Eyelid surgery 5 days without closing eyes, doctor warns of risks

(Dan Tri) - A clip recording the scene of a girl who still cannot close her eyes after 5 days of eyelid surgery has caused a stir on TikTok. Behind the story is the concern about the fragile line between beauty and complications.

When “beautiful eyelids” become a risk to vision

A video posted on TikTok recently caused a stir on social media. In the clip, a girl shared that after eyelid surgery, her eyes were abnormally wide open and could not close completely.

The accompanying caption attracted many views: “Is there anyone who has had eyelid surgery and cannot close their eyes like me? I had a combo of opening the outer corner of the tear duct and cutting the upper eyelid. Until now, it is still purple and cannot close. The eyes are very dry, uncomfortable and a bit blurry. It has been 5 days since the surgery.”

Girl shares condition of eyes not being able to close 5 days after eyelid surgery (Screenshot).

The condition of not being able to close the eyes after eyelid surgery is not uncommon in the field of aesthetics. However, this is not only an aesthetic problem but also has the potential to damage the cornea and reduce vision if not treated properly.

MSc. Dr. Nguyen Minh Nghia, lecturer at the Department of Plastic Surgery, Hanoi Medical University, said that this condition often comes from two main causes.

“In cases of failed surgeries, the cause often comes from removing too much upper eyelid skin or creating a crease that is too large or too tight. In some other cases, it is due to damage to the levator muscle - the muscle that helps the eye open and close normally,” the doctor analyzed.

According to Dr. Nghia, when the levator muscle is sutured too tightly or damaged during surgery, the patient will have difficulty closing their eyes. This symptom is divided into two groups.

In the normal physiological group, the patient may have difficulty closing the eyes for the first 3 days after surgery due to swelling or the anesthetic still working. This condition will improve after the 4th day, when the eyelid muscles gradually recover. However, if after many weeks the eyes still do not close, it is very likely that the patient has fallen into the group of abnormal complications.

“The unusual cases often occur in cases where too much skin is removed or the technique is incorrect, causing the eyelid lift muscle to be affected. In that case, even after waiting for several months, the condition does not improve on its own. Some people can close their eyes again after 1-2 years due to sagging aging skin, but the eyelid fold is often too high, making the eyes look unnatural,” the doctor added.

This complication not only causes facial imbalance but also directly harms eye health.

When the eye cannot close completely, the cornea is constantly dried out due to poor tear duct function, leading to inflammation, abrasions, and even perforation of the cornea. If not treated promptly, the patient may lose vision or go blind.

Common symptoms include dryness, irritation, constant tearing or blurred vision. To limit damage, doctors advise patients to regularly use artificial tears, wear goggles when outdoors, avoid strong winds, dust and smoke and cover their eyes when sleeping to keep the cornea moist.

Safe eyelid surgery must start with understanding and making the right choice.

According to Dr. Nghia, eyelid surgery is a minor surgery that requires precise technique and in-depth understanding of eye anatomy.

“Blepharoplasty seems simple but is actually a sophisticated minor surgery, directly related to the muscle and nerve structures around the eyes. Only doctors who are well trained in plastic surgery are qualified to evaluate, prescribe and handle complications,” he emphasized.

Doctors recommend putting health and safety first when deciding to have cosmetic surgery on the eye area (Photo provided by the character).

He also recommends not following the trend of large, deep eyelids without careful consultation about facial structure. Each person has different skin elasticity, muscle thickness and eye socket shape, so the surgical method must be individualized to ensure safety.

From a professional perspective, doctors believe that eyelid surgery should only remove enough excess skin so that the eyes can still close naturally. The suture line needs to be aligned with the old lash line, avoiding placing it too high, causing the eyelid to turn over.

After surgery, patients need to return for check-ups on time and notify the doctor immediately if there is prolonged swelling, pain, continuous tearing, or inability to close the eyes.

Doctors also warn patients not to arbitrarily apply medication or cold compresses when complications occur, because incorrect treatment can cause the scar to contract more severely and increase the risk of corneal ulcers.

In the context of cosmetic surgery becoming more popular, every beauty decision must be accompanied by understanding and safe choices. The eyes are delicate organs, any intervention must put health first.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/cat-mi-5-ngay-khong-nham-duoc-mat-bac-si-canh-bao-nguy-co-20251021121237967.htm