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Post-blepharoplasty eyelid cooling offers limited benefits, can be left to patients’ preference

In a study to investigate eyelid cooling efficacy for the reduction of pain, edema, erythema and hematoma after blepharoplasty, the majority of patients reported they had no preference for cooling over non-cooling.

Among 38 patients who underwent bilateral upper blepharoplasty, researchers cooled one eyelid per patient with an ice pack and left the other eyelid uncooled. The patients indicated pain levels on a VAS at 1 hour and 1 day after surgery, and their degree of edema, erythema and hematoma were self-scored using a four-point rating scale at 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week and 2 months postoperatively.

The researchers found patient-reported pain did not differ between cooled and uncooled eyelids on the day of surgery. Although pain in cooled eyelids was significantly lower by 1 day after surgery, patients’ absolute pain scores were low, according to the researchers.

At 1 day after surgery, scores for edema, erythema and hematoma in cooled and uncooled eyelids were similar. After 1 week, scores for bruising in cooled and uncooled eyelids, which the researchers based of off light photography, were also comparable.

Eleven patients reported a preference to cool the eyelids after upper blepharoplasty and 15 patients preferred not to cool the eyelids. Twelve patients had no cooling preference.

The researchers concluded that although pain was slightly reduced in cooled eyelids 1 day after upper blepharoplasty, the clinical impact of the procedure is questionable. – by Abigail Sutton

Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.