Chemosis or Ectropion After Blepharoplasty?

I won't repeat all the great points below, but will move to the next stage, if conservative therapy (taping, sutures, drops and ointments) don't work.
Think of the lower eyelid as a sandwich. The outer bread is the skin, the inner bread is the conjunctive (the pink inside the eyelid), and the filler is the muscle.
The biggest no-no is cutting or injuring the muscle.
The most common no-no is removing too much skin.
The best way to determine which is your problem would be to have an examination. But if it turns out to be the removal of too much skin, then a simple skin graft can make this all better. If it's a muscle problem, then lifting and tightening of the muscle is the only choice and is not as good in creating a natural long-lasting outcome. Pulling up on the muscle will sag over time. Skin grafts replace the over- resected muscle.

Ectropion occurs when the lower lid is pulled down, in this case by scar tissue from your surgery. You lower lid should contact the very bottom of your iris (the colored part) when you are looking straight ahead in the mirror. Unfortunately, your lid is a good bit lower. When the cornea is exposed, it gets irritated, which may manifest as chemosis, and a dry eye, with tearing and a feeling like there is something in your eye.

Start with aggressive massage. Place your finger on your lower lid and push it upward. If you can get it to cover or even touch part of your iris, that is a good sign. When you first start this, it may not budge, from the new scar tissue. But even a good 10 minute massage after a warm washcloth soak can lift your lower lid immediately. Focus on getting those lower eyelashes and lid up, up, up. Taping, usually taping your upper lid to your lower lid at night, can be helpful, as it pulls up on your lid all night long.



Scar tissue will continue to form thickly for the next three weeks, so be aggressive and massage at least six time per day for 10 minutes each time. You will make great strides in three weeks when the collagen naturally softens and begins to give way. I personally would not suture the lids now or do any surgery now until you give conservative therapy a chance. Meanwhile, keep using moisturizing eye drops to protect your eyes when your cornea is in this more than normal exposed state.