Is there a healing time difference associated with transconjunctival vs transcutaneous lower bleph?

Question

Does one method have a shorter recovery than the other? Is there a difference in healing discomfort, bruising or swelling?

John J. Martin, Jr., MD · Answer

Both of these are surgeries and both can produce swelling and bruising.  If you are doing just transconj work, and not taking off any skin or working at the canthus, this may heal faster.  When you go through the skin you are interrupting more planes of tissue and also can have higher incidence of complications such as ectropion.  You should expect to need at least a week or 2 with either approach.  The lower lids are very vascular, but if you don't bruise you will look good fairly quickly.  No one can promise you no bruising or swelling.  Full healing can take 6 months.

Mehryar (Ray) Taban, MD, FACS · Answer

YES!  Transconjunctival lower blepharoplasty heals much faster than transcutaneous lower blepharoplasty. See link below.

E. Ronald Finger, MD · Answer

The transconjunctival approach does heal a bit faster, but the scar with the trancutaneous incision can be covered with makeup after 10 days. I still prefer the tranconjunctival approach in most patients, however. If there is lots of excess skin, a small strip of skin can be removed as well, or a chemical peel or CO2 laser tro tighten the skin. The latter two do stay pink for a month or so, but again makeup will cover it.These procedures are routinely done under local anesthesia with mild sedation. Thank you for your question, and good luck.In

William Portuese, MD · Answer

In our practice, we have not performed a transcutaneous fat removal in over 25 years. We always perform the fat removal through a transconjunctival approach, which avoids violation of the lower eyelid muscle. The transcutaneous approach is only used for a skin pinch which is close with tissue glue. A trans conjunctival approach heals faster than a transcutaneous approach. The transcutaneous approach incision takes at least two months for the incision to  become minimally detectable

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

If only fat is removed, then likely a transconj approach probably will have less bruising.  Best of luck.

Is there a healing time difference associated with transconjunctival vs transcutaneous lower bleph?

Answers (9)

Answer: Transcutaneous versus trans-conjunctival approach lower blepharoplasty

Answer: Transcutaneous versus trans-conjunctival approach lower blepharoplasty

Answer: Healing

Answer: Healing

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Everything you need to know about Eyelid Surgery

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Is there a healing time difference associated with transconjunctival vs transcutaneous lower bleph?

Answers (9)

Answer: Transcutaneous versus trans-conjunctival approach lower blepharoplasty

Answer: Transcutaneous versus trans-conjunctival approach lower blepharoplasty

Answer: Healing

Answer: Healing

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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.