All procedures carry some risk. Having your procedure done in an accredited hospital minimises your risk during blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery in Sydney. The best way to categorise risks is to divide them into the risks of having a general anaesthetic, things that can go wrong during the procedure, things that might happen in the first few weeks and things that might happen further down the track. Some surgeons prefer to perform their bleparoplasty operations under local anaesthetic, but there are very few circumstances where Dr Gavin Sandercoe would advise this as the better option.

Generally speaking, patients undergoing elective surgery have very minimal risk, but it is a doctor’s duty to inform patients of all their material risks. When you have a blepharoplasty or eyelid operation in Sydney with Dr Gavin Sandercoe, we want to make sure that you make an informed decision. Our consent package details these risks, but the following is a quick list.

Risks of having a general anaesthetic

General anaesthesia is preferred by Dr Gavin Sandercoe for blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery. All patients are treated by a specialist anaesthetist to ensure that you are as safe as possible during your procedure. However, there are some risks that always accompany anaesthesia.

•    Areas of lung collapse (atelectasis) which can progress onto pneumonia
•    Clots in the legs (DVT) which can move to the lungs as a pulmonary embolism (PE)
•    Allergies
•    Awareness
•    Death (risk in Australia is about one in a million, you are at more risk driving to and from the hospital)

Things that can go wrong in the operation

Although your Specialist Plastic Surgeon in Sydney is highly skilled, there are always some risks with any surgical procedure.

•    Bleeding
•    Damage to surrounding structures, especially the eye globe
•    Taking too much skin, requiring a skin graft or extra tissue to allow eyelid closure

Things that might happen in the first few weeks

Although the body’s ability to heal is nothing short of incredible, there can be some complications that take place with the healing process. If you experience any of these problems after your blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery in Sydney, you’ll be asked to visit your plastic surgeon’s office, as there is effective treatment available for many of these problems.

•    Bleeding
•    Retrobulbar haematoma resulting in blindness
•    Dry eyes
•    Conjunctival (eyelid lining) swelling and redness
•    Infection
•    Tissue death or necrosis, delayed healing requiring dressings or a revision operation
•    Sensation changes
•    Unusual scar position or eyelid shape
•    Exposed sutures & irritation from dressings

Things that might happen long term

It’s impossible to predict exactly what the final result will be from any surgical procedure. Differences in how the body heals can change the results for some people. While most people who have a blepharoplasty or eyelid reduction surgery in Sydney are happy with the results, some people do experience problems with their final results.

•   Poor Scars
•   Eyelid position or shape asymmetry
•   Upper or lower eyelid malposition
•   Difficulty closing your eyelids (too tight) with corneal exposure 
•   Eyelash loss
•   Results not meeting your expectations or imagined results

Weighing the risks and benefits of having blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery in Sydney

During your consultation to discuss your blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery in Sydney, your Specialist Plastic Surgeon will explain all of these risks, what the surgeon will do to avoid and/or treat them, and the rates at which they occur. We offer our patients two consultation appointments with Dr Gavin Sandercoe prior to surgery, in which you will have the opportunity to ask your surgeon all of your questions about having blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery in Sydney. If you have any questions about the information presented on this page, or you want more detail about how common these types of problems are, please ask your surgeon to explain further. You have the right to ask as many questions as you want and to have everything explained to your satisfaction.

Downloadable Blepharoplasty Consent/Risks 2023 PDF