After blepharoplasty fluid retention under eyes. Is there anything I can do to dissolve the fluid? (photo)

Question

I just had upper and lower blepharoplasty On 9/15/17. Will the edema desolve or is there a steroid I can take to dissolve quicker.

Catherine Weng, MD · Answer

IT sounds like you are about a week post op.  The photo you posted looks like what I would expect see in a patient 1 week out from upper and lower blepharoplasty.  It is normal to have swelling and bruising after surgery.  The typical pattern of bruising changes colors over time and can travel down your face with gravity over time. During the first post operative week to help bruising and swelling go away quicker, you can try arnica - which comes in both an oral supplement and a topical gel/cream form.  Sleeping with your head elevated in a recliner can help.  Some doctors do prescribe steroids such as medrol or prednisone for post operative swelling, but I would recommend you speak with your surgeon about that, it is not safe in all patients. Most important is time and patience.  Your swelling is normal and will resolve.

Christian L. Stallworth, MD · Answer

At one week out from lower blepharoplasty, the swelling and bruising and that you are experiencing is completely normal. And there is nothing better than time that will help decrease this. The worst of this will be in the first 14 days after surgery and then it may take another 6 to 8 weeks for  more subtle decreases in lower lid swelling. This is predominantly bad in the eye lids because the skin is the thinnest on our bodies. Please be patient and follow up with your surgeon.

Mark L. Mazow, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. Swelling after  lower lid blepharoplasty is normal especially if an arcus marginalis release and fat transposition was done. Gravity will also make lower lid swelling worse. Warm compresses can help as well as Arnica and occasionally oral steroids. Mostly it is a matter of time. It usually takes about two weeks for the majority of the swelling  to resolve, but it can take several months for all of the swelling to resolve. Follow up with your surgeon and follow their instructions for the best results.

William H. Jervis, MD, FACS (in memoriam) · Answer

your preop photos may show that you had festoons below the actual lower eyelids.  festoons are loose skin with loose fat beneath the skin.  I don't think anything can be done surgically in the short term.  ultrasound treatment may hasten partial or total resolution, as may outward massage to speed up dispersion of blood. in the long term surgical excision of the festoon ( skin and fat  ) and  suture repair of the defect may be needed.  I have treated one case of festoons with minimal laser assisted subcutaneous energy using only the skin tightening 975 nm  wavelength without aspiration with improvement but it did take several months for the bruising and swelling to resolve.  arnica may also help in the short term.

After blepharoplasty fluid retention under eyes. Is there anything I can do to dissolve the fluid? (photo)

Answers (4)

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