Will I Have Visible Scars from Eyelid Surgery?

Upper and lower eyelid surgery scars are among the best scars a patient can receive, IF the surgeon uses precise technique, fine sutures, proper incision location, and the patient follows post-op directions well.

Upper eyelid incision are hidden by the lid fold (except in Asian patients, who may not have this fold). Care must be taken by the surgeon to not go too high, too low, or too far laterally near the crows-foot area, or the scar may be more visible. Likewise, too much skin removal can cause excessive tension on the closure and affect healing adversely. I mark and measure my patients pre-operatively while upright and alert (no medication or sedation on-board) to determine the accurate true amount of skin excess to remove. Finally, the choice of suture material and closure technique can influence the scar's quality. I use a very fine (6-0) monofilament nonabsorbable suture woven from inside the skin incision edge to the other side of the skin incision edge (subcuticular closure) and left in one piece for both lids. When it is ready to be removed in a week or so, I simply slide the suture from the skin by pulling from the center where the stitch is exposed. Minimal discomfort, no cross-hatch marks, great scar (but somewhat more difficult to do). Many surgeons simply use an easy over-and-over baseball stitch and remove it before it leaves (bad) marks, but it can leave tiny suture hole scars or cross-hatch marks if it is too tight, left in too long, or if the patient has more swelling than "average." Sleeping with your head elevated above heart level for at least two weeks helps keep swelling to a minimum. The same goes for avoidance of lifting, straining, or vomiting after surgery!

Lower eyelids are even more tricky to do well, and even skilled, experienced surgeons can have difficulties with proper tension, lid position, and scarring (not just the visible skin scar, but the ones beneath the surface that can pull or distort the lid during healing). At least the skin scar can be virtually invisible, if the scar is placed just below the eyelashes--not several millimeters below, which I commonly see (to avoid cutting the eyelashes, or just out of habit), but adjacent to the eyelashes. This is hard to do properly and involves utilizing a pointy scalpel blade directed from below the skin upwards, which allows the surgeon to place the incision much closer to the eyelashes, giving a scar which heals better than virtually all others.  When I use this special technique for external lower eyelid incisions, I use very tiny absorbable sutures for closure. These dissolve within a week, do not leave a mark, and do not require trying to decide what is an eyelash and what is a suture (for removal). Of course, if you only have a tiny amount of fat to be removed, the incision can be hidden inside the eyelid, and this is completely invisible. But this incision does not allow any lid tightening or skin/muscle smoothing.

Even with "standard" methods, eyelid scars heal beautifully for the vast majority of patients and surgeons, usually even if you form bad scars elsewhere. But with these tips and techniques, I believe scars can be even better.

Great question! You should not have significantly visible scars from blepharoplasty. Any incision on the body will leave a scar to some extent. However, the incision for blepharoplasty is planned along a natural skin crease that very effectively hides this scar. Sometimes if there is fullness of the eyelid laterally that requires removal, this incision can be brought further lateral which does increase visibility, though still very subtle.
Hope this helps! Kyle Kimura, MDFacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Although every surgery has risks of scarring, blepharoplasty is one of the most minimal scarrings of any cosmetic procedure. This procedure involves incisions above the upper-eyelid eyelash crease. On the lower lid, your surgeon will make a cut just below the lashes or inside the lower lid. Once the incisions have closed, your scars will begin to fade from red to pink and end up virtually invisible.

One of the best things about blepharoplasty is that an experienced plastic surgeon makes incisions with virtually imperceptible scars. That's true for both upper and lower eyelid surgery. In upper blepharoplasty, the incisions follow the natural crease of the eyelid. Lower eyelid surgery usually involves making a thin incision just below the lash line (a transcutaneous procedure). In some cases, a patient is better served by making the incision inside the lower eyelid (a transconjunctival procedure). In either case, you probably won't notice any visible scarring. 

Fortunately scars are not a big problem with blepharoplasty. Often they are hidden in the eyelid crease or fade with time. Transconjunctival blepharoplasty allows the surgeon  to enter from behind the eyelid aboiding issues of scars. See an eyelid specialist (oculoplastic surgeon) to discuss. 

Hello! Thank you for the question!  You will have scars after any incision is made, but eyelid scars are made to be inconspicuous. Scars from this procedure, when properly placed, should be virtually imperceptible once fully healed.  It is common for scars to fully mature for up to a year. In the meantime, there are a few things that may help to ameliorate your incision/scar. The most proven (as well as cheapest) modality is simple scar massage. Applying pressure and massaging the well-healed scar has been shown to improve the appearance as it breaks up the scar tissue, hopefully producing the finest scar as possible. Other things that have been shown to add some benefit, albeit controversial, are silicone sheets, hydration, and topical steroids. In addition, avoidance of direct sunlight to the incision will significantly help the appearance as they tend to discolor with UV light during the healing process. If unsightly scars are still present after approximately a year's time, other things that your surgeon may consider are intralesional steroid injections, laser, or just surgical revision of the scar itself.Hope that this helps! Best wishes!

                  Anytime
an incision is made, scarring will occur to some degree. The eyelid is an area
where scarring is usually minimal and the scars are well hidden in this
location. It usually takes about twelve months for scars to reach maximum
recovery.

                  Local
wound care can minimize the potential for adverse scarring following surgery.
In the immediate post-operative period, removing sutures in a timely manner can
minimize adverse scarring. Avoiding crusting and scabbing of the eyelids by
keeping them lubricated with ointment can minimize indentations in the scar.
Avoidance of infections can minimize hypertrophic scarring and spread of the
scars.

                  When
these steps are followed, most patients have excellent healing with almost
inperceptable scarring. Occasionally, wound healing complications can occur and
secondary surgery is required, but these situations are fortunately rare. 

Incisions After Eyelid Surgery - In general, scars after eyelid surgery become almost
imperceptible after 4-6 weeks.

Barely perceptible scarring occurs from eyelid surgery. The scar is placed carefully in the crease in the upper lid and depending upon your needs either the incision is made inside the eyelid on the lower lid or you may have a scar crease that’s barely visible in the natural smile line in the corner of your eye. That decision will take place at the time of your consultation.

In a blepharoplasty, the eyelids heal remarkably quickly and scars are usually inconspicuous.  Incisions in the upper lids are made in the crease above each eye.  The resulting scar normally fades to a fine line that virtually disappears into the eyelid crease. 

The benefits to Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery can be long lasting and the recovery time is fast.

One of the greatest factors in the success of an eyelid surgery is the patient’s ability to recover fully afterward. The recovery time and level of discomfort varies greatly from patient to patient, but a few things can ensure you get through the post-operative time without unnecessary pain or complications: 

1. Quit smoking several weeks before surgery
2. Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly; double your consumption on meals that are rich in vitamins C and E to encourage a speedier recuperation
3. Eliminate caffeine and alcohol prior to the procedure (we mean it!)
4. Follow our Instructions: Refer to our customized post-operative instructions and follow closely for best results. Included are directions on keeping your head elevated, using cold compresses and cleaning the surgical area; all promote healing, alleviate soreness and minimize swelling to boost the recovery process.
5. Give your eyes sufficient downtime: They need the rest! Stress can trigger prolonged recovery specifically on the traumatized eyelids, leading them to dry or irritate readily. Avoid any tasks or elements that can stress your eyes, including watching TV, using your IPad or phone, participating in any sports, and putting on contact lenses or eye make-up.
6. Protect Yourself from the Sun: Use sunscreen and wear a hat and dark sunglasses to shield your eyes from dirt and efficiently guard your eyes from the glare. Sun exposure can make scars more visible and hinder the healing process.

 

The skin of the upper and lower lids is among the thinnest in our body. Because of this and the natural redundancy of tissue in the area, incisions can be placed in such a way to hide them in nearly all cases. In lower lid surgery the incision is often placed in the conjunctiva or mucosal lining of the lower lid. During the healing period the incisions may become a little red and occasionally one may get small inclusion cysts, however both often fade with time. This procedure is often a favorite among experienced and well trained surgeons because of the dramatic effect it can have on rejuvenating the upper third of the face.