Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery, is a cosmetic procedure that aims to improve the appearance of the upper and lower eyelids. During a blepharoplasty, excess fat, muscle, and skin are removed from the eyelids to eliminate sagging, puffiness, and wrinkles around the eyes. Like any surgical procedure, blepharoplasty results in scarring where the incisions were made. The good news is that blepharoplasty scars tend to heal well over time and can become barely visible in many patients.
How long does it take for blepharoplasty scars to heal?
The healing process for blepharoplasty scars occurs in stages:
- Initial healing phase (first 2 weeks): The incision lines will be reddish and slightly swollen during the first couple weeks after surgery. Tiny sutures are used to close the incisions and will either dissolve on their own or need to be removed by your surgeon within 7 to 10 days.
- Scar maturation phase (2 weeks to 3 months): Over the next few months, swelling decreases and the incision lines continue to heal and fade in color. However, the scars may look slightly thick and pink during this time.
- Final healing phase (3 to 12 months): Scars remodel and mature for up to one year. As collagen remodeling occurs, the scars become softer, flatter, and lighter in color. After about a year, the scar has fully matured.
It’s important to note that the healing process varies from patient to patient. Your age, skin type, follow-up care, and genetics can all impact how fast your scars heal and fade.
What influences the appearance of blepharoplasty scars?
Several factors affect the final appearance of blepharoplasty scars:
- Surgical technique: The incision technique and placement impacts resulting scars. Skilled surgeons use meticulous techniques to help minimize scarring.
- Incision placement: Blepharoplasty incisions are often made right along the natural creases and contours of the upper and lower eyelids to help conceal scars.
- Skin type: Patients with lighter skin tones tend to get thinner, less visible scars. Darker skin is more prone to hyperpigmentation and thicker scarring.
- Age: Younger patients under 30 tend to heal with less visible scarring than older patients.
- Genetics: Your natural tendency to form scars can influence results. Some people are just prone to thicker, redder scars while others heal easily with barely visible scars.
- Aftercare: Properly caring for incisions during recovery promotes healing and reduces the risk of complication. Follow your surgeon’s wound care and scar care instructions diligently.
How to care for blepharoplasty scars during recovery
Proper aftercare and wound management during the recovery period promotes proper and faster healing of blepharoplasty scars. Here are important tips for scar and incision care following eyelid surgery:
- Use antibiotic ointment on incisions as directed by your surgeon to prevent infection.
- Avoid exposing fresh scars to sunlight for at least 12 months. Use sunscreen on incisions when outdoors.
- Keep treated areas well moisturized to optimize healing, but avoid using products not approved by your surgeon.
- Avoid rubbing, picking at scabs, or irritating healing incisions.
- Sleep on your back with head elevated to avoid compressing scars against the pillow.
- Wear sunglasses when outdoors to protect sensitive skin around incisions.
- Take prescribed medication to reduce swelling and support healing.
- Follow activity restrictions during recovery to prevent wound openings or bleeding.
- Attend all follow-up appointments so your surgeon can monitor healing.
Contact your surgeon immediately if you experience any concerning symptoms like bleeding, worsening swelling, increasing redness/pain, pus, warmth at incision sites, or fever as these may indicate infection or poor wound healing.
Scar management techniques and products
Once incisions have closed and are no longer delicate, special ointments, bandages, or procedures can help continue improving the appearance of blepharoplasty scars during the remodeling process:
- Silicone scar sheets: These self-adhesive sheets are worn over a scar to flatten and fade it.
- Silicone gels/ointments: Silicone-based products can hydrate scars and reduce redness.
- Hydrocortisone creams: These creams help relieve redness and itching of scars.
- Laser therapy: Laser treatments may improve scar appearance by resurfacing the outer layers of skin.
- Injections: Steroid injections into scars can flatten and soften them over time.
- Massage: Gentle massage techniques can break up internal scar tissue to improve appearance.
Talk to your surgeon about when you can start using scar treatments or procedures on your healing incisions. Attempting scar revision techniques too early may cause damage, so it’s important to wait until scars have adequately healed first.
When can results be seen after blepharoplasty?
Patients should start to see results of their blepharoplasty after the initial bruising and swelling subsides:
- Immediately after surgery: Swelling and bruising will temporarily obscure results.
- After 1 week: Bruising and swelling should start improving but will still be present.
- After 2 weeks: Swelling continues to go down, early results visible but scars remain reddish.
- After 6 weeks: Incision lines will lighten up more, although some swelling may persist.
- After 3 months: Scars mature and eyelids start to look smoother, although complete healing takes up to a year.
It’s important to be patient throughout the healing and scar maturation process. Your final results can take a full year to become visible. Follow your surgeon’s post-op instructions to optimize healing.
Can blepharoplasty scars be completely removed?
Scarless blepharoplasty surgery does not really exist. Some degree of scarring is inevitable with incisional eyelid surgery. However, scar revision techniques can improve the appearance of blepharoplasty scars:
- Scars can be surgically revised once fully healed, often after a year post-op.
- Laser resurfacing can reduce scar thickness and discoloration.
- Injectable steroids or applying silicone sheets may flatten and smooth scars.
- Prolonged use of scar creams can lighten and fade scar color.
- No scar treatment can completely erase blepharoplasty scars, but a combination approach yields the best improvement.
Many patients are highly satisfied with their blepharoplasty results and feel the scars are easily concealed and not very noticeable. But for those unhappy with conspicuous scarring, working with an experienced surgeon to revise scars can reduce their visible appearance.
Does blepharoplasty leave visible scars?
Whether blepharoplasty scars are visible depends on several factors:
- Surgical technique and incision placement influence scarring.
- Scars tend to be more visible with older patients and those prone to keloid scars.
- Darker skin types carry higher risk of visible scarring.
- Scars are more obvious before undergoing maturation process.
- Blepharoplasty scars are often concealed within natural eyelid creases.
- In experienced hands, scars often heal remarkably well and become barely detectable.
Many blepharoplasty patients are pleased to find scars fade very subtly over time. However, scars may be more conspicuous on some patients depending factors like genetics and skin type. Discuss your scar risk with a qualified surgeon.
Risks and complications that affect scarring
Some complications can impair wound healing after blepharoplasty and lead to worse scarring:
- Infection – Leads to poorer wound healing and thicker scars.
- Hematoma – A blood clot under the skin causes more inflammation and scarring.
- Wound separation – Can result in widened, thickened scars.
- Poor incision alignment – May lead to more visible scars.
- Allergic reaction – To ointments/suture material causes problematic healing.
- Scarring disorders – Conditions like keloid scars worsen scarring risk.
That’s why it’s important to choose an experienced, board-certified surgeon with proven results. Following all wound care instructions properly reduces risks of complications occurring.
Frequently asked questions about blepharoplasty scarring
How long do blepharoplasty scars take to mature?
It takes about 12 months for blepharoplasty scars to fully remodel and mature. Scars may remain pinkish and firm for several months before gradually softening and paling.
Do blepharoplasty scars go away completely?
Blepharoplasty scars never disappear entirely since they form along the actual surgical incisions. However, scars often heal remarkably well over time and become barely detectable.
Can you see blepharoplasty scars when eyes are open?
Blepharoplasty scars are strategically placed within the natural folds and contours along the upper and lower eyelid margins. When eyes are open, scars are typically concealed and not readily visible.
What helps blepharoplasty scars heal faster?
Avoiding sun exposure, using scar creams, silicone sheeting, staying hydrated, maintaining a healthy diet, avoiding irritants, and following your surgeon’s wound care instructions can all help speed up scar healing.
How can I make my blepharoplasty scars less noticeable?
Scar care techniques like silicone scar treatment, steroid injections, laser therapy, makeup concealers, and even surgical scar revision in severe cases can help reduce the appearance of blepharoplasty scars.
Conclusion
Blepharoplasty scars follow a gradual healing and fading process that takes up to one year. With proper surgical technique, incision placement, and aftercare, blepharoplasty scars often heal with surprisingly subtle results. However, scars may be more noticeable on some patients depending on factors like age, skin type, and genetics. Discuss your particular scar risk with a board-certified plastic surgeon during your consultation.
