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Scarring After Upper Eye Lid Surgery

asked 1 year ago by bluemoon52
Latest answer by Vivek Bansal, MD
Question viewed 1,210 times
Tags: 3 weeks post-op, keloid scar, scar, worried

I had upper and lower eye lid surgery 3 weeks ago and I can see a scar forming in both upper eye lids, area close to the tear duct,and a bit along the corners of both lower eye lids. I tend to form keloids but my surgeon assured me he had never ever seen a keloid in the upper lids and I researched it on the web and most physicians agreed with him. My surgeon says I should wait scar still swollen, etc. Please advise, I am very, very worried. thank you in advance.

15 answers to Scarring After Upper Eye Lid Surgery

+2

Keloids are very rare with eyelid surgery

IMHO, keloid and even hypertrophic scars are quite uncommon in eyelid surgery in my 20 plus year experience performing that surgery. Follow your surgeons advice and try not to panic.
Francis R. Palmer, III, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Give the scars some more time.

A bit more red and inflammed than normal. Be sure you are not putting antibiotic ointment on that is causing an allergy--much more common that recognized. I would recommend you switch to a different ointment--or none. You can use silicone gels--sheeting is simply too difficult in this area. With time I am sure the scars will settle down and look good--the only time I ever have to revise upper lid scars is when the patient accidently opened the scar (typically by sleeping on side and... more
Reginald Rice, MD

Sacramento Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Upper eyelid surgery and post operative scars

At just three weeks after your upper eyelid surgery it is still very early in the healing process. Scars are most noticeable 3 to 6 weeks following the surgery and usually will improve and fade substantially over the next 3 to 6 months, even without treatment. Check with your surgeon first, but it probably would be safe to begin applying 1% hydrocortizone cream to the scars and/or using a finer thickness of silicon scar sheeting. If these conservative treatments... more
Vincent D. Lepore, MD

San Jose Plastic Surgeon
+2

Scarring After Upper Eye Lid Surgery

We all agree on the rarity of this type of scarring on the upper lids. But your photo is troubling. Did you have cold scalpel incisions or hot knife or laser skin incisions? It may lead us to better understand the mechanism of injury to the medial upper lids scarring. As for treatment at this stage, I recommend silicone sheeting and any scar creams that do not effect your eyeball or vision. If no improvement at 6 weeks postop I would inject very very low dose steroid (Kenalog) in... more
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+2

You will be fine

Trust your surgeon and follow his recommendations. Your scar will be fine. No treatment at this time.
Kamran Khoobehi, MD

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon
+2

Poor Scarring After Upper Eye Lid Surgery

It is exceedingly rare for upper lid Blepharoplasty scars to "turn bad". While your 3 week old scars are not Keloid like (overflowing the margins of the original incision) they are raised and hypertrophic. Such scars may benefit from being injected with dilute corticosteroids such as Kenalog. The Kenalog may flatten the scars but may also widen them. Dr. Peter A Aldea
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+2

Scars at three weeks, way too early to evaluate

Scarring after eyelid surgery is generally very acceptable to imperceptible, if you give it enough time to mature. redness is normal for weeks to even a few months. try some gentle massage. it WILL get better. if there is a scar in the inner corner, it can be treated. this all assumes the incision was properly placed. the incision looks good on picture but hard to see the inner corner well. good luck.
Rafael C. Cabrera, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon
+2

These are some ugly looking scars.

Dear Bluemoon Even though these are ugly right now, it is so very early from your eyelid surgery. In time these incision will quiet and be much more acceptable. In the photos, you show absolutely on evidence of keloid formation. The scar is a little ropey in the upper eyelids toward the nose. An option at this point would be to inject relatively dilute kenalog into the thickest portion of these to help speed their resolution. However, it is very likely that... more
Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon
+2

Be patient, should be okay

Your surgeon is correct. Three weeks is very early. There are no tear ducts in the upper lids (they are in the lower lids and are usually unaffected). I have not seen a keloid of an upper lid scar either. Rarely, I may revise one if the scar is not ideal. Swelling takes a few months to resolve. So try not to worry and just give it time.
Eric Swanson MD

Leawood Plastic Surgeon
+2

Scars from eyelid surgery

It is very unusual for bad scars to form after eyelid surgery. The eyelid skin is usually the thinnest skin on the body and therefore does not tend to scar. Three weeks is still very early after surgery. I recommend patience and to see your eyelid surgeon on followup as suggested.
James Tang, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+2

Scar Thickening May Subside

In the early weeks after blepharoplasty, it is common to see some thickening of the scar at the inner and/or outer corners of the eyelid. As the scars mature during the year after surgery, this does usually subside to leave a very satisfactory scar. Stay closely in touch with your surgeon about your concerns and resist the temptation to have someone meddle with the maturing scar: "quick fixes" can cause more harm than good.
Paul C. Zwiebel, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon
+1

Eyelid Surgery

Your surgeon is correct. We rarely see poor scarring in the upper eyelid area. This is one of the best healing areas on the body. The time is too soon to form an opinion on the final outcome.
Vivek Bansal, MD

Danville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Upper eyelid scars

From what i can see in your pictures, you are way too early to be overly concerned. I have been doing eyelid surgery for 35 tears and have never seen a keloid scar in any race. Folow up with your surgeon
David A. Bray, Sr., MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Scar on the eyelids after upper eyelid surgery

Your surgeon is correct. Keloids after upper eyelid surgeries are uncommon . It takes weeks to months for swelling to completely disappear. Gentle massage and ocasional use of topical steroid cream may prove to be helpful in some occasions
Fereydoon S. Mahjouri, MD

Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Eyelid surgery scars

I agree with your surgeon. This area of the body heals and scars well in most everyone. Your eyes would appear like any of my patients in the initial post-op period. Stay in contact with your surgeon to monitor your progress
Michael Hueneke, MD

Nashville Plastic Surgeon

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