Complications after blepharoplasty: a review of the literature

Abstract

I N T R O D U C T I O N: Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure to correct or reconstruct the upper or lower eyelids. The main purpose of performing these surgeries is to correct the signs of aging that occur in the periorbital region and to improve the appearance of unsightly eyelids. Eyelid surgery is also used in the correction of ophthalmic conditions. The purpose of this review is to describe the most common complications after blepharoplasty of the upper or lower eyelids, to analyze the cause of the complications, and to propose methods of prevention and correction. R E V I E W : It is important to understand how and why complications occur after eyelid surgery. Most postoperative complications fall into one of four categories: (1) inaccurate preoperative evaluation, (2) improper surgical technique, (3) poor intraoperative assessment, and (4) idiopathic complications. Complications associated with this type of surgery include bleeding, infection, corneal injury, double vision, eyelid regurgitation (lagophthalmos), eyelid drooping (ptosis), lacrimal gland damage, dry eye syndrome, an asymmetric eyelid crease line, residual excess skin and subcutaneous tissue, eyelid furrow deformities, canthal webbing, and burns. C O N C L U S I O N S: Blepharoplasty, despite being one of the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedures in the world, is not the easiest of procedures to perform. It is associated with a number of complications, which can have a major impact on the end result of the operation or even on the patient's quality of life. Knowledge of all the complications and how to prevent them is crucial for any surgeon who wants to achieve good postoperative results. K E Y W O R D S blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery, complications, plastic surgery