What is scar revision?
Scars can treated in many ways including laser and chemicals. One option is to remove the scar tissue with surgery and with good postoperative care, the appearance of the scar and the function of the skin can be improved. The wound is rearranged to be less obvious and post-op treatments are used to help healing.
In particular to Mr Lin’s practice, scarring of the upper eyelid skin can cause problems closing the eyes (leading to dry eyes). Scarring of the lower eyelid skin can cause the eyelid to turn out (ectropion).
What are the causes of excess scarring?
- Certain skin types are more prone to excess scarring, especially darker skin
- Inadequate closing of the skin wound
- Inadequate post-operative care
- Infection of the wound
- Trauma to the wound
What problems can occur after the operation?
Mr Lin performs many hundreds of eyelid operations per year and will draw on his expertise to minimise the risk of problems.
- Bruising and swelling of the eyelids is normal. The surface of the eye may also swell. These changes will settle after a few weeks, and will take longer to resolve in patients with blood thinners.
- Dry, gritty, sensitive eyes for a few weeks can be helped with lubricant eye drops. The vision may be slightly blurred for a few days. A dry eye problem may be worsened by the surgery, and more frequent lubricating eye drops may be required
- Bleeding after the operation is usually slight and stops within a short time. If bleeding continues you should contact Mr Lin in case further treatment is required.
- A post-operative infection may rarely develop in the lids when they would become tender, red and more swollen and the wound may open and discharge. If this happens then you should contact the hospital as antibiotic tablets may be needed to help correct this and allow the lids to heal.
- Recurrence of the scarring may occur, although the wounds are hidden in the natural lines as much as possible. Some areas of skin have no natural lines. You may improve the appearance of any scarring by massaging the area with ointment e.g. Vaseline or silicon gel. Steroid creams or injections may be required.
