One Eye Lid Feels Swollen and the Scars Really Tight After 8 Weeks Following Upper Eyelid Surgery?

I have a funny feeling in my eyelid which feels like the lid is pressing down on the eyeball, it feels swollen and if you look carefully in a magnifying mirror you can see a bit swelling. It is really annoying. This feeling does go away occassionally. The scars on the outside of this eye feel much tighter than the other eye as well. Will this go away if so what sort of timescale? does the tightness of the scars eventually go, will massaging them help soften them?

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by Tina inUK

Doctor Answers (4)
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Massage can help

When cosmetic or reconstructive surgery is performed, there will be a residual tightness that will develop because in most instances skin is removed and underlying tissue tightened. Now, depending on the body part that was operated on, that tightness may just be annoying, or it can have adverse effects on the function of that body part. That tightness will more likely than not improve bit by bit, day by day, though it may take a few months. The process can be accelerated with... more

A.J. Amadi, MD

14 reviews

Seattle Oculoplastic Surgeon

seattleface.com

Tightness after upper blepharoplasty

It is not unusual to experience the symptoms you are describing 8 weeks after upper eyelid surgery. The fact that these symptoms occasionally go away is a very good sign which likely tells us that with more time everything should normalize. Light massage may help relieve the tension and the tightness, which are mainly due to healing and fibrosis underneath the skin.

Dirty secret-it takes time to heal from surgery.

There, I've said it. Yes it is true that many people feel that at 8 weeks after surgery, everything should be healed. Generally, that is never true. What is true is that often the scars are at their tightest and most contracted at 6 to 8 weeks and only then being to soften. It is not so unusual for there to be a small degree of swelling associated with this process. If you are not sure, see you surgeon in follow-up. WIth more time this swelling and... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

8 reviews

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

One eye feels tight

It is hard to determine your long term results after just 8 weeks. It is even harder for those of us on this forum who want to help to do so without seeing photos. More time and patience seem to be indicated. good luck!