Challenging the routine: evaluating the need for postoperative management in blepharoplasty: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical and aesthetic efficacy of postoperative topical treatments compared to conservative management following standard upper eyelid blepharoplasty.

METHODS

This prospective, randomized controlled trial included 69 patients undergoing isolated upper eyelid blepharoplasty. Participants were randomized into three groups: (1) antibiotic-steroid ointment (Maxitrol), (2) antibiotic-only ointment (chloramphenicol), and (3) no topical treatment (control). Primary outcomes included patient satisfaction, pain, perceived swelling, and aesthetic results using the Stony Brook Scar Evaluation Scale (SBSES), assessed at one week and four months postoperatively. Adverse events and complications were also recorded.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences among the three groups in patient-reported outcomes at either time point, including pain (p = 0.05), satisfaction (p = 0.3), or eyelid swelling (p = 0.9). Aesthetic evaluation by a blinded independent senior plastic surgeon showed no significant difference in SBSES scores between groups (p = 0.7). No adverse effects or postoperative infections were reported.

CONCLUSION

Routine use of postoperative topical antibiotic or corticosteroid-containing ointments following standard upper eyelid blepharoplasty does not confer additional benefit in terms of patient satisfaction, symptom control, or aesthetic outcomes when compared with conservative care alone. Given the low infection risk, potential side effects, and concerns regarding antimicrobial resistance, a simplified postoperative regimen focusing on lubrication alone may be sufficient for uncomplicated cases. These findings support a more minimalist approach to postoperative management and emphasize the need for larger, multicenter trials to validate these results across broader surgical contexts.