Eyelid Surgery - Blepharoplasty - Medical Malpractice Lawyer Canada

Our cosmetic surgery medical malpractice lawyers deal with claims for financial compensation arising out of negligent behavior before during or after eyelid surgery If you believe that your treatment, including disclosure of risk, surgical procedure or subsequent aftercare was less than adequate and amounted to negligent action on the part of a healthcare professional, please use the contact form or email our offices and a specialist medical malpractice lawyer will call you on the telephone, at your convenience, to discuss your potential damages claim for negligent eyelid surgery. Our medical malpractice lawyers specialize in cases involving negligent cosmetic surgery and they offer a free consultation with no further obligation. You will receive detailed legal advice over the telephone and they will give their views on liability and the estimated value of your potential blepharoplasty negligence claim there and then.

Lower and Upper Eyelid

A blepharoplasty is also known as eyelid surgery. It can be done on the upper or lower eyelid, or both. It is a good surgery to have if you have excess skin draping down over the field of vision, if you have excess skin hanging down over your normal eyelid fold, if you have puffy upper lids from excess fat, if you have papery wrinkles of the lower eyelids, or bags and dark circles under the eyes.

Wrinkle Removal

The blepharoplasty can correct all of the above problems that usually occur with age. Those who are Caucasian, smokers, have hereditary reasons for baggy eyes, or are excessive tanners are at a greater risk for wrinkles and bags under their eyes and the problem only gets worse with age. Other procedures people sometimes have instead of a blepharoplasty include Botox, laser resurfacing or chemical peel procedures. They work well for fine lines and wrinkles but do not work well for sagging skin so common in aging eyelids.

Blepharoplasty & Brow Lift

The purpose of eyelid surgery is to make you look more alert, refreshed and well rested. The healing process takes place over several weeks so you can expect maximal results at that time. The results are usually long lasting—longer than Botox, laser resurfacing or chemical peels. Blepharoplasties are often performed at the same time as a brow lift so that the entire upper face and eyes look bright and young.

Examination

The doctor who performs your eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty will examine your eyelids to see what changes have caused you to be unhappy about your eyelids and will determine whether or not you need to have a blepharoplasty done. You need to tell the doctor about any underlying conditions you may have, including diabetes, bleeding problems, high blood pressure, and thyroid conditions. You need to tell the doctor what medications you are on. There are some risks in having eyelid surgery and you improve your odds of having a good surgery if you tell your doctor everything about your medical history and medications. Tell your doctor about allergies you may have as well.

Surgical Procedures

The eyelid surgery is done on both the upper and lower lids and is done differently, depending on whether the upper or lower lid is being done. The upper eyelid surgery involves making an incision on the crease of the upper lid. The skin is separated from the underlying tissue and excess fat pads are removed. Muscles are tightened and excess skin is removed from the incision line above and below the incision. Tiny sutures are placed in the skin to close the wound.

In the lower lid, the incision line is at the level of the lower eyelashes. The skin is then separated from the underlying tissue and fat pads are removed if necessary. Muscles are tightened and the excess skin is trimmed off. Small sutures are placed to close the wound.

Complications of Surgery

The typical complications from eyelid surgery include bruising of the eyes, hematoma formation (a collection of blood that pockets under the skin), fever, infection and poor outcome. You may not like the way you look after having the surgery. You can have complications from the anesthesia. You can also have nerve damage, scarring complications and changes in sensation of the eyelids. Your eyes can feel dry from having eyelid surgery but this usually passes after several days. In total, you tend to recover within a few weeks and have your maximal recovery in a month or so.

Post-operative Care

After surgery, you should rest quietly with your head elevated for a few days. You should apply cold compresses to the eyes to minimize swelling and bruising. You shouldn’t take anti-inflammatory agents or aspirin after surgery because this can increase bleeding. Tylenol or other painkillers prescribed by your doctor are okay to take. Expect blurry vision and/or dry eyes for the first few days. Your doctor may prescribe eye drops for the dry eyes. Wear sunglasses for a couple of weeks after surgery in order to protect your eyes. Do not strain, bend over or lift heavy objects for several days after surgery so as to have the best possible outcome. Most general activities can be resumed after about ten days.

Blepharoplasty Medical Malpractice Lawyers

If you are unhappy with the outcome of any cosmetic surgery you should initially discuss your reservations with the surgeon who carried out the work to see if he has any proposals to rectify the problem. The surgeon may be willing to make a refund or may provide further corrective surgery. If you are unable to resolve the matter directly with the surgeon you should take advice from a medical malpractice lawyer with a view to claiming compensation. Our blepharoplasty medical malpractice lawyers offer advice at no cost on liability and an estimate of the amount of compensation that you are likely to be awarded, with no charge and without obligation.

The author of the substantive medical writing on this website is Dr. Christine Traxler MD whose biography can be read here