Are Incisions for Upper and Lower Eyelid Surgery Suppose to Extend over a Half Inch out from the Eye? (photo)

Question

This pictures are 5 weeks post op. My eyelids are still red and puffy and the incisions look bad. I did go back to the surgeon and he put botox in the corners of eyes to "aid in healing" and to help it look better. I did not see any improvement. I also have a bulge in the inner corner of my eye.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

Your doc may have a variety of legitimate sounding reasons for why your incisions look this way. However, there really is no good reason for these. The good news is that they will look better with time. 5 weeks is very early from surgery. This scars will look much better after 6 to 12 months. Scars can be revised if they are still unsatisfactory after this time frame.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Longer incisions in upper and lower eyelid surgery can be utilized to manage crow's feet. At 5 weeks postop, you still have swelling. If you are referring to the medial aspect of the upper eyelid, you may have remnant fat pad there.

Stewart Wang, MD, FACS · Answer

First, it's common for the incision to be red and puffy at about 5 to 6 weeks post surgery. It will improve with time. It may take several months for the redness and puffiness to subside completely. The incision beyond the eyes and merging onto one of your "existing crow's feet wrinkle" is used when you have significant amount of redundant skin. Typically the incision is limited within your eyelid skin and I avoid extending the incision beyond the eyelids unless it's absolutely necessary. In any case, you are still well within the typical  recovery period. Try to have regular follow up visits with your surgeon to monitor the progression of your healing.

	Best Wishes,

Jeffrey J. Roth, MD, FACS · Answer

Often surgeons will extend their incisions into a "crows foot" type wrinkle. It also depends how much extra skin you had. You are still early in the post operative course. I would still communicate with your surgeon. Let him/her know your thoughts. He should be able to get you through the post operative period.

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

If you had alot of excess skin on your upper eyelid, the incisions can be taken a couple of mm from the corner of the eye.  If the surgeon did a lower bleph through the skin of your lower lid and was trying to elevate and remove alot of skin in the area, the incisions are sometimes taken a couple of mm away from the corner of the eye. 

	 

	I hope this helps!

Are Incisions for Upper and Lower Eyelid Surgery Suppose to Extend over a Half Inch out from the Eye? (photo)

Answers (6)