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For How Long Do I Have to Use a Sunscreen on my Upper Eyelid Surgery Scars?

asked 1 year ago by brook607 in NYC
Latest answer by Vivek Bansal, MD
Question viewed 541 times
Tags: 2 months post-op, duration, sun protection, sunscreen

My plastic surgeon told me to use a sunscreen on my upper blepharoplasty surgical scars. They are visible on the outer corner of each eye. I am 7 weeks post-op and the scars are still purple. How much longer should I use a sunscreen?

13 answers to For How Long Do I Have to Use a Sunscreen on my Upper Eyelid Surgery Scars?

It is advised to use sunscreen on scars

It is advised to use sunscreen on scars until the scars have completely faded. If they are still red or purplish, you should continue to use sunscreen on the area. Of course it is always advisable to use sunscreen. But particularly you should avoid sun completely on any bruising. There are many different sunscreens on the market. I recommend Elta MD as it is medical grade, non-chalky, and paraben free.

Joseph A. Eviatar, MD
Bronx Oculoplastic Surgeon

www.ChelseaEye.com

How Long Do I Have to Use a Sunscreen on my Upper Eyelid Surgery Scars...

Care is needed with your blepharoplasty incision because it is a very sensative area. Following a Blepharoplasty, sunscreen is very important because the sun can make the incision more red or dark in color, which can take several months to resolve. You should apply it frequently on your upper eye lids for a period of 6 months after surgery.

Andrew Miller, MD
Edison Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.associatesinplasticsurgery.com

Sun Protection After Blepharoplasty

Sun protection after blepharoplast is important. Scars are sun/UV-sensitive for at least 6 months post-op. Ultraviolet exposure can lead to scar thickening and pigmentation. Sunscreen can be very irritating if it gets into the eyes. The natural crease of the eyelid does offer some protection. If you use makeup, choose a prooduct with built-in sun-block. I recommend the use of sunglasses to protect the scars.

Paul C. Zwiebel, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Protecting your eyelid incisions from the sun

Sunscreen is always a good idea - it can help to prevent premature aging of the skin, as well as to protect you from sun-damage-related skin cancers. That being said, I rarely ask my patients to put suncreen on their upper eyelid incisions- this type of incision is generally protected in the natural lid crease when your eyes are open. The scars may be red for some weeks after surgery as part of the healing process, but then tends to settle down and fade to your natural skin color. I suspect... more

Katherine A. Lane, MD
South Burlington Oculoplastic Surgeon

Use sunscreen until eyelid scars turn skin color

I tell my eyelid surgery patients to use sunscreen, on their incisions, until they turn the same color as their skin. If your eyelid surgery incisions are purple, they're still healing and sun exposure will not help them heal.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Blepharoplasty and sunscreen

Protecting immature scars from UV exposure is always a good idea. Having said that, sunscreen can be very irritating if it gets into the eyes. With perspiration and rubbing of your eyelids this is more frequent a problem than not. Furthermore, the natural creases of your lids often will conceal your scars from sun exposure. Stay practical minimize exposure if possible for 6 monhts and use sunglasses/shades.

Chen Lee, MD
Montreal Plastic Surgeon

Sunscreen keeps scars camouflaged.

In general, I recommend sunscreen be applied to all incision sites (once they've healed) for a period of six-months after surgery. The rationale for this is that scars exposed to the sun have a tendency to get very tanned (hyper-pigment) initially and in some instances bleach-out/turn white (hypo-pigment) later on. This obviously draws attention to the scars and makes them extremely visible. That being said, eyelids are a privileged site in the sense... more

Michael G. Brandt, MD
Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon

Eyelid Surgery

You should use sunscreen indefinitely unless you are using UVA/UVB protected eye glasses. Your skin should have some kind of UV protection, either mechanically or chemically. This will protect your investment and assist in prevention of further damage.

Vivek Bansal, MD
Danville Plastic Surgeon

Sunscreen on scars after Surgery

Of course it is a good idea to apply sunscreen to any sunexposed area on a daily basis. Scars can very rarely develop darkness or hyperpigmentation so I tell patients to be very careful about sunexposure and apply sunscreen to the scars at least for the first year. Some redness to a scar 7 weeks after surgery is normal and it will usually fade by 3 months.

James C. Marotta, MD
Long Island Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.marottamd.com

Sun screen after eyelid surgery

I do not advise patients to use sun screen following eyelid surgery. The incision is placed in the fold of the upper eyelid and thus not exposed to the sun. Sun screen will only get into your eyes and cause irritation.

Gary H. Manchester, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.manchesterclinic.com

Sunscreen to eyelid incisions

Dear Brook, I generally don't ask my patients to put sunscreen on their eyelids after surgery as it can be irritating, although I do recommend hats and sunglasses to limit exposure. Also, as the incisions generally lie on your natural eyelid crease, they are usually hidden in your skin folds when your eyes are open! You will notice more and more fading in the next 6 weeks or so. Massaging firmly may help it along. Don't hesitate to show your surgeon if you are still concerned. ... more

Jasmine Mohadjer, MD
Clearwater Oculoplastic Surgeon

Scars can stay red for a while after surgery.

Sunscreen is always a good idea (so is selling you convertible if your have one). What your surgeon was concerned about was that your upper eyelid scars would hyperpigment after the surgery. This is not generally something that we see. If you have a history of hyperpigmentation, then the concern is more legitimate. Persistent redness in a young scar can be improved with laser treatment and you might discuss this with your surgeon.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Sunscreen will not help purple eyelid scars.

Hi. Of course it is a good idea to use sunscreen as a preventive. But eyelid scars should fade very quickly. Ask your surgeon why they are still purple. Compressing the scars for five minutes twice a day may help.