Eyelid Doesn't Close All the Way After Upper Blepharoplasty, Is This Permanent? (photo)

Your eyelid incisions are in approximately the normal position, about 10 mm from the eyelash margin, and the skin of your upper eyelids do not appear to be overly thin.  The reason your eyelids don't close totally is due to micro scars that are connecting the dermis of your eyelid to the tendon of the muscle that elevates the eye (levator aponeurosis). 

The treatment is incredibly simple.  Put your index finger holding one eyelid down and then open and close the other eyelid.  Since the levator muscles work in unison, your other eyelid will attempt to open and close, stretching out the levator aponeurosis of the closed eye and breaking, or at least stretching, the micro scars preventing complete closure.  Then repeat with the other eye and the other index finger.

In my practice, I have patients begin this treatment on the 8th post operative day for 3 minutes, then again on the 9th post operative day for 3 minutes, and that usually cures the eyelid closure problem.  At 2 months after surgery, it make take a few more stretching exercises, but be careful not to overdo it.  To be safe, discuss this with your personal plastic surgeon, and don't forget, the incision was made at the right place and your surgeon did a great job.
 

       Massage and proper lubrication as well as followup at this point in your recovery is a reasonable course of action.

 

 

Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Usually two months is enough time for blinking issues to resolve. As long as there is ongoing improvement I think you have little to worry about.