Evaluation of Efficacy of Perioperative Oral Dexamethasone in Reducing Swelling and Ecchymosis After Blepharoplasty Surgery

Background and objectives: Blepharoplasty, a common cosmetic procedure, can lead to postoperative issues like swelling and bruising. Steroids are occasionally used to address these concerns and speed up recovery. This study aims to evaluate how effective steroids are in reducing periorbital swelling and bruising in blepharoplasty patients. Methods: From November 2022 to June 2023, a descriptive analysis was conducted on forty participants at Dermodento Center and Safin private hospitals in Kurdistan/Iraq. The participants were divided into two groups. Group 1 (twenty individuals) received Dexamethasone 8 mg tablets thirty minutes before surgery, continuing for three days post-surgery. Group 2 (twenty participants) did not receive steroid treatment. Periorbital swelling and bruising were assessed using a standardized visual inspection scale, enabling objective measurement and comparison between the steroid-treated and non-treated groups. Results: Among the 40 patients, 35 were female and 5 were male, with an average age of 39.19. Median swelling scores decreased from 1.5 (range: 1.0-2.0) on POD 1 to 0 (range: 0.0-1.0) on POD 7. Similarly, median ecchymosis scores decreased from 2.0 (range: 1.0-2.0) on POD 1 to 0 (range: 0.0-1.0) on POD 7. The study demonstrated a significant reduction in swelling and ecchymosis among participants who received steroid treatment compared to the control group, with statistically significant results (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Steroids reduce periorbital swelling and bruising after blepharoplasty, enhancing outcomes and patient satisfaction, and highlighting their procedural benefits.