What is the Best Treatment for an Eyelid Burn Victim?

Burn victims can have all different types of deformities from burns to the eyes.  Very commonly, the burn scarred skin needs to be removed and grafted or just incised and grafted. Hard to say without an exam.

Hey there,

It's hard to give specific advice or information about your procedure without a photo or more details but as a surgeon who reconstructs eyelids often I can give you a couple of general descriptions.

1.  For any eyelid (upper or lower) with a contracture from burns or injury I've first, released the scar tissue and then placed a skin graft on the outside of the lid to give it more mobility.  If there is injury to the inner lining of your eyelid then you often must also place a mucosal graft.  This can be done by taking a little mucosa from the inside of your mouth.

2.  If it is the lower eyelid I have often needed to do an additional procedure (beyond the skin graft).  This is a lid shortening, or tightening, procedure.  It's pretty standard.  You'd need to do this to help the lower eyelid function properly after the skin graft is placed.  This is really needed for the upper lid.

What can you expect afterwards?

Some dry eye (temporary), some bruising and swelling, minimal risk of infection.  Occasionally lid reconstructions are staged. 

Finally, if you actually have some missing anatomy from your lid a portion of the opposite lid can be used to reconstruct your lid.

You'll do great.  There's some excellent facial plastic and oculoplastic surgeons in Portland.

Best of  luck

Chase Lay, MD