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Eyelid Surgery to Fix Complication from Mole Removal on Lower Eyelid?

asked 2 years ago by eyemolegirl in Bayport, NY
Latest answer by William Portuese, MD
Question viewed 1,367 times
Tags: eyelids, lower eyelids, female, cartilage, moles

I had a mole removed from my lower right eyelid. My lower lid now doesn't come up high enough and the white of my eye shows too much.

The plan is to take some cartilage from my ear to use in the surgery. My eyelid needs to go up approximately 2 mm. Does the surgery seem like a good idea to you?

8 answers to Eyelid Surgery to Fix Complication from Mole Removal on Lower Eyelid?

+1

Oculoplastic surgeon for lower eyelid repair

A large excision of skin from the lower lids can cause lower lid retraction. This is repaired with several techniques including cartilage grafting, mucosal grafting from the mouth, and canthopexy or canthoplasty whereby the skin is pulled up and tightened up to the lateral orbital rim. This should be done by an oculoplastic surgeon who has experience with this particular surgery.
William Portuese, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

+1

Lower eyelid repair

It is tough to see the eyelid on this photo. In some circumstances ear cartilage can be used to help reposition an eyelid. I am not a big fan of this particular material but each surgeon has their own preference. It is not clear just from a photo which procedure would be best for you. The surgeon really needs to be able to feel the lid in order to make that assessment. Best of luck.
Brian Biesman, MD

Nashville Oculoplastic Surgeon

www.drbiesman.com

+1

Lower Eyelid Repair

There are many ways to approach scleral show, what you have after your mole removal. Usually a cartilage graft is used if there has been injury to the middle lamella (the deeper support layer of the eyelid). This is usually not the case with mole removal, since this usually involves only the skin. The way to correct this problem is to recruit skin to replace what was removed. One can do this by reopening the wound and placing a skin graft, but this is not as cosmetic as one would like. The... more
Robert T. Buchanan, MD

Highlands Plastic Surgeon
+1

Lower eye lid correction

If your prior mole removal just involved the skin then it is unlikely that a cartilage graft will be needed. Cartilage grafts are used when there is significant scarring in the inner layers of the eye lid. I can not see the eye lid clearly or feel the tissue but the elevation of the lower eye lid should be able to be accomplished with lifting of the muscle and skin. Best Wishes Dr. Peterson
Marcus L. Peterson, MD

Saint George Plastic Surgeon
+1

Post-excision lid deformity

It sounds as if the removal of skin produced scleral show. It stands to reason that if everything has healed appropriately and enough time has elapsed for all the scarring to soften, that the real answer is a skin graft to replace the skin that is missing. Because this may produce more noticeable cosmetic deformity, although not always, alternative procedures may be called for that are not truly anatomically corrective. A surgeon would have to do a careful examination of your periorbital... more
Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Possible to raise eyelid without a graft

Scleral Show or lid retraction can occur post eyelid procedures performed even in the best of hands. Without examining you, it is impossible to state the best procedure for you. As you are smiling in the picture this may be elevating your eyelid. Tightening the surrounding eyelid muscles and lifting of the underlying cheek muscles may accomplish diminishing the eyelid retraction without using a graft. There are many excellent surgeons who could help you with this problem. I would suggest... more
Mark Berkowitz, MD

Sterling Heights Oculoplastic Surgeon
+1

Modified lower blepharoplasty can raise lower lid border.

Hi. This is just tentative, because your picture is not a close up and you are smiling, but my impression is that you may not need a cartilage graft. Shortening and/or raising the right lower eyelid with a modified lower blepharoplasty would probably be enough.
George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

It is important to properly vet your reconstructive surgeon

Dear Eye Mole Girl Things can happen with eyelid surgery. Ear cartilage is generally a very unacceptable material to use for reconstructing and eyelid. It is used by some. However, ear cartilage is much to thick and insufficiently pliable for the eyelid. For this reason, hard palate graft is preferred. In certain circumstances, cadaveric dermis (alloderm) can be used to stent the back surface of the lower eyelid. This is generally done in combination with a midface lift. The lift of... more
Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

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