Pseudo-epicanthus after blepharoplasty: Case report

Abstract

Introduction: The article demonstrates a potential type of wound healing after upper eyelid blepharoplasty and presents distinct views of expert eye and plastic surgeons on addressing postoperative pseudo-epicanthus. Case presentation: A 45-year-old Caucasian woman underwent blepharoplasty by a standard procedure without complications. Photo-documentation of the patient was taken before the surgery, and in follow-up weeks 1, 9 and 28. Suture was removed one week after surgery, and the wound healed by first intention. After a few weeks, the woman began to feel a slight pull of the upper eyelid skin, nasally. Nine weeks post surgery, examination of the area revealed a slightly swollen postoperative scar and a fine epicanthus which the patient found bothersome as well as unappealing. Ophthalmologists recommended a surgical correction while plastic surgeons, with such an insignificant finding, chose pressure massage and postponing reoperation.Upon examination at 28 weeks after surgery, the small scar was pale, soft, and barely noticeable. The pseudo-epicanthus disappeared and the patient was satisfied even without reoperation. Conclusion: The process of wound healing has its own progression and it is far from complete at 9 weeks after surgery. Early surgical intervention for less marked pseudo-epicanthus may be counterproductive and may delay or impair the effect of the surgery.