Blepharoplasty is a simple surgery in plastic surgery. The procedure allows you to eliminate bags under the eyes, remove overhanging eyelids, as well as adjust the cut of the eyes. Nevertheless, complications after blepharoplasty can also occur. Sometimes the cause is the individual characteristics of the patient’s body, but in some cases the problem can be triggered by the errors of the surgeon.
The essence of the procedure
Blepharoplasty is an effective low-traumatic way to rejuvenate the appearance. In the process, the surgeon cuts the upper eyelid along the crease or lower, immediately below the eyelashes, and then extracts subcutaneous fat. Thanks to this, the face after blepharoplasty looks younger and fresher, bags under the eyes disappear, the look becomes more open. After the plastic surgery is completed, a neat seam is applied, which eventually heals completely, remaining almost invisible.
Often a transconjunctival technique is used. In the process, the incision is made from the inside of the eyelids using a laser, so that the suture is invisible. The risk of complications after transconjunctival blepharoplasty is minimal if the operation is performed by an experienced surgeon. The result will depend on the patient, on how he will behave in the postoperative period, how accurately he will adhere to the requirements of rehabilitation.
What is the norm after surgery
Some complications after blepharoplasty appear during the first days almost always and are considered the norm. These are bags above and below the eyes, bruises that are especially pronounced in smoking patients, tearing. All these factors are early consequences of surgery and disappear in a short time. Do you need to treat such complications, the doctor decides.
Early complications
An early type of complication after blepharoplasty is the body's reaction, which manifests itself in the first days after surgery. These include redness of the eyes, bruises around the eyes, swelling of the face. Profuse tearing is often manifested, in some cases, on the contrary, excessive dryness, due to which the mucous membrane can itch. Similar manifestations pass independently in a short time. More complex consequences are bleeding and eversion of the lower eyelid.
Edema
Swelling is a normal tissue reaction to external trauma or the occurrence of pathological processes in the body. This complication after blepharoplasty, surgery to change the shape of the eyelids, is formed as a result of an increase in the level of vascular permeability. Through the vascular walls, more liquid part of the blood enters the damaged area than usual. This is important to speed healing.
Edema of the eyelids after blepharoplasty does not belong to pathologies. If they persist for 10 days or longer, you should still consult a doctor for advice to find out the cause of this effect. Additional symptoms accompanying swelling are headache, blurred vision, diplopia.
Hematoma
The main cause of hematomas is damage to blood vessels in the eyelids. Hemorrhages can occur immediately or 2-3 days after surgery. Based on the extent of the damage, experts divide them into the following:
- Subcutaneous - when the accumulation of blood occurs under the skin in the area of the surgical incision. Such a hematoma is safe, usually resolves on its own in one to two weeks. Regeneration time can be reduced by self-massage, as well as treating the area with a special ointment prescribed by a doctor. In isolated cases, it may be necessary to open the wound and remove blood congestion.
- Tense. Similar to subcutaneous, but blood accumulates in a much larger volume. In this case, the procedure of opening the edges of the wound is necessarily involved in order to subsequently draw blood and suture damaged blood vessels.
- Retrobulbar. The reason for such hematomas is damage to the large blood vessels that are located behind the eyeball. If blepharoplasty is insignificant, then pathology occurs extremely rarely. The main symptom of retrobulbar hemorrhage is protrusion of the eye, severe pain, vision problems, limited mobility of the eyeball, conjunctival redness. Having barely noticed such signs, you should immediately consult a doctor for timely therapy, since otherwise you can temporarily lose your eyesight, and in complex cases there is a risk of developing retinal thrombosis and acute form of glaucoma.
Diplopia
A visual disturbance consisting in the bifurcation of visible objects is extremely rare as a result of an operation on the eyelids. The general form of pathology is provoked by the use of local anesthesia, which is injected into the fatty layer. Local anesthetic agent spreads widely and quickly, affecting the cranial nerves. An increased risk of developing diplopia is present with repeated blepharoplasty surgeries.
Double vision can occur as a result of damage to the muscles of the eye - the lower oblique (more often) or straight (less often). There may also be patient complaints of diplopia of one eye after blepharoplasty as a result of a violation of the tear film. This mild form of pathology passes with a blink and completely disappears after a few days after the operation.
Inversion of the lower eyelid
A postoperative complication in the form of an eversion of the lower eyelid, in which the patient’s eye does not close, is eliminated by gymnastics and massages. Thus, an increase in the tone of the circular muscle is achieved. In more complex cases, repeated surgery with a skin transplant is required.
Repeated surgery is also necessary for a complication called round eye. This is a deformation of the eye section, which is accompanied by redness of the mucosa, dryness and discomfort. Eyes after surgery look unnaturally bulging.
Postoperative Wound Infection
As a result of non-compliance with the rules of sterility during surgery, there is a risk of wound infection. This pathological phenomenon manifests itself as an inflammatory process, an increase in body temperature and the release of pus from the sutures.
The condition requires immediate treatment with medication, a course of antibiotics is prescribed. The wound after infection will heal much longer, and, accordingly, the rehabilitation period after blepharoplasty will take longer.
Orbital hemorrhage
This is the most dangerous complication after blepharoplasty, as it is fraught with complete loss of vision. The error of the surgeon or the carrying out of a surgical intervention by a patient with contraindications can provoke the indicated consequence. The latter include hypertension, as well as taking anticoagulants and alcohol-containing drinks shortly before surgery.
Orbital hemorrhage usually manifests itself on the first day after correction and is difficult to treat. Repeated operation will be the most effective method, but in especially severe cases it is impossible to restore lost vision.
Tear
The phenomenon is caused by a displacement as a result of the operation of the lacrimal openings or a violation of the adequate outflow of fluid due to pathological scarring of the tissue. To get rid of pathological lacrimation, repeated surgery may be necessary.
Late complications
When the period of active rehabilitation ends, it will finally be possible to evaluate the results of surgical intervention. Late unpleasant consequences can be observed after 10-15 days. This is dry keratoconjunctivitis, failure of sutures, etc.
Scars and seals
If the operation is performed by the traditional method, using a scalpel, there is a possibility of the development of pathological seals and scars. The risk increases if the patient has a history of keloid scars. It is possible to prevent the formation of scars after blepharoplasty by the additional introduction of special gels at the incision sites, the action of which is aimed at improving the quality of regenerative processes in the patient's skin.
The following signs indicate the formation of keloid scars:
- growths on the eyelids;
- proliferation of connective tissue in the joints, tissue tightening;
- itching, burning and even pain in the developed areas.
In order to eliminate keloid scars, ointments and creams, the procedure of laser resurfacing, injection of steroids, cryotherapy (study with liquid nitrogen) are used.
According to reviews, a complication after blepharoplasty of the lower eyelids in the form of seals (lumps) develops rarely. If the reason lies in the formation of scar tissue on the eyelids, then this phenomenon is not an alarm signal. Non-dangerous is local edema, often observed in the postoperative period and passing on its own.
More serious reasons are considered:
- a cyst that formed as a result of an improperly performed suture;
- the formation of pyogenic granulomas;
- eyelid bulging resulting from improperly connected cartilage of the ciliary edge of the eye and muscle.
Seams
The problem can occur due to improper suturing during surgery. Also, a swelling and problems with the quality of the material for crosslinking can provoke a pathological phenomenon. To prevent infection of tissues as a result of the discrepancy, you need to re-stitch.
Infection penetration
Infection can occur as a result of violations of sanitary standards during blepharoplasty. The reason may lie in the non-compliance with medical recommendations by the patient that he received from the doctor.
Therapy consists in the use of bactericidal ointments, antibiotics. If the course of the infection has a complex shape, an opening of the wound and subsequent treatment of the internal tissues of the eyelids will be required.
Asymmetry
A complication in the form of asymmetry of the eyes occurs as a result of improperly stitched seams or problems with the process of scarring of tissues. Pathology is also capable of developing due to the carelessness of the surgeon to a patient who already has congenital asymmetry. Congenital or acquired type of asymmetry can only intensify after blepharoplasty if not performed correctly.
Upper eyelid prolapse
A complication such as prolapse of the upper eyelid is very rare. An undesirable consequence of blepharoplasty indicates a poor quality of the intervention. The surgeon, when lifting, damaged the muscle apparatus, thereby provoking ptosis. In this case, therapy can only be operational.
Prevention
To reduce the likelihood of complications after blepharoplasty, the operation is quite simple, you need to adhere to some recommendations:
- Choose a reliable clinic. Today in Russia there are many clinics where doctors can do blepharoplasty. It is important that the staff is competent and experienced. According to reviews, many patients from Moscow underwent surgery at the SM Clinic on Klara Zetkin. They say that it is equipped with the most modern equipment.
- Choose a reliable, highly qualified surgeon. The doctor must have the appropriate certificates and necessarily long-term experience in the field of plastic eye surgery.
- Complete a complete body diagnosis. As a result of this, it will be possible to determine the presence of contraindications.
- Get an ophthalmologist consultation. The doctor will assess the condition of the eyes, and also help determine the level of risk of complications.
- Strictly follow all the recommendations of the doctor, adhere to the rules of rehabilitation.
Complications after blepharoplasty are rare. But still the risk of undesirable consequences is present. A responsible approach to the question of where to do blepharoplasty will help to avoid unpleasant phenomena. It is worth paying attention to modern clinics, where experienced qualified doctors work. In particular, SM-Clinic at 33 Klara Zetkin, Bldg. 28.
It was opened in 2006, and competent and experienced doctors and specialists of the highest category work here. The clinic has modern equipment that allows doctors to cope with tasks of any complexity. Attentive staff and very comfortable conditions are here.