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Thick Scar and Ridge After Blepharoplasty

I am desperate to know what to do. Seven weeks ago, I had a bilateral upper blepharoplasty. The plastic surgeon cut not only my eyelids but right out onto my face by more than a centimetre, above the corner of my eye, extending diagonally towards my brow. This has left me with two ugly thick scar lines which make me look like a clown. The edges of the cut are not joined tightly, particularly on the right side of my face, and I have a thick open ridge which is so ugly. I feel like a freak. I don't know what to ask for or what can be done to improve this.

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15 Doctor Answers | Asked by Aisling in Ireland

Doctor Answers (15)
Community Comments (3)

Cortisone shots may help

As far as the incision on the upper eyelids, the incision on the upper lid blepharoplasty must extend laterally and outward past the eyebrow, to totally encompass the lateral sagging of skin in that area. The incision only goes out as far as the excess skin is present. If the incision stops short, there will be an excess pleat or dog ear laterally out in the crow’s-feet area. The incision is usually blended in the crow’s-feet and is nearly inconspicuous after it is... more

Time will help this issue.

Dear Aisling This incision is there so that the surgeon could remove more of your upper eyelid hood. Unfortunately unlike the reset of the upper eyelid scar, which is hidden in the eyelid fold, This part is out there for the world to see. The most important thing to understand is that with several more months of healing this issue will be significantly less conspicuous. I often see patients shortly have upper eyelid surgery where for one reason or another, their blepharoplasty sutures... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

9 reviews

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Scars Generally Take 12-18 Months to Reach Maximum Improvement After Blepharoplasty; In 6 Months the Redness Should be Improved

Unfortunately, scarring is a part of any surgical procedure. Whenever possible, plastic surgeons place scars where they are well hidden by anatomic structures. When upper lid blepharoplasty is performed, every effort is made to hide the incisions. On the upper eyelids the incisions are hidden in the eyelid crease where they are extremely difficult to see. Unfortunately, in cases where there is lateral hooding and large amounts of excess skin, the incision needs to be extended beyond the... more

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Thick Scar and Ridge After Blepharoplasty

Scars very from one person to the next and should be given some time to settle down. After several months recheck the scar and if it is still thickened then it can be revised or injected with steroids or treated with LASER.

IPL and lasers can improve scars, but surgical scar revision is sometimes needed

Dear Aisling, Your incisions seem to be following a normal crows feet line. Perhaps he extended the incision in order to remove excess skin in this area. In any event, the scar is still early in healing. The redness can be improved with an intense pulsed laser (IPL) treatment program. In addition, in a few months, fractional CO2 or erbium laser treatments may also help to refine the scar. If the scar remains thick despite these treatment options, the scar may need to be revised... more

Time will heal, but 5FU may help

The other surgeons all have great suggestions about being patient with the healing process, using silicone oil scar fading treatments, considering laser treatment, and down the line considering a scar revision if necessary. There is another option to treat the red, thickened scar tissue (which at a microscopic level is very metabolically active fibroblast scar tissue). 5-flurouracil is a drug that can arrest the activity of scar tissue. It is technically a chemotherapy drug, but is... more

Scar maturation takes 6-12 months

It does take 6-12 months for the red color to fade from an incisional scar. Still based on location I believe that your incision may be slightly visible and may require camouflage make up. Some surgeons will extend the blepharoplasty incision over the orbital rim to obtain maximum tightening of redundant skin while other experienced surgeons avoid doing this for most patients unless there is a significant amount of lateral canthal hooding.

Upper lid incsions heal very well. best results take at least 3 months

The upper lid incisions heal very well but for some it requires 3-6 months to look its best. I would suggest speaking with your surgeon about your concerns and being patient with progress.

Blepharoplasty redness will improve with time

While the redness of the scar can be expected to improve with time, Pulsed light treatments to scar ridge may help speed up the process. At 7 weeks post op, it is very conceivable that this may benefit you.

It will improve with time.

Your scar will likely improve with time. However, you will likely require a scar revision to achieve the best results. I agree that massage and time will help. Your scar is not longer than usual. However, it i does take a fairly acute turn laterally. In the mean time, it may also help to have some Botox injected in the lateral orbicularis muscle to help relax the area and slight elevate the lateral brow. This may help the area heal smoother and lifting the brow will less the skin... more

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Comments (3)

mely
1 month ago

I have the same scar u have but, in both sides upper n lower,the damn surgeon told me oh don't worry it will b no scars! He lied to me! Now the scars look like 4long wrinkles:-( after that sad frustrated surgery my life changed 4ever n ever u just have to relax n accept it that's it;-(

mely
1 month ago

Thank god! u didn't do the lower blepharoplasty. Scars left by surgery will never go away n no matter how much makeup u apply it will never get concealed I'm 12yrs post op blepharoplasty surgery lower n upper n scars r there forever:"-(

LifeisBeautiful
3 months ago

I had scars extending out too, as well as a very fine scarline in the lower eyelid and also on the inner crease of the upper eyelid that ends in a tiny bump where the suture ended, after my bilateral upper and lower blepharoplasty. Here is my personal anti scar arsenal that I began as soon as the sutures were out and wound completely closed: 1. Used Biocorneum every single day during the day whether I'm inside or outdoors. 2. Used Scar Away Silicon strips every night. Also on the weekends day and night. - They flatten out the scars and reduce the redness significantly, but must be repeated until the scar 'remembers' to stay flat - that takes as long as it takes. Used them religiously for 4 mos, then less in mo 5 and 6. 3.Got an IPL Fotofacial to lighten the darkened areas of skin near the eyes. Make sure they use a sheild - mine did - fantastic results. This also flattens out the scars. Scars will lighten and become finer over time, blending in. Being proactive in my own treatment with the guidance and approval of my p.s. has helped the scars tremendously. A different P.S. advised me to wait and that revisions are not advisable unitl one year post op (I have a slightly widened scar and tiny bump at the very end and edge of my eye lid too, that I am unhappy about) - again, the silicon strips really help to flatten them out. I was told the scars will get better but never go away entirely. It's important to get them flat and fine, so makeup doesn't highlight the scars, as well as looking natural when you dont wear makeup. I wish I knew about this before hand - they downplay that part before surgery and I had a highly credentialed, well known, very expensive p.s.

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