Complications of blepharoplasty: causes and methods of prevention

Blepharoplasty is by far one of the most demanded and, accordingly, frequently performed operations in aesthetic surgery. Age-related changes, which inevitably appear on the face of every person, primarily occur in the area of ​​​​the upper and lower eyelids. Physiological gravitational descent of the layers of the face and the formation of mimic wrinkles – this is exactly what patients want to fix with plastic surgery. But any surgical intervention has its complications, & nbsp; which should be remembered by both the doctor and the patient. What are the most common complications of blepharoplasty – read on estet-portal.com.

Why complications of blepharoplasty may occur

Blepharoplasty is one of the most complex surgical interventions in plastic surgery, which requires high competence and extensive experience of the operating doctor. The complexity of this operation lies in the fact that the surgeon works with a very delicate area, the skin of which is very thin and delicate. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the structural features of the eyelids, the main function of which is to protect the eye. The most common complications that occur after blepharoplasty include prolonged lacrimation, dry eye symptoms, eyelid deformities, and lagophthalmos. Every plastic surgeon should keep in mind what preventive methods will help to avoid such complications.

Complications of blepharoplasty:

• most common complications of blepharoplasty;
• lagophthalmos – common complication of upper eyelid blepharoplasty;
• lagophthalmos – common complication of lower eyelid blepharoplasty.

The most common complications of blepharoplasty

The most common complications of blepharoplasty include the following conditions:

• prolonged lacrimation – occurs as a result of a violation of the innervation of the circular muscle of the eye and a weakening of the action of the lacrimal pump, as well as against the background of local edema,   complicating the outflow of lacrimal fluid. Preventive methods are aimed at preventing the development of edema – cold after surgery, lymphatic drainage massage, correct intraoperative technique;
• symptom complex «dry eye» - its development is facilitated by lagophthalmos – incomplete closure of the eye. To prevent this condition, it is necessary to observe the conditions of preoperative preparation and intraoperative technique;

 

• eyelid deformity is associated primarily with excessive removal of retroseptal fat. Preventive measures should be aimed at compliance with all the rules and conditions of surgical intervention.

Lagophthalmos – common complication of upper eyelid blepharoplasty

Lagophthalmos is one of the frequent complications of blepharoplasty. After upper blepharoplasty, incomplete eyelid closure can develop as a result of eyelid edema, excessive removal of excess skin or the preseptal portion of the orbicularis oculi muscle, and also as a result of upper eyelid retraction not diagnosed before surgery. The most important method of preventing such a condition is the timely and thorough preoperative diagnosis with the advice of an ophthalmologist, as well as detailed planning of surgical intervention. During the operation, it is important to avoid aggressive resection of excess skin and the orbicular muscle of the eye.

Lagophthalmos – common complication of lower eyelid blepharoplasty

Lagophthalmos due to malposition is also one of the common complications of lower eyelid blepharoplasty. The causes of retraction in this case are too wide excision of the skin of the lower eyelid in its medial and lateral parts, extensive detachment of the orbicular muscle of the eye, as well as errors in the preoperative diagnostic process and illiterate planning of the surgical intervention itself. Prevention of lagophthalmos of the lower eyelid is based on compliance with the plan of surgical intervention, the correct performance by the surgeon of manipulations with the skin, circular muscle and supporting structures. Careful preoperative diagnostics and the correct technique of the operation will help to avoid various complications  blepharoplasty.