Complications of upper eyelid plastic (blepharoplasty)
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The natural transitory consequences of plastics of the upper eyelids are erythema along the incision, a feeling of tension or a minimal sensation of friction, numbness and edema of the eyelids, more noticeable in the lateral half of the surgical wound.
- Hematoma
Hematoma rarely develops after plastics of the upper eyelids. Suspicion of hematoma may occur with the development of unilateral swelling and discoloration immediately after surgery. In such cases, the wound needs to be opened. The bleeding vessel is cauterized, and the wound is sutured again.
- Hemorrhages under the conjunctiva
Hemorrhages under the conjunctiva are an infrequent situation. Although this usually worries patients, the problem appears to be exclusively cosmetic. The patient needs to be reassured that eventually the whiteness of the eye will recover. Redness persists for 3 weeks or more.
- Hemoz
Chemosis (edema of the conjunctiva) is rare in the upper eyelid. It can be present for up to 6 weeks after the operation. In most cases, its manifestations are more quickly eliminated using Blephamide eye drops.
- Lagoftalm
Laphophthalmus is present briefly after surgery in many cases. It is the most possible cause of transient burning and friction, reported by some patients. The use of ophthalmic ointment, and then the daily use of drops of artificial tears and ointments suppresses symptoms during the healing period. A persistent lagophthalmus can lead to the development of a dry eye symptom. Surgical intervention in the mechanism of the protective function of the upper eyelid, in relation to the cornea, is a serious problem that most often occurs when the upper eyelid plastic is performed simultaneously with a forehead lift, or with secondary plasty of the upper eyelid. During the lift of the forehead, it is difficult to establish the degree of excess tissue of the upper eyelids. It can never be considered a mistake to carry out plastic surgery of the upper eyelid several months after the forehead lift. Most acute problems are resolved with time, but often there is a need to use artificial tears, night gluing of eyelids and in the supervision of an ophthalmologist.
- Bad scars
Visible scars in the lateral part of the upper eyelids can appear if the discrepancy between the edges of the wound is not recognized after the stitches are removed or if the insolation causing the pigmentation of the wound takes place. In either case, delayed excision and stitching may be required. Bad medial scars are always caused by excessive excision to the skin or unforeseen removal of a large amount of fat, which, when the wound is sutured, leads to stretching the skin over the dead space. Such scars are best treated with triamcinolone injections (Kenalog 10 mg / ml).
- Loss of sight
Most known cases of vision loss are the result of the formation of a hematoma after plasty of the upper or lower eyelid. This usually occurs in elderly patients, with hypertension, anticoagulant therapy and metabolic diseases. The loss of vision after bleeding with the plastic of the upper eyelid is extremely rare. In all cases, rapid decompression of the growing retrobulbar hematoma is necessary.
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