Important facts about the safety and risks of eyelid surgery

The decision to have eyelid surgery is extremely personal and you'll have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable.

• Unfavorable scarring
• Temporarily blurred or impaired vision
• Dry eyes
• Difficulty closing your eyes
• Lid lag, a pulling down of the lower eyelid may occur and is often temporary
• Ectropion, rolling of the eyelid outwards
• Bleeding (hematoma)
• Poor wound healing
• Infection
• Fluid accumulation
• Blood clots
• Numbness and other changes in skin sensation
• Anesthesia risks
• Eyelid disorders that involve abnormal position of the upper eyelids (eyelid ptosis), loose eyelid skin, or abnormal laxness of the lower eyelid (ectropion) can coexist with sagging forehead and eyebrow structures; brow lift surgery will not correct these disorders; additional surgery may be required
• 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 revisional surgery
• Loss of eyesight

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.

The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although good results are expected, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure. Another surgery may be necessary.

Be careful

Following Dr. Gray's instructions is key to the success of your surgery. It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, abrasion or motion during the time of healing. Cynthia will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself.

YOUR RECOVERY

After your procedure is completed, lubricating ointment and cold compresses may be applied, and in some cases your eyes may be loosely covered with gauze.

You will be given specific instructions that may include:

How to care for your eyes, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your overall health, and when to follow-up with Dr. Gray.

Initial healing may include some swelling, bruising, irritation or dry eyes and discomfort that can be controlled with medication, cold compresses and ointment. Irritation at the incision sites also is possible. Be sure to ask Cynthia specific questions about what you can expect during your individual recovery period.

• Where will I be taken after my surgery is complete?
• What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery?
• Will I have dressings/bandages after surgery?
  • When will they be removed?
• Are stitches removed? When?
• When can I resume normal activity and exercise?
• When do I return for follow-up care?

A special note: You must practice diligent sun protection and use darkly tinted sunglasses until the healing process is fully complete.

The results will be long-lasting

Your final results will appear within several weeks, but it may take up to a year for incision lines to fully refine.

While eyelid surgery can be expected to correct certain conditions permanently, you will continue to age naturally. Life-long sun protection will help to maintain your results.

How much will eyelid surgery cost?

Cost is always a consideration in elective surgery. Prices for eyelid surgery can vary widely. A surgeon's cost for blepharoplasty may vary based on her or his experience, the type of procedure used, as well as geographic office location.  Dr. Cynthia Gray offers patient financing plans available through CareCredit

Cost may include:

• Dr. Gray's fee
• Surgical facility costs
• Anesthesia fees
• Prescriptions for medication, and
• Medical tests

Your satisfaction involves more than a fee

When choosing a plastic surgeon for eyelid surgery, remember that the surgeon's experience and your comfort with him or her are just as important as the final cost of the surgery.  Most health insurance does not cover cosmetic surgery or its complications. When eyelid surgery is performed to eliminate the redundant skin covering the eyelashes, it may be covered by insurance. Carefully review your policy.

Questions to ask when interviewing a plastic surgeon

Use this checklist as a guide during your consultation

• Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
• Are you a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons?
• Were you specifically trained in the field of plastic surgery?
• How many years of plastic surgery training have you had?
• How many years have you been in independent plastic and reconstructive surgery prqactice, outside of training?
  
• How many surgical procedures of the type I am interested in have you actually performed on your own?
  
• Do you have hospital privileges to perform this procedure?
  • If so, at which hospitals?
• Is the office-based surgical facility accredited by a nationally- or state-recognized accrediting agency, or is it
  state-licensed or Medicare-certified?
  
• Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
• What will be expected of me to get the best results?
• Where and how will you perform my procedure?
• What surgical technique is recommended for me?
• How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery?
• What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure?
• How are complications handled?
• How can I expect my eyes to look over time?
• What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of my eyelid surgery?
• Do you have a number of actual "Pre and Post" surgical photos of the procedure you are consulting with me regarding that you, yourself, have performed?
  

• Blepharoplasty: Eyelid surgery to improve the appearance of upper eyelids, lower eyelids or both
• Ectropion: When the lower eyelid is rolled outward after eyelid surgery; often a temporary condition.
  
• General anesthesia: Drugs and/or gases used during an operation to relieve pain and alter consciousness.
• Hematoma: Blood pooling beneath the skin.
• Intravenous sedation: Sedatives administered by injection into a vein to help you relax.
  
• Local anesthesia: A drug injected directly to the site of an incision during an operation to relieve pain.
• Transconjunctival incision: Incision hidden inside the lower eyelid.
  
• Skin resurfacing: Treatment to improve the texture, clarity and overall appearance of your skin.
• Sutures: Stitches used by surgeons to hold skin and tissue together.