimulated (like when I blow dry my hair). It happens every time. It can also be exacerbated if I drink something like an energy drink. The distortion around my eyes is terrible and it even affects my vision. It's very sad. There is no way I am going back to this surgeon. He has had so many bad reviews I wish I had seen that site prior to making my choice. I researched and went to many surgeons before deciding on the one I thought would be right for me. So how do you choose? How do I know that the next doctor I go to for a second opinion will be reputable and accountable?