Eyelid surgery, known as blepharoplasty, can improve the appearance of the skin around your eyes, as well as treat some vision problems caused by droopy eyelids. Just like any surgery, it involves an incision that can form a scar. Knowledge about the surgery, the risks, and treatment for your incision can help you to reduce the appearance of your scar.

What is Eyelid Surgery?

Eyelid surgery is a cosmetic surgery that is typically performed to reduce bagginess in the lower eyelid or remove any excess skin or fatty deposits in the upper eyelid. It only treats problems in the eyelids themselves, rather than any under eye circles, crow’s feet, laugh lines, and other wrinkles in the face. There are some risks involved with the surgery, including temporary blurred or double vision. You may also experience dry eyes or trouble closing your eyes, which is also temporary. Your surgeon will most likely recommend some type of eye drops or other moisturizing treatment to reduce any dry eyes, as well as other treatments to reduce any after-effects.

What can Eyelid Surgery Treat?

Eyelid surgery is most commonly done as a cosmetic surgery to treat the unsightly appearance caused by sagging eyelids. As people age, the skin naturally begins to lose elasticity, which combined with gravity causes sagging. When this happens in the eyelids, it is not just unsightly – it can also cause vision problems. This could include loose or sagging skin, especially when it causes disruption in the natural contour of your eyelids or impairs your vision. Certain causes of under eye bags and drooping lower eyelids can also be treated with this surgery. People who have fatty deposits in the eyelids that make it seem as though their eyes are puffy can also find help with this surgery.

Does Eyelid Surgery Leave Scars?

When a surgeon performs blepharoplasty, he or she will try to match the surgery incision with the natural folds of the eyes, reducing the appearance of any scars. After the excess skin or fatty deposits are removed, the surgeon will insert stitches to help the incision wound heal faster. Although the incision will be in an area that will look similar to a natural crease of the eye lid, you can help it to heal and minimize scarring. This includes treating the incision wound according to your doctor’s orders, including keeping the area clean and dry for the first week or so during the initial healing stage. You also want to wear large sunglasses that block UV rays to reduce any damage caused by the sun.

Once your incision has healed completely, including any scabs, you can apply a scar cream to facilitate the healing process and reduce the amount of time you will have a prominent scar. Since the eyelids are a sensitive area, you want to use a product that will be gentle, especially as it may run into your eyes. A scar treatment that uses gentle, natural ingredients is often the best option. You can also talk to your doctor about the best products for your situation.

Have a question about your scar or dark spot? Leave a comment and we’ll be happy to answer!

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The information on this site is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please speak to your doctor to treat any medical condition. Information on this site is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.

Open heart surgery can be a lifesaver, but it also leaves you with a lifetime reminder in the form of a scar. Any heart surgery that requires the chest to be opened so that the heart is exposed falls under the category of open heart surgery. In order for it to be performed, the sternum, or breastbone, has to be opened to expose the heart, which requires a lengthy vertical incision on the chest. Many heart procedures are starting to use more minimally invasive techniques, which are safer and leave minimal scarring. You have options for reducing the scarring regardless of the type of heart surgery you undergo.

What type of Procedures Require Open Heart Surgery

The most common reason for heart surgery is coronary artery bypass grafting, which grafts a healthy artery or vein as a replacement for a blocked artery. Other common reasons for heart surgery include coronary heart disease, heart failure, abnormal heart rhythms, pacemakers and other medical devices, and heart transplants. Angioplasty, another common heart procedure, typically does not require opening up the chest cavity. A traditional open heart surgery will have a long incision, which can be up to 10 inches. The newer, less invasive procedures still require an incision, but it will be much smaller. There are two types of minimally invasive surgeries, including endoscopic surgery and robot-assisted valve surgery.

How to Take Care of Your Surgery Incision

One of the best ways to reduce the scarring from your procedure is to properly care for your incision. Most patients will remain in hospital while the incision on the skin heals, so it will be treated by healthcare professionals. However, once you are discharged, you will still need to take care of the wound by yourself. You should avoid putting any type of lotion or ointments on the area until the area has completely healed, including any scabs. If you notice any signs of infections, visit your doctor right away. You will most likely feel itching around the newly formed scar, which is a normal part of the healing process. Do not succumb to the temptation to itch, as it can damage the newly formed skin and lead to a more pronounced scarring.

How to Reduce the Appearance of your Scar

Any further trauma will add to the damage of the skin, which will interrupt the healing process and increase the amount of scar tissue in the area. Therefore, you should wear clothing that will not exacerbate the incision area, including choosing a softer bra if you are female. Additionally, you want to protect the area from the sun for at least the first two years of healing. This reduces any further damage caused by UV rays. The easiest way to protect it is to wear UPV clothing, which will lend more sun protection than just a typical shirt alone. If you do wear something outside that exposes the area, wear sunscreen with a high SPF. Once your incision has healed completely, you can treat it with a scar treatment cream to expedite the body’s natural healing process, which will help the scar to fade faster.

Have a question about your scar or dark spot? Leave a comment and we’ll be happy to answer!

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