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Discomfort After Blepharoplasty

I had a lower Blepharoplasty 6 months ago. Results are good but I have discomfort in outer corner of one eye with a small bump below incision line and slight redness. It was suggested that I have the permanent sutures removed from the one eye. Does this sound like the right solution?

Asked 36 months ago by lrkharness in fort lee

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side effects

Sutures may be causing after blepharoplasty discomfort

If your surgeon mentioned a permanent suture you may have had a canthoplasty as a part of your blepheroplasty. The suture(s) may be causing a reaction and may need to be removed.

Barry H. Dolich, MD

Bronx Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Discomfort after blepharoplasty

It is possible you have developed a suture granuloma in the lower eyelid on the side of the discomfort. It may be wise to remove the sutures at this point as the tissue has healed into position.

Chris Thiagarajah, MD

Washington DC Oculoplastic Surgeon

It would be unusual to use a permanent suture just below the skin in blepharoplasty surgery.

It would be unusual to use a permanent suture just below the skin in blepharoplasty surgery. However, if this was in fact used, it could easily be removed through a very small incision. It may be that there is some scar tissue around the permanent suture or some other type of foreign body. In any of these cases, a small incision would be required, likely with only local anesthesia, to address the problem.

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Michael R. Macdonald, MD

Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon

Sounds like permanent suture could be the cause

The bump below the incision line and redness may suggest that there is a permanent suture that was placed in the lateral canthal area on the orbital rim and it may be infected. There is also potential for having a sebaceous cyst in the area if some epithelium was trapped underneath the skin. It is impossible to know without close physical examination.

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William Portuese, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Blepharoplasty suture most likely the culprit

During a Blepharoplasty, sometimes permanent sutures are used to help maintain results. If the suture causes irritation, it may need to be removed. Another cause for the bump can be scar tissue or an inflammatory reaction from an underlying suture. These causes may also require surgical intervention to address the problem. Have your surgeon evaluate the area to give you the proper diagnosis and treatment. Good luck.

David A. Robinson, MD

Munster Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

No harm in removing Blepharoplasty stitches now

Typically, the only permanent suture that is used is to resuspend the canthus or lower lid supporting ligament. This may be the problem or a long lasting stitich that will dissolve over time. Either way you're healed, so have your surgeon look at it. No harm will come to removing it.

Christopher L. Hess, MD

Fairfax Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Sutures should be removed if they are discomforting

There can be two inflammatory reactions causing your symptoms: permanent suture reaction or skin pore obstruction around the incision site. If the area has a pimple or whitish material near it, then it would be the latter; if not, probably the former. If suture is the cause, inflammation should regress with the removal of it.

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Richard Gentile, MD

Cleveland Facial Plastic Surgeon

Canthopexy suture should be removed if it bothers you

I had to go back and take out the canthopexy stich on a couple of patients. I use a permanent suture to support the lower eye lid and sometimes it could create a reaction. You plastic surgeon will recommend removing it if it keep bothering you.

Hisham Seify, MD, PhD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

This is quite common after Blepharoplasty

To irkharness, Hi! This is fairly common. Removing the canthopexy stitch will probably relieve your symptoms. I use dissolving stitches to avoid this problem, but many excellent surgeons think permanent stitches are necessary, inspite of the occasional problem. I think the issue has not been resolved.

George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Blepharoplasty discomfort

The symptoms you describe may be realted to the permanent sutures that you stated that you had placed. If they get close to the surface, they can be an irritant and should be removed.

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Permanent suture most likely causing the inflammation

That actually sounds like the only answer. The permanent suture must be causing some inflammation (redness) which is irritating some tissues (nerves) and causing the pain. Should be an easy procedure to have done.

E. Anthony Musarra II, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS

Painful lump 6 months after blepharoplasty could be permanent suture

Dear Irkharness, From your description, it sounds as though the lump is a permanent suture used to tighten the eyelid at the time of the blepharoplasty. I frequently use a deep suture to tighten the eyelid muscle out by the corner of the eye, although I use absorbable sutures. Occasionally, the body "rejects" the suture, or forms an inflammatory lump called a suture granuloma. The appropriate treatment is to remove the suture, which should solve the problem. It is important to... more

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Brooke R. Seckel, MD

Boston Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Suture likely causing irritation after Blepharoplasty

Irkharness, It is likely the permanent suture causing irritation under the skin. The suture is placed to provide more long-term support than absorbable sutures. However, after six months it is okay to have it removed. Sometimes your body "sees" the permanent suture as a foreign material and forms a small reaction around it - causing the symptoms that you are describing. You can likely have the suture removed under local anesthesia in your doctor's office.

David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Post eyelid surgery discomfort sounds suture-related

In my experience, it is not uncommon for a little white bump with hardness to form, especially in the scar at the outside corner of the eye. I don't usually use a permanent sutrue, but rather a resorbable suture. In any event, the bump can be visible, and even get inflammed. If this is the case, it likely should be removed. At the same time, the scar can be revised, and the white bump removed. It shouldn't affect the result either.

Scott E. Kasden, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Could be sutures or milia causing discomfort after blepharoplasty

It could be either a suture that was left behind or milia. You may need to see your surgeon and discuss this with him/her. At times, it is a very simple thing to do: simply clean the area and open the bump with a small needle and remove what needs to be removed. Good luck.