Whilst all the people we care for are excited about their surgery and keen to enjoy their end results, there is almost always a level of anxiety or concern before the day of the operation.
It’s understandable to feel apprehensive, especially when considering the eye area – most people are ‘squeamish’ when it comes to the eye area. But by choosing to have your treatment at Manchester Plastic Surgery you can rest assured you’re in the hands of a highly experienced team who will do all they can to ensure you have a positive experience and get great results.
All surgery carries risk
All surgery carries risk and it’s important to understand what risks are associated with your specific treatment. Our surgical team will explain everything you need to know when you attend your initial consultation, and you can read more on the treatment pages of this website. Although it’s unlikely anything will go wrong, it’s important you are aware of the risks so you can make an informed decision about whether surgery is right for you.
Eyelid surgery – the risks
If you’re considering eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, there are specific potential complications you need to know about.
Minor complications that sometimes follow blepharoplasty can include blurred vision for a few days; temporary swelling at the corner of the eyelids and a slight asymmetry in healing or scarring. Tiny whiteheads may appear after your stitches are taken out but we can remove these with a very fine needle, if required.
After surgery, some patients may have difficult closing their eyes when they sleep; in rare cases this condition may be permanent. Another infrequent complication is ectropion, a pulling down of the lower lids. This is usually temporary but further surgery may occasionally be required. It’s understandable that you may be concerned about the potential for any damage to the actual eye and important to know that blindness has occurred on very rare occasions.
A few medical conditions make blepharoplasty riskier. These include thyroid problems such as hypothyroidism and Graves’ disease, dry eyes of lack of sufficient tears. A detached retina or glaucoma is also reason for caution; in such cases, you may require an examination by an ophthalmologist before going ahead with surgery. If you choose to work with us, we can talk in more detail with you at your first consultation.
Talk to your surgeon
When you attend your initial consultation, your surgeon will raise the issue of risks and discuss any specific concerns you may have.
For us, it’s always about an open and honest conversation so that we can understand how you feel and give you the information you need to decide whether surgery is right for you.
Whilst we cannot rule out risk, you will be reducing the chances of anything going wrong by choosing to work with an experienced team which is committed to delivering the highest possible standards of patient care.
