What are the risks?
The decision to have cosmetic surgery is extremely personal and after your consultation and advice offered to you, you will have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential blepharoplasty complications are acceptable to you.
I will explain potential eyelid surgery complications in detail to you. You will be asked to sign a consent form to ensure that you fully understand the procedure you will undergo and any risks or potential complications which can include:
- Unfavourable scarring
- Temporarily blurred or impaired vision
- Dry eyes
- Difficulty closing your eyes
- Lower eyelid retraction (a pulling down of the lower eyelid) may occur and is often temporary
- Ectropion (rolling of the eyelid outwards away from the eyeball)
- Bleeding (haematoma)
- Poor wound healing
- Infection
- Fluid accumulation
- Blood clots
- Numbness and other changes in skin sensation
- Anaesthesia risks
- Eyelid disorders that involve drooping of the upper eyelids (eyelid ptosis) or abnormal laxity of the lower eyelid (ectropion) can coexist. Additional surgery may be required to correct these if they are present.
- Pain, which may persist
- Skin discoloration and swelling
- Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation that require removal
- Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
- Possibility of revision surgery if the outcome is not as expected
- Loss of eyesight (approx 1:20,000 risk of blindness)
Be sure to ask questions:
It’s very important to ask any question you have about your proposed eyelid procedure. It’s natural to feel some anxiety, whether it’s excitement for your anticipated new look or a bit of preoperative stress. I’ll do my best to address any concerns you may have.
A special note about the use of fibrin sealants (tissue glue)
Fibrin sealants (made from heat-treated human blood components to inactivate virus transmission) are used to hold tissue layers together at surgery and to diminish post-operative bruising following surgery.
This product has been carefully produced from screened donor blood plasma for hepatitis, syphilis, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These products have been used safely for many years as sealants in cardiovascular and general surgery. This product is thought to be of help in diminishing surgical bleeding and by adhering layers of tissue together.
When you go home
If you experience shortness of breath, chest pains, or unusual heart beats, seek medical attention immediately. Should any of these complications occur, you may require hospitalization and additional treatment.