Dermatochalasis

Excess skin of the upper eyelid in adults is called drooping eyelids, or dermatochalasis.

  • INTRODUCTION

    Expected course with treatment: Initial swelling for 2 – 6 weeks. Then unobstructed view to either side, if previously restricted by skin. Recurrence is possible over the years.
    Probable course without treatment: Increasing tendency.

    No other effective treatments are known.

  • TREATMENT

    Marking of the excess skin. If performed under local anesthesia, the local anesthetic is injected under the skin of the eyelid, which is then excised. Suturing. Sutures are removed approximately 1 week after the procedure. Slight pre-existing side differences, which exist in everyone, may cause slightly different scarring or skin wrinkles after the surgery.

    Treatment and care plan after surgery according to the attending physician.

  • COMPLICATIONS
    • Possible changes to the operation in the case of findings that only become apparent during the operation. Temporary and permanent health restrictions that are likely to occur as a result of the operation:
      Temporary: swelling of the upper eyelids for about 10-14 days, possibly causing temporary visual blurring due to pressure on the eye, especially in the first 3 days. Contact lenses (especially hard ones) could cause problems.
    • Possible general complications: Allergic reaction to anesthetic or any medication.
    • Possible surgery-specific complications: Swelling and bruising with a feeling of pressure. Postoperative bleeding even days after the operation; this only requires surgical hemostasis in extremely exceptional cases. Softening of the wound edges due to mechanical stress, e.g. eye rubbing: this can lead to unsightly scars which require correction. Nicotine slows down wound healing. Inflammation of the wound is rare. The fresh suture is visible as a red line for 2-3 weeks. In individual cases, this may remain visible for several months. Small, easily removed cysts can form in the suture area. If predisposed, thicker, itchy scars may form, which usually disappear with scar cream. Rarely, surgical correction is necessary. In the case of overcorrection: the eyelid no longer closes completely, and the eye is no longer properly moistened; the situation usually improves on its own in the first few weeks after surgery. In rare cases, surgery must be performed again. Rarely, artificial tears have to be administered over a long period of time. Extremely rare, and statistically not verifiable, are cases of blindness in the context of eyelid surgery described in the world literature.