Unable to Close my Eyes Fully After a Revision Upper Bleph- Options?

I'm 25 asian.Done revisional double eyelid,cant close my eyes fully-a 2-3 mm gap.So surprised when the surgeon told me even after months of recovery if the eyes dont close fully at night or during the day in less than 2mm,it has no significant effect to your eyes.True?He claimed to cut away a bit of fat + skin(3mm).Maybe overcut skin. If after 6 months,the lids gap is 2-3 mm apart, does a patient require skin grafting to the upper eyelid or just proper eyecare for years to come?5-6 years?

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5 Doctor Answers | Asked by cyfei

Doctor Answers (5)
Community Comments (1)

Asian blepharoplasty and unable to close eyes with gap

Not being able to close your eyes after an Asian blepharoplasty or other types of blepharoplasty is not really uncommon. But I try to avoid this at all costs. If you are not having issues, you may not need to do anything. skin grafting is an option but it will be very noticeable depending on where you take the skin. Many things could go a way that is less than desirable with skin grafting. The other options is lubricating your eye with ointment, etc if you do have issues. more

Philip Young, MD

6 reviews

Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon

Unable to close eyes after revisional Asian eyelid surgery

It would be helpful to see all of your photos. A common reason patients undergo revisional surgery is due to asymmetry from the first procedure. Mild pre-existng ptosis (eyelid droopiness) left unaddressed is probably the most common reason for the need for revision. In this scenerio, ptosis repair performed at the time of the revision surgery can cause incomplete eyelid closure which may or may not be temporary. I would definitely discuss this with your surgeon and consider a second opinion... more

Charles S. Lee, MD

15 reviews

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Blepheroplasty

Lagophthalmus, inability to fully close the eye after upper lid surgery is very serious.It sounds you are long after the healing peroid. Therefore this is permanent and will not get better. You need to see your plastic surgeon and decide what is the exact cause, though the most common cause is taking too much skin, or scarring. Then decide on the plan of correction. You need to know how much muscle, orbicularis was taken out , what was the exact technique used for thr revision. You... more

So sorry to learn that you are having this issue.

When the eyes do not fully close, this condition is called lagophthalmos. My experience with managing patients with this condition differs sharply with that of your plastic surgeon. It is my opinion that any degree of lagopthalmos is significant. After eyelid surgery lagophthalmos can be caused by resecting too much skin, tethering of the upper eyelid due to scarring in the internal eyelid structures, or muscle weakness due to damage to the motor nerves in the upper lid... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

8 reviews

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Asian Blepharoplasty

Sorry to hear about your experience. Are you able to fully close your eyes with maximal effort? Sometimes this can temporarily happen right after the surgery, but at 6 months out, you need to seek medical attention. Being unable to close your eyes can lead to drying out of your cornea and needs to be addressed. It can occur from cutting out too much skin or from taking out some of the underlying muscle. The solution will depend on your condition, but generally... more