Will upper eyelid skin stretch?

Question

I had an aggressive upper bleph and my eye will not close all the way.. Will eyelid skin stretch? If so, how long will it take?

Thomas A. Mustoe, MD, FACS · Answer

I'm sorry to hear about your concern. All skin stretches
with time, including upper eyelid skin. It is not unusual to have some issues
with eyelid closure for several weeks after an upper eyelid blepharoplasty, but
after 6 to 8 weeks, the period of significant stretch and relaxation has
already occurred, and one would not expect to gain more than a millimeter or 2
of additional eyelid closure. Significant eyelid stretch beyond the first
several weeks can take months to years, and unfortunately after aggressive
surgery, there are some patients who have a permanent issue with inadequate
eyelid closure. Massage and stretching of the tissues may help some. It is best
to discuss your concerns and options with your surgeon.

John J. Martin, Jr., MD · Answer

When was your bleph?  It you are in the first few days post-op you may not be able to close due to the edema.  If you are beyond 2-3 months and still can't close, this is probably where you will be.  If you can't close 100% you will usually need a lot of lubrication.  Artificial tears during the day, a gel or ointment at bedtime.  If this is not sufficient, you may need to wear moisture chamber eye protection at bedtime.  See an oculoplastic surgeon and they can help decide what will be best for you.

Mehryar (Ray) Taban, MD, FACS · Answer

Upper eyelid skin can stretch but it takes many years for small amount of stretch. If you cannot close your eyes, recommend you see an ophthalmologist or oculoplastic specialist for treatment options. One option may be a skin graft.

Christopher I. Zoumalan, MD, FACS · Answer

If you are not able to close your lids, you should see an ophthalmologist to evaluate the health of your eyes.  You should also see an oculoplastic surgeon to evaluate your eyelids and determine what you may require if they don't improve with time.  Hope this helps and good luck.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

Upper eyelid skin is very thin and is very prone to stretching. A mild amount of incomplete eyelid closure early after blepharoplasty is usually a self solving problem over the first few months after surgery. If incomplete eyelid closure persists beyond three months and the eye is persistently dry or irritated, then something may need to be done. But this would be an unusual need in the upper eyelids given its natural ability to be stretched out.

Stephen Weber MD, FACS · Answer

It is possible. It's not unusual to have incomplete closure in the first couple of days after eyelid surgery but anything longer than that is not ideal. The most important question is whether you are having alot of eye dryness or if your eye is painful or irritated. If that is the case, your eye closure needs to be addressed immediately. If you are not symptomatic you should definitely be evaluated now but you have the luxury of time to determine if your lids will relax. Either way, you should revisit with your eyelid surgeon or seek a second opinion now.

Richard Galitz, MD, FACS (in memoriam) · Answer

First and most important is that if you cannot fully close your eye, especially at night when sleeping, you need ophthalmologic evaluation and possible patching to prevent drying of the cornea and serious problems from this.You may also need lubricating drops. If the eye does not settle soon, usually within 1 month, then you may need a graft to let the lid drop down low enough to cover the eye completely

Will upper eyelid skin stretch?

Answers (7)

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