Does Unilateral Compression Dressing Reduce Postoperative Swelling and Bruising After Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty?

Overview

This study evaluated whether applying a compression dressing to one eyelid after upper eyelid blepharoplasty (eyelid lift surgery) reduces swelling, bruising, and discomfort compared to the untreated eyelid. In this randomized trial, each participant underwent bilateral upper eyelid blepharoplasty; after surgery, one eyelid was randomly assigned to receive a compression dressing for 24 hours, while the other eyelid received no dressing and served as the internal control. Outcomes including eyelid swelling, bruising, pain, aesthetic appearance, and corneal health were assessed by masked observers on postoperative days 1, 7, 30, and 90. The goal of this study was to determine whether routine use of compression dressing provides a measurable clinical benefit after this common cosmetic and functional eyelid surgery.

This was a prospective, randomized, controlled, observer-masked, within-subject (split-eye) trial conducted at a single academic center between June and November 2025. Adult patients with bilateral dermatochalasis scheduled for upper eyelid blepharoplasty were enrolled. Following bilateral surgery performed by a single surgeon, one eyelid of each patient was randomly assigned by coin toss to receive a compression dressing (folded sterile gauze secured with elastic tape, left in place for 24 hours), while the contralateral eyelid received no dressing and served as the internal control. All patients received standardized postoperative care, including bilateral cold compresses and topical medications. Two masked investigators independently assessed postoperative edema (5-point ordinal scale), ecchymosis (ImageJ-based area quantification), and aesthetic outcome (Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale) from standardized clinical photographs obtained on postoperative days 1, 7, 30, and 90; disagreements were resolved by a third masked investigator. Postoperative pain (visual analog scale) and patient comfort preference were recorded on day 1. Best corrected visual acuity and corneal fluorescein staining (Oxford grading scale) were assessed at each follow-up visit to evaluate ocular surface safety. Between-group comparisons were performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, with Holm-Bonferroni correction applied across outcomes at each visit to account for multiple comparisons.