Incision opened partially on upper eyelid blepharoplasty after suture removal. Will this leave a permanent scar? (Photo)

Question

On day 6 after blepharplasty surgery the sutures were removed. That evening I noticed that the incision on my left upper eyelid had come apart about a third of the way in length and 1/8 inch wide. Surgeon said it would heal with no scar. The incision had already started filling in with "serumy" material and made it look more filled in. Should I be concerned about the opened incision not healing without permanent scaring?

Edward Buckingham, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. Although small areas of dehiscence (incision opening up) are not uncommon after upper blepharoplasty, it can definitely be concerning for patients who want to do whatever they can to make sure their incisions heal well. For most cases, the incision need not be sutured closed as this is an area where healing by secondary intention (i.e. doing nothing surgically, just ointment) generally results in cosmetically acceptable results. In some cases, re-suturing the incision may be indicated. I would follow the guidance of your surgeon who has had the opportunity to evaluate you and make a plan based on his/her clinical judgment. I hope that helps.

Jane M. Rowley, MD · Answer

This is a fairly minimal wound healing problem that may leave a little wider scar that could be easily corrected with a scar revision. Try to relax and be patient, I think you will have a nice result.  Good luck, Jane.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

The wound dehiscence is a common issue that can develope after blepharoplasty and in and of itself does not reflect on the surgeon.  These heal remarkably well and in many years of doing this, I have never seen one that actually required a revisional surgery.  It is more that they delay your ultimate healing by a week or two.  On the other hand, this blepharoplasty incision should tuck into the upper eyelid crease. You can see that this is not happening in your eyelid.  That means that the surgeon has placed the incision at a less than ideal height.  The eyelid needs to heal but the result may be less than ideal.  That ultimately would have to do with the design of the blepharoplasty rather than the wound dehiscence you are experiencing at the moment.

Adam D. Stein, MD · Answer

No, I do not think you need to be concerned. This is actually a fairly common complication, if I would even describe it as a complication. It most likely will heal without needing any surgical intervention. If by chance either side ends up having a slightly wide scar, the revision could easily be done once healed with most likely a much easier recovery. Please try to relax and enjoy your downtime during your recovery. Best of luck!

Luis M. Rios Jr., MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.  Sorry for the difficulties. 
 First of all, I think the results that you got from the eyelid surgery are very good. Most plastic surgeons will take the sutures out from eyelid surgery between 6 to 10 days. If the sutures stay longer than that, the patient can get scars from the suture at the entrance and exit points of the suture.  That scar can leave small dots on either side of the incision and can be difficult to correct with a scar revision. That is why plastic surgeons try to remove the sutures in a timely fashion. Since the eyelid has active muscles, the incision can separate after the sutures are removed.
 I agree with your surgeon that the incision should close without a scar. The face heals very quickly an I expect the incision to be closed in a week or two. However, if you do end up getting a scar, a simple scar revision could be performed in the office under local anesthesia. Either way, you will get an excellent result. The good thing about eyelid scars is that they are hidden in the natural eyelid crease.  More than likely, you will not be able to see the scar in 1 to 2 months. 
Finally, this is not an infection. Keep the incision clean and dry and it should heal without difficulties. Hang in there and good luck.

Incision opened partially on upper eyelid blepharoplasty after suture removal. Will this leave a permanent scar? (Photo)

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Incision opened partially on upper eyelid blepharoplasty after suture removal. Will this leave a permanent scar? (Photo)

Answers (7)

Answer: Upper Eyelid Incision Separation

Answer: Upper Eyelid Incision Separation

Answer: Keep an eye on it!

Answer: Keep an eye on it!

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Eyelid Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.