Revisional Eyelid Surgery
Correcting the Eyelid through Revision Surgery
One of Dr. Zoumalan’s specialties is correcting abnormal eyelid positions. The term revisional eyelid surgery refers to the correction of the eyelid position (either upper or lower lid) after having undergone prior eyelid surgery. Two of the more common reasons patients see us for eyelid malpositions after undergoing prior blepharoplasty or eyelid reconstruction from trauma or removal of an eyelid skin cancer.
The eyelid is a series of complex aesthetic units that, all together, make it an extremely challenging area to operate on. It is difficult to tell which patient is at risk for having an eyelid malposition prior to any surgery but in many cases, your plastic surgeon does his or her best in preventing such circumstances.
Upper Lid Revision:
Upper lid malpositions can result from prior blepharoplasty which results in excessive skin removal and subsequent difficulty closing eyelids (termed lagophthalmos) and dry eyes. There are various ways of addressing and treating this problem. Dr. Zoumalan needs to examine you and recommend the best treatment plan for you depending on your examination findings and symptoms. Furthermore, prior ptosis surgery (droopy lid surgery) can result in asymmetry (either in lid position or the shape of the lid). Although these can often be complex in repair, Dr. Zoumalan has had experience in addressing upper lid asymmetries from prior surgery.
Lower Lid Surgery:
Oftentimes, in cases of lower lid revisional surgery, the lid may need some form of resuspension after the scar tissue planes are released. In order to address the shortage of skin that may be present, a midface resuspension with the in incorporation of a posterior graft (such as a hard palate graft) can result in an optimal result while avoiding the need for a skin graft altogether. The surgery typically takes 2-3 hours depending on the complexity of the case and you can expect to go home the same day of surgery. Bruising is minimized by Dr. Zoumalan’s rapid recovery techniques but patients should expect to be swollen for at least 2 weeks.
Preoperative diagnosis: Bilateral lower lid retraction.
Procedure performed: Bilateral revisional lower lid retraction repair using allodermposterior spacer graft.
Preoperative Diagnosis: Bilateral lower lid retraction
Procedure performed: Bilateral lower lid retraction repair using a hard palate graft and canthoplasty.
Disclaimer:
*Individual results may vary
All before and after pictures displayed are real patients who have consented to having their pictures published on our site. Individual results will vary with each patient and Dr. Christopher Zoumalan does not guarantee any outcomes of procedures shown. All pictures are meant for reference and illustrative purposes only.
– Dr. Christopher Zoumalan, MD FACS
- What should you expect at your preoperative visit for your upcoming revisional eyelid surgery?
- What should you expect on the day of your revisional eyelid surgery?
- What should you expect after your revisional eyelid surgery in terms of recovery and pain control?
- What are the risks and complications to revisional eyelid surgery?