What Are the Side Effects of Eyelid Surgery?

Cosmetic eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty as it is clinically known, is one of the safest and least invasive forms of plastic surgery available. It is also one of the most transformative, as it can take years off of a patient’s face simply through the removal of excess tissues from the upper eyelids, the lower eyelids, or both. For patients who are only beginning to show signs of aging in the eye area, eyelid surgery can represent a potentially ideal solution, one that can forestall more intensive plastic surgery procedures by a decade or longer.

However, while serious complications from eyelid surgery are extremely rare, no surgical procedure is without risks and side effects. Patients should understand that there are side effects associated with eyelid surgery, although most of them are minor and temporary. The vast majority of patients who undergo eyelid surgery with Dr. Brian Kobienia are highly pleased with their results and experience only the most common and minor of side effects. Dr. Kobienia is always careful to advise patients of eyelid surgery side effects during consultations at his Edina, MN plastic surgery practice before they commit to undergoing the procedure. This way, they can make informed, confident decisions about whether they want to proceed with eyelid surgery or not.

We invite you to read the following information about eyelid surgery side effects and then schedule your initial consultation at Kobienia Plastic Surgery today.

What Are the Most Common Side Effects of Eyelid Surgery?

In a perfect world, people would emerge from a plastic surgery procedure feeling great with their results fully apparent. Unfortunately, the human body doesn’t really work like that. All plastic surgery procedures entail side effects – sorry, there are no exceptions to this rule – and the only way to minimize these side effects is to follow Dr. Kobienia’s post-surgical instructions to the letter and contact our practice immediately if more serious complications arise.

Common side effects of eyelid surgery include:

Swelling: Swelling at the incision sites is almost inevitable. It can be minimized through the gentle application of cold compresses or iced eye pads. Patients are also advised to keep their heads elevated at all times, including while they are sleeping.
Blurred vision: Temporarily blurred vision is usually a byproduct of swelling and should subside as the swelling goes down.
Discomfort: Extreme pain after eyelid surgery is rare. In most cases, patients experience discomfort similar to that of a sunburn. Dr. Kobienia prescribes pain medication to control discomfort during the recovery period.
Difficulty closing the eyes: This usually subsides as the eye area heals after surgery. It can, of course, affect sleep patterns, as well.

Patients should be attentive to signs of more serious complications, such as discharge from the eye, bleeding, and fever, which could indicate an infection or damage to the eye.