Blepharoplasty Risks

There are risks to every surgery. No surgery—even relatively minor surgery such as cosmetic eyelid surgery—should be entered into without consideration of the risks. There are always the small but real risks of bleeding problems, infection, or problems with anesthesia. Risks are greater if you have any underlying condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Blepharoplasty also carries a small risk of damage to one or both eyes. It is possible that despite the use of the special eye shield the cornea could become scratched. Corneal scratches usually heal quickly, but are very painful. If the eyelids are adjusted so that they are too tight, they might not be able to close properly, allowing the eyes to become dry and possibly infected. Either the top or bottom lid may also turn inwards (a condition called entropion) which causes the eyelashes to scrape against the eye. Both problems would require additional surgery to correct. If the eyelids gape outward (extropion) they can also dry out.

A risk with any cosmetic surgery is that you are not happy with the results. You may feel that the scars are too visible, or that your eyes are now dissimilar in shape. If too much skin and fat is removed, you may end up with a permanently startled look or a gaunt appearance.

Disclaimers