What are the Risks and Complications of Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery?


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As with any surgery there are potential risks and complications by undertaking the procedure. These are rare but can occur so it is important to understand that there may be implications by undergoing cosmetic eye surgery. These include:

  • Infection - This is not specific to cosmetic eyelid surgery as any wound has the possibility of becoming infected. If you do become infected then although irritating, it is easily treated with antibiotics.
  • Bleeding behind the eye – If this occurs, pressure can build up and it causes swelling which can put pressure on your optic nerve leading to partial or complete blindness.
  • Bleeding under the skin – This is also known as a hematoma and usually goes away after a few weeks but if it becomes too large, the area will need to be drained, which requires an operation.
  • Inability to fully close eyes - This may arise due to the fact that too much skin has been removed. It is very difficult to correct and can cause the eyelid to retract which causes more problems. Surgery may be able to help this problem.
  • Double Vision - Although rare, there is a chance that the eye got damaged during the procedure which can cause double vision.
  • Internal scarring – Some procedures can cause internal scarring which in turn causes problems such as distortion of the eye.
  • Insufficient removal – This is easily corrected by another operation to remove more of the excess fat, muscle or skin.
  • Small white cysts – These can appear along the incision line, usually where the stitches are and are known as suture cysts. They can be removed by the use of a needle.
  • Abnormal discoloration of the skin around the eyes
  • Retinal detachment – This is a serious risk that can occur due to tears or holes in the retina created accidentally in surgery. It will affect vision.
  • Eyelid skin may fold abnormally.

If you experience any of these problems, then you must consult your surgeon who can decide how best to handle the issue. This may mean further surgery.

Risks of anesthesia

There are always risks when undergoing anesthesia. Usually a patient will be put under anesthetics and is completely fine but there is a rare chance of an allergic reaction to the anesthetic. There is also a chance of breathing difficulties and heart problems however, a trained anesthetist closely monitors you for the duration of your surgery and there should be no problems whatsoever.

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