What are the risks of upper eyelid correction?

Honest about the risks: what is more common and temporary, what is rare, and when to contact us immediately. Explained by eye surgeon Dr Dulaimi.


At a glance

  • More common and almost always temporary: swelling and bruising in the first week, a pulling or tight feeling around the scar, dry or watery eyes, mild discomfort.
  • Rare: bleeding after the procedure, infection, a slight asymmetry or a more noticeable scar; the chance of complications is small, but not excluded.
  • Contact us immediately in case of increasing pain after the first days, increasing redness or warmth around the wound, fever, a wound that opens or a sudden change in vision; all risks are discussed with you during the consultation.

Watch the video: the risks listed honestly, by Dr Dulaimi

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What you hear in the video

What are the risks of an upper eyelid correction? An upper eyelid correction is a common procedure, but it remains a medical treatment. Anyone who tells you there are no risks is not being honest with you. So we list them for you.

What occurs more often, and is almost always temporary: swelling and effervescence in the first week. A pulling or tight feeling around the scar. Dry eyes, or watery eyes. And mild discomfort afterwards, which is easy to relieve. Paracetamol is usually not needed, but you may take it.

The chance of complications is small, but not excluded. Rare complications include bleeding after the procedure, an infection, a slight asymmetry or a more noticeable scar. Occasionally an asymmetry requires an additional correction.

What you can do yourself: cool during the first three days, do not rub your eyes, avoid bending forward and heavy lifting, and keep the wound dry until the stitches are out. Contact us immediately in case of increasing pain after the first days, increasing redness or warmth around the wound, fever, a wound that opens, or a sudden change in your vision.

During the consultation we discuss all risks with you, tailored to your situation and your health. There is always a reflection period of at least one week between the consultation and the procedure. That way you decide calmly and well informed.

Every recovery is personal. All risks are discussed with you during the consultation.

More often, and temporary

Swelling and effervescent in the first week. A pulling or tight feeling around the scar. Dry eyes, or watery eyes. Mild discomfort, which is easy to relieve; paracetamol is usually not needed, but you may take it. These effects are part of recovery and almost always disappear by themselves.

Rare

The chance of complications is small, but not excluded. Rare complications include bleeding after the procedure, an infection, a slight asymmetry or a more noticeable scar. Occasionally an asymmetry requires an additional correction. During the consultation the eye surgeon discusses these risks with you, tailored to your situation and your health.

What you do yourself

Cool during the first three days. Don't rub your eyes. Avoid bending forward and heavy lifting. Keep the wound dry until the stitches are out. Our recovery app, available in English, reminds you of these instructions day by day; on day 3 one of our assistants calls you and on day 6 we remove the stitches and assess the wound.

Contact us immediately in case of

  • increasing pain after the first days
  • increasing redness or warmth around the wound
  • fever
  • a wound that opens
  • a sudden change in your vision

In case of emergency we are reachable: Zwolle 038 303 55 80, Amsterdam and Rotterdam 020 2310 550.

Frequently asked questions

What are the risks of upper eyelid surgery?

More common and almost always temporary: swelling and bruising in the first week, a pulling or tight feeling around the scar, dry or watery eyes, mild discomfort. Rare: bleeding after the procedure, infection, a slight asymmetry or a more noticeable scar; the chance of complications is small, but not excluded. Contact us immediately in case of increasing pain after the first days, increasing redness or warmth around the wound, fever, a wound that opens or a sudden change in vision. All risks are discussed with you during the consultation.

Are there any risks associated with eyelid surgery?

Whether there are risks associated with eyelid correction depends on many factors. In our specialised clinic, we work with great precision. Nevertheless, any procedure can carry risks. With upper eyelid correction, the chance of complications is small, but not zero. For example, you may experience dry or, conversely, watery eyes. These symptoms are generally temporary. During the free consultation prior to the surgery, we will discuss the risks with you.

Does eyelid surgery hurt?

Whether an eyelid correction is painful varies from person to person, but generally, we hear from our clients that the procedure is well tolerated. The local anesthetic can feel unpleasant, but we receive few complaints about this either. After the upper eyelid correction, you may experience mild post-operative pain similar to the sensation of a graze. Paracetamol is usually not necessary, but you are welcome to take it.

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