Three Months Post Upper Blepharoplasty I Still Experience Numbness. Will This Improve?

Hello! Thank you for your question! Numbness after any surgical
procedure is expected for several weeks to months following. As the
nerves to the area are traumatized and will then experience a temporary
neuropraxia, a transient loss of nerve conduction. This usually
resolves over the next 6-12 weeks, but depending on the procedure
performed, sometimes much longer. Typically this should resolve by 1
year. As it goes past this date, the likelihood of the sensation
returning is small. However, it can take up to 2 years. If no return
from there, it is unlikely to return. It should be discussed that
persistent sensory changes may develop following any surgical
procedure. The usual signs of the nerves regenerating and neuropraxia
resolving is itching, followed by a burning sensation and then
occasional sharp, shock-like pains. These will be normal to experience,
and actually a promising sign. Usually, normal sensation returns, but
is is also possible to have decreased sensation or even increased
sensation to the areas affected. Re-educating nerves postoperatively is
often helpful and will allow proper instruction for the affected
sensory nerves - methods include using different textures to the
affected areas when showering, bathing, applying lotion, etc. If
bothersome, there are some medications that may be helpful, including
Neurontin for pain for hypersensitivity. You can try various textures
such as washcloths, loofahs, cotton sheets, etc. Massaging the areas is
also beneficial for the incision to make the finest scar possible. The
last place to regain the sensation will be directly adjacent to the
incision/scar as the nerves will make its way from the periphery to this
location. If continual pain arises, evaluation is warranted. After
ruling out other causes, one rare explanation may be that a neuroma has
developed and may require surgical excision. This is very unlikely
unless a large sensory nerve has been transected inadvertently during
the procedure. Hope that this helps! Best wishes!

The numbness you are experienceing after your blepharoplasty is quite normal.  Generally speaking the numbness will last 3-6 months and is usually noticed in the central portion of the lid.  This is often first noticed in women as they begin to apply mascara.

I would be patient as this should resolve soon.

Sensory nerves and motor nerves are cut in the process of performing a blepharoplasty.  The sensory nerves often but not aways recover and seem to regrow.  This process can take many months.  However, after about 6 months, if sensation has not recovered then the it is less likely that this sensation will return.  Motor nerve injuries are even less likely to recover.  Generally over time, patchy sensation loss is less bothersome to most people.

  I believe that full sensation returns in almost all cases but may take up to 12 to 18 months after surgery for this to occur.  Of course there are no guarantees but I think the odds are greatly in your favor that the numb feeling will go away with time.

Most patients typically experience varying degrees of numbness following upper eyelid blepharoplasty. With time, your post-op numbness will decrease and you will regain full sensation.  Most of
my patients note the return to normal sensation between 2-3 months
following  upper eyelid blepharoplasty.

Numbness following any skin surgeries at the level of the scar and around it is quite normal. Such numbness may last up to 6 - 8 months. Following Blepharoplasty it is normal to have a numb area between the incision and the eyelashes margins, it will resolve around 6-8 months. 

The numbness should improve in time. This occurance is unusual after blepharoplasty. The return could take up to 6 months to a year depending on where the interruption in the nerve fibers occured. The nerves grow at a rate of about 1mm a day in the best of conditions.

The numbness associated with incison line should improve with time. Generally, the healing of most wounds take approximately 6-9 months.

The numbness should come back and really should anytime now.  The cutaneous sensory nerves that are cut, during the upper eyelid surgery, all reconnect bringing normal sensation back to the area.  This typically occurs within several months post-op.

Small sensory (feeling) nerves are damaged during skin removal with Upper Blepharoplasty. This causes numbness of the eyelid.

Numbness of the eyelid after Blepharoplasty is nearly always temporary but may take months to resolve