Why are eyes are still swelling after 2 weeks from double eyelid surgery?
Hi, I had double eyelids surgery 2 weeks ago.
The swelling definitely went down since post op day 1 till today, 2 weeks mark.
However my eyelids are still swollen and the crease are still very high and unnatural looking.
My eyelids feel puffy and soft when I gently massage it.
Will this be permanent?
I'm panicking and depressed.
I never stepped out of my house without shades.
Are everything fine with my eyes?
Thank you for your question!
You submitted a photo and you have described your question that it has been 2 week since
your surgery and you’re concerned and panicking about the swelling of your eyelid.
Well, I don’t think you have any reason at all to panic.
It is likely that in your preoperative discussion that swelling being at this time is typical
and I’ll explain to you how I have this discussion in my practice.
We do a lot of Asian eyelid surgeries and I can certainly share with you over 20 years
of doing this surgery that there is certainly some degree of variability between patients
regarding the amount of swelling they have in a very specific space.
You see, Asian eyelid surgery requires a particular type of method that involves the fixation
of the eyelid crease to the muscle that lifts the eyelid called the levator muscle.
Levator muscle is like the word elevator, it’s the muscle that lifts the eyelid.
In order to create that crease, there has to be a connection made between the skin and
the levator muscle.
Now this can be performed both in an incisional or a non-incisional procedure.
Although a non-incisional procedure does require micro openings so technically, it’s not
that accurate to say non-incision.
Nonetheless, what ends up happening in my perception is there is some kind of a crowding
in the tight space where fluid has the tendency to back up.
And that fluid is between the eyelid crease and the eyelid margin or where the eyelashes
are.
That swelling can take time to resolve.
In fact, that swelling is very often the reason for many patients to panic because they feel
that the eyelid crease is too high.
So, understanding that this type of swelling in two weeks is normal and that swelling can
linger and be variable in the course of several months and can go on to even as long as one
year.
Not to the same level but it is possible.
True surgical healing can take up to a year for resolution.
That being said, understanding that the swelling you are experiencing is likely to be normal
and the only things that I advice to my patients that might contribute to helping resolve swelling
has to do with management of any allergies particularly eye allergies.
Managing any sinus issues and of course getting adequate sleep and doing things that are healthy.
I would recommend that you contact your doctor’s office and meet with your doctor.
I am certain that as long as your doctor does not feel anything abnormal and judging by
the photo you submitted, it doesn’t appear that there’s anything unusual about your
situation.
Just understand that the body takes it’s time to heal and that welling does eventually
gets better and improve but it variable between individuals as to length of time.
So I hope that was helpful, I wish you the best of luck and thank you for your question!