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Can't Open Eyes 25 Days After Blepharoplasty

My eyes are still puffy and swollen 25 days after upper Blepharoplasty procedure. I'm also having problems opening my eyes, and the scars hurt and feel tight. Is this temporary? What can be done about it?

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20 Doctor Answers | Asked by Mercedes in Panama, panama

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Swelling after eyelid surgery

Most eyelid surgery has a more predictable course of recovery. There is evident swelling to the upper lid incisions. This may be somewhat troubling, but it could only be related to a skin reaction to topical ointments. Perhaps the patient needs to stop application of any ointment, stay with using cool compresses for the lids, perhaps take antiinflammatories prn, and most certainly follow up carefully with your surgeon as often as may be needed. There could also... more

See your doctor

As all of the other panelists have mentioned, this is not the usual recovery from an upper blepharoplasty. Only a small subset of patients have this degree of swelling this far post blepharoplasty. Your doctor will likely examine what ointments you are putting on your eyelid, whether these are causing swelling, whether or not you have an infection, reaction to sutures, or the development of thickening of the scars (hypertrophic scarring), as well as an examination of the eyelid lifting... more

Call your surgeon

While it is common to have swelling after surgery, by 25 days you should be seeing improvement and you should be able to open your eyes. It is hard to tell from the picture, but your upper lids look more red than I would expect as well. You may have an underlying infection or other issue which needs to be addressed. You should contact your surgeon soon for an evaluation. I hope this is helpful. David Shafer, MD Shafer Plastic Surgery New York City

You Need to Consult With Your Surgeon as the Severity of Your Swelling is Concerning

The vast majority of swelling resolves in about three weeks in most patients who undergo blepharoplasty. Occasionally it may persist for longer periods of time, but this is very unusual. The severity of your swelling is very concerning. Not only do you have severe swelling, but you also have painful scars and inability to open your eyes. This may indicate that this is more than just routine swelling. A careful evaluation should be undertaken to determine the cause of your persistent... more

Complications 25 days after Blepharoplasty

Please go see your Doctor. This is a bit longer than most clients and you want to rule out anything worse or anything, such as an allergy to the ointment, that can be soon fixed. Swelling and scars are normal, however 25 days post is a bit longer then expected. "Dr.D" see video

Can't Open Eyes 25 Days After Blepharoplasty

25 days of swelling is a bit longer than normal for postoperative swelling. I would see your surgeon for reevaluation. There may be an infectious component or an allergenic component to your edema.

A little late for that much swelling

3 and 1/2 weeks is a little long time for that much swelling. Have your doctor double check to make sure you don't have an infection. The good news is that 99% of swelling goes away with time so you may be a slow healer. We just need to wait to give it time.

Can't open eyes after Blepharoplasty

Patients do experience some amount of swelling and brusing after eyelid or blepharoplasty surgery. However, patients should be able to open their eyes within a week after surgery. The situation you are describing maybe due to lymphedema. You should followup with your surgeon as soon as possible to be evaluated.

Cannot open your eyes after surgery, see your doctor asap

While it is unusual to have the problem your having I would not panic. I do think however, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. You may be having an intense inflammatory response and a bit of steroid injection to the incisions might help. It is unlikely that your physician made an error in both eyes (unless he/she really did not know what they were doing) so I think that the swelling and trouble opening will resolve with time. If you are very concerned, a second... more

See your doctor for pain, swelling after eyelid surgery

25 days should be adequate time for most of your swelling to resolve. If you're still having these types of problems, I would encourage you to follow up with your surgeon. Inability to open your eyes could be related to botox if that were injected about the same time as your surgery. Otherwise, it demands immediate attention and evaluation.

Possibly adverse medication reaction

It would be unlikely that you have experienced a surgical problem in both eyes simultaneously. I agree with possible adverse medication reaction. You did not mention this but DID YOU HAVE BOTOX INJECTED AT THE SAME TIME? When Botox is injected near a surgical site (which is frequently requested by my patients undergoing other surgical procedures), it can spread far beyond the surgical site. IF you had your forehead injected, it could have spread to your eyes. In this event, it could last... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Go see your treating surgeon!

Mercedes: Three weeks following surgery is usually adequate time for the vast majority of pain, swelling, and bruising to subside following a blepharoplasty procedure. Absolutely, go see your treating surgeon immediately. If he/she if not available, then I would go to an emergency room to be evaluated by a specialist. You are too important to ignore these problems.

When Healing Doesn't Follow the Expected

Upper blepharoplasty does require a period of healing and convalescense, which usually lasts between 3 to 7 days. Subtle puffiness or tightness,and bruising can last several weeks. It is normal for our patients to be out and about, or back at work at one week, certainly by 2 weeks. The experience you describe is not expected and therefore requires medical attention. We recommend you see your surgeon right away.

Eye opening problem

In most cases, swelling and bruising after upper blepharoplasty resolves within 2 weeks. Your photograph seems to indicate there is still bruising (which may be resolving as seen by a yellow-purple tint to the skin)and some redness at the incision sites. In cases when bruising was severe after surgery, it can take longer to heal. Rarely, a hematoma (collection of blood) can form in the eyelid which can also cause swelling to last longer. Other rare causes of your concerns could be an injury... more

Beware the Levator Tear

After Upper Blepharoplasty, it is not unusual to have some swelling in the first few days. Normally this is worse in the morning, after you have been lying down sleeping, and improves throughout the day. Occasionally the eyelashes are stuck together by dried blood or dried eye ointment, which can be corrected by placing a warm moist towel over the eyes. If you are unable to open your eyes more than three weeks after surgery, and after you have been upright for several hours, there may be... more

Notify Your Doctor

This is not a normal situation. You should notify your surgeon and have him evaluiate you. Hopefully, this will self correct, but you need to work closely with your doctor.

Need to see your doctor

3.5 wks after surgery and still very swollen is not common. You should go see your surgeons to be evaluated. This can be related to corneal exposure, infection, suture irritation to name a few.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Not exactly normal

Although I see photos with the eyes closed and they look swollen and red, I would like to see photos with your eyes open while looking straight ahead and then while looking upward. If the eyelids move upward, as the eyes move upward then the risk of injury to the muscle that lifts the eyelids is minimized. If they move but are not back to normal (the way they were before the surgery) then it is likely attributed to swelling. Although 25 days is a long time, there is a small set of patients... more

Needs further investigation as the the underlying cause for your problem

All patients will have some degree of swelling following eyelid surgery. It is unusual to have difficulty opening your eyes even a few days after a procedure. Your photograph only shows you with your eyes closed. It would be good to see how widely you can open your eyes. It is a possibility that there is an underlying muscle problem. It is impossible to determine this from the information given. My suggestion is to let your surgeon know of the problem and have a follow up examination. more

25 Days After Blepharoplasty

Swelling 25 days post surgery is extremely rare. If you can post photos with your eyes open, it would be beneficial. Consult your surgeon and your general practitioner to ensure that there is no infection.