Blepharoplasty complications

Blepharoplasty complications

Blepharoplasty Complications and Risks

What are the potential risks and complications of blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)?

Fortunately, significant complications from eyelid surgery are infrequent. Every year, thousands of people undergo successful eyelid surgery and are pleased with the results. Blepharoplasty procedures, which remains the gold standard for eyelid rejuvenation, are usually performed without any major problems.

All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Some of the potential complications of all surgeries are:

It's common after eyelid surgery to temporarily have:

. Puffy, numb eyelids that are difficult to close at night

. Irritated, sensitive or watery eyes – this may last a few weeks

. Bruising that looks like a black eye

. Scars – these eventually fade to almost be invisible

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Eyelid surgery can occasionally result in:

. Temporary blurred or double vision

. Your eyes looking slightly uneven (asymmetrical)

. A pool of blood collecting under the skin (haematoma) – this usually disappears on its own after a few weeks.

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. Noticeable scarring

Rarely, it can result in more serious problems, including:

. Injury to eye muscles

. The lower eyelid drooping away from the eye and turning outwards (ectropion)

. The lower eyelid becoming pulled down and showing the white of the eye below the iris (eyelid retraction)

. Visual impairment – though this is extremely rare and many people find that their vision improves in the long term

Also, any type of operation carries a small risk of:

. Excessive bleeding

. Developing a blood clot in a vein

. Infection

. An allergic reaction to the anaesthetic

The surgeon should explain how likely these risks and complications are, and how they would be treated if they happen.

Occasionally, patients find the desired effect was not achieved and feel they need another operation.

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10 common question about blepharoplasty complication

1How long does blurred vision last after blepharoplasty?
If edema is the cause, blurred vision usually subsides as the edema resolves from 5 days to 3 weeks after the operation. As we will discuss, long-term visual changes after upper blepharoplasty can be induced by alteration of the shape of the cornea itself in addition to changes in the tear film overlying the cornea.
2Is a blepharoplasty painful?
After upper lid blepharoplasty under local anesthesia, patients were asked to rate their pain on a standardized 11-point pain scale (0-10). ... Most severe pain was observed during the immediate postoperative period and up to 2 to 4 hours after surgery.
3Can blepharoplasty cause blindness?
Retrobulbar hemorrhage was reported to be the main cause of blindness. The most common management technique reported was orbital decompression, followed by steroids and canthotomy. CONCLUSIONS: According to this study, blindness after blepharoplasty is a rare event. However, every step should be taken to prevent it.
4What are the risks of blepharoplasty?
As with any surgery, there are potential risks and complications of blepharoplasty. The major risks include infection, bleeding, scarring, inability to close the eyes, dry eye, abnormal eyelid position, double vision, and loss of vision.
5How long does a blepharoplasty last?
Upper eyelid surgery can last at least five to seven years. Lower eyelid surgery rarely needs to be repeated. Of course, your eyes will still age after the procedure. If your lids sag again, a forehead lift rather than another eye lift may be the preferred procedure.
6How do you clean your eyes after blepharoplasty?
To minimize swelling you may use cool clean compresses or ice wrapped in a dry cloth. Apply these gently to your closed eyes four to six times a day for the first twenty-four hours after surgery. Sleep with the head elevated for the first week after surgery.
7How long after blepharoplasty can I wear makeup?
This will take at least 10 days; however, it's safest to wait at least 2 to 3 weeks before wearing eye makeup so your incisions can completely heal. You will likely feel ready to return to work and other daily activities after only a few days, but it takes several days for your incisions to truly close.
8Do you get put to sleep for eyelid surgery?
If you need general anesthesia, you will be given an intravenous (IV) injection that will put you to sleep for the duration of the procedure, which lasts from 20 minutes to two hours, depending on the complexity of the surgery and whether both upper and lower eyelids are involved.
9How long does it take for the swelling to go down after blepharoplasty?
Recovery from eyelid surgery generally takes several weeks. Within two days to a week, the stitches will be removed. In the first week, patients will want to make sure that their eyes receive plenty of rest. The redness and swelling occurring after the blepharoplasty procedure will fade with time.
10What can go wrong with eyelid surgery?
Possible risks of eyelid surgery include: Infection and bleeding. Dry, irritated eyes. Difficulty closing your eyes or other eyelid problems. Noticeable scarring. Injury to eye muscles. Skin discoloration. The need for a follow-up surgery. Temporarily blurred vision or, rarely, loss of eyesight.

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