Microneedling Disaster-aged eyelids 5 years

[Lucky222]

I'm in my early 30s and had recently noticed age related changes including perpetual bags appearing pretty much overnight from hollowing out of tear trough areas. I get major depressive episodes anyway, and thoughts on aging and losing my looks was the focus this time. I bought a derma-roller and did a session at home. I ignored the leaflet advice to use a 0.2.5-0.3mm needle on eyelid area and used the same 0.5 one. The next day I could see it had improved my crows feet, but my eyelids looked swollen esp in inner corners. Everytime I blinked, my skin was blinking a milisecond later, if that makes sense, the skin also looked looser. I posted in a microneedling fbk group and people replied saying it takes a month to heal and not to panic. It's been over 2 weeks now though and I can see the skin is looser and more droopy, especially on the left eye inner corner, there is basically a minor fold of excess skin so the crease has slipped down and you see the sagging. I've bought some eyelid tape to try to improve the crease but pretty sure there's no kind of cream or potion or whatever that can put the skin tautness back to what it was. I think this is one of the worst mistakes I've ever made, I wish I could turn back time, my eyelids actually looked fine before! It was the desperate, panicked state of mind that led me to do something so stupid. I am now more depressed because of I, not sleeping, having mild panic attacks when I look in the mirror. Posting for support really, I feel absolutely dire.

Can you take a picture OP? It might help with advice

How can micro needling make skin looser? After one use? What product did you use with it? Serum, moisturiser?

I’m not sure this is a style and beauty issue so much as a mental health one. I mean that in a caring way.

If your depression has lead you to do something reckless to your face and it’s now causing you such anxiety
I wonder if you should speak to your GP about some anti-anxiety medication, or a change in mediation if you’re already on some.

I’m sure your eyes look fine to anyone else but your anxiety is making you panic about it.

I know what it’s like, I have a droopy eyelid and I’m very self conscious about it, but to be having such a severe reaction to a crease in your eyelid isn’t a measured and rational response, especially as you have been reassured that it should improve in another two weeks or so.

I hope it settles soon, and in the meantime try some CBT exercises to try and calm the panic.

Okay, don’t panic. Could you afford to see anyone professionally? Its not my kind of thing, but I live in a large city and there are several very professional looking places that I think do this sort of cosmetic stuff is this the kind of place you could access?
On another note I’m quite a bit older than you and have some major frown lines, but I’ve decided I’m only doing enjoyable cosmetic things, so if I felt like a massage would be relaxing then that would be fine, a lovely bath with loads of Epsom salts, a nice blow dry. I’m not buying into the idea that I need to do boring and unpleasant things to change the way I look. Do you think there is any way you could shift your thinking so you look after yourself in a more relaxing less critical way?

Sorry - I just re read - you used microneedling on your eyelid? Like the top one?? Why. You just do it under your eyes, on the side of the eye and on the brow bone. Never on the top eyelid

I’ve never even heard of it. Is it something you can do at home rather than have done professionally?

Yes, you can do it at home. In a salon, they’d go probably deeper and you’d have quicker results but I prefer doing it at home.

Can we see a pic? I’m sure it isn’t as bad as you think

Please don't share photos. I have no money to fix anything. I am unemployed for my whole adult life due to CFS. Yes it is a mental health issue, I have dysphoria over my face, which takes different forms previously. The change is real though, perhaps not as bad as I feel it is. It is also self worth issue, I have no partner, children, career & limited capacity due to symptoms. It doesn't look it in those photos but I am beautiful with makeup on, my eyes were my best feature. I get a lot of attention from men when out & glammed up, the rest of the time in my house, feeling invisible. Hence, terror over losing my looks the only kind of power I feel is available to me. I am doing an alternative medicine treatment which deals with mind, body, soul, spiritual issues since 11 yrs & things have improved, but not as much as I would wish. I lost my whole 20s to chronic illness so I'm really scared of getting older.

Inthink they’re just ever so slightly swollen. Microneedling won’t make your skin droopy.

Seconding RagingWhoreBag’s concern that your MH is at issue here not your looks, OP. And again, coming from a place of compassion, honestly, it’s not healthy if your fixation on signs of ‘aging’ (they’re really not at all obvious btw) has brought you to the point you are in effect self-harming, I mean why do you think you ignored the leaflet advice? This is something you need to address with a MH counselor.

I honestly honestly can’t tell the difference between the two photos, I can’t see any improvement either but I certainly can’t see anything to worry about - you look lovely and totally normal for early thirties. Throw the microneedling thingy away and treat yourself to something fun/relaxing instead.

I can't see a difference either. You have beautiful skin!

I’m not seeing a difference. They don’t look swollen. And you have really great skin!

Drinkfeckarsegirl Some people say don't microneedle your eyelids at all others say no more than very small needle because skin is thinner there. The way my skin is healing I can see its sag not inflammation now, & it's worse not better since a few days as the repairing proceeds so I don't see how it can magically spring back. I didnt really use products on it after. Then from a few days shea butter & beeswax.

Hand on heart I can't see anything! I agree that a chat to your GP would be more beneficial than stressing about beauty treatments. Anxiety is horrible - don't let it rule your life!

So why did you think it was ok to use a bigger needle if common advice is not at all or a very small needle, OP? I think it’s very important you answer that - to yourself if not to anyone here. Again, I don’t see any damage and I don’t see what anyone here can do to help you. If there is damage to the skin then the only person who can possibly help you fix it is a doctor. If there’s really no objective damage then the only person who can help you fix your perception that there is would be a MH professional.

Eyelids could go droopy I suppose if you encountered and damaged a nerve whilst microneedling them. But I’m not sure how likely it is, if the needles could go deeply enough, etc., it’s just what I can think of
Let me reiterate though - that is not what I can see from your pictures.
I’ve never encountered anyone who did this procedure on their actual top eyelids!

I am trying to get help. I went to the Samaritans last saturday. (The lady told me 'you have a very pretty face,' amongst other kind things.) I have kept ringing my family for support. (But eventually they will get fed up, so I need other strategies.) I eat so healthy it's ridiculous, exercise as much as I can, & haven't taken even a weeks break from the (alt med holistic health) treatment I do in almost 9 yrs. Just trying to explain, I have worked really hard on my mental & physical health for a long time. As you can see, I am still batshit crazy 😂 but I was genuinely worse. The panic episodes are horrible, I feel almost hysterically desperate for reassurance & just want to be held & comforted. Last night I dreamt about burning to death in an electrical fire, then bleeding to death in another macarbe way, so my unconscious is clearly disturbed at mo.

And even if some people do do that then it’s something you work up to, not go for the first time and not with a longer than recommended needle. The eyelid skin is like you say extremely thin plus there is such a sensitive organ underneath!

You have really lovely skin 👍🏼

Are you on any meds, OP?

I’m all for holiistic apporaches, herbal teas and meditation but it’s sometimes not enough when you can’t see the wood through the trees.

Drinkfeckarsegirls People in microneedling fbk group say they have had good results with small needles, some people do it. I have found internet postings of other horror stories of upper eyelids drooping after, so that happens too. I literally can't give you an answer as to why I did it on my eyelids with a deeper needle, it was f**king stupid. My skin heals very well/quickly because my diet's so healthy so maybe I thought I could get away with it. I initially wanted to do a bioresonance scan to see if microneedling was a resonant procredure with likely good results for me, which I've used before successfully for things like dental work, but I didn't have the 50 odd pounds in my account to do it. I should have waited until I did. I will possibly regret this forever.

I have had a microneedling disaster so I share your pain.

However

1. your skin and eyes look OK. Don’t microneedle again, throw it away

2. I have developed tiny spots where I microneedled, especially around the chin area. I never had these tiny spots before so yes, I blame the microneedle.

3. go to the doctor for some reassurance. I think you may be panicking but it’s understandable if you’ve tried something new and it hasn’t worked out.