Eyelid Lumps and Bumps Removal

Even minor tiny bumps on the eyelid can be noticeable and impact how patients feel about their appearance. Fortunately, most eyelid lumps and bumps are easy to address and do not pose a health risk. Dr. Christina Choe provides a range of solutions for removing eyelid lumps and bumps to help restore your appearance. She serves patients from across Western North Carolina.

What Are Common Eyelid Lumps and Bumps?

The eye area is highly complex and involves highly delicate structures. Bumps can form for a variety of reasons, but successful treatment requires a careful approach. In most cases, eyelid bumps are noncancerous and should not pose a risk to your eye health. However, professional treatment is often the only way to restore the eye area’s cosmetic appearance.

Two of the most common types we treat include:

Chalazions: One of the most common types is called a stye (or chalazion). It occurs when one of the oil glands in the eyelid becomes plugged and swells.
Cysts: Little balloons of sweat, oil, or blood that can vary in size.
Skin Tags: Skin-colored growths that are painless but may be itchy or irritated.
Eyelid Skin Cancer: Multiple types of skin cancer can affect the eyelid but are usually treatable.

Benefits of Eyelid Lumps and Bumps Removal

Restore your eyelid’s cosmetic appearance
Alleviate associated symptoms
Improved eye and eyelid comfort
Professional procedure for maximum safety

What Is the Removal Process Like?

The method for removing an eyelid abnormality will depend on the type of growth or bump. Whenever possible, Dr. Choe makes incisions in hidden or low-visibility areas.

Cysts: Surgical removal of the entire cyst helps reduce the likelihood of it coming back.

Styes: Unblocking the oil gland (via hot compress, medication, or injection) or surgical removal.

Skin Tags: Quick surgical excision.

Eyelid Skin Cancer: Surgical excision (which can be part of the biopsy process). For certain cases, we may refer patients to a trusted Mohs surgeon.

How Is a Bump Surgically Removed?

We usually can remove eyelid bumps and growths in the office with a quick procedure that takes 10 to 15 minutes. Dr. Choe first numbs the treatment site and then makes an incision to access the underlying tissues. Whenever possible, the incision will be under the eyelid to minimize the visibility of scarring.

What Is Draining a Chalazion (Stye) Like?

Depending on your situation, we may be able to unblock a clogged oil gland using a hot compress alone or we may prescribe medication that may help reduce the redness and swelling. If these simple measures fail and the gland remains swollen, injections or surgery can be used to clear the blockage. This is a quick minor procedure in which the blocked gland is opened and the trapped oil and inflammation is removed.

What Is the Recovery Like?

Even surgical methods for eyelid lump and bump removal entail only a mild recovery. Most patients can return to work the day after their visit. Still, having the procedure over the weekend is popular to let any discomfort fade before going back in to work.

Tips for Recovery:

Take over-the-counter pain relievers or any discomfort.
Use ice packs for bruising or swelling.
Avoid irritating surgical sites.
Use a warm compress to help complete stye drainage.

What Will the Results Look Like?

Dr. Choe approaches each procedure with the goal of minimizing its impact on your appearance. She uses hidden incisions whenever possible. However, even visible incisions typically will be less noticeable than the growth was. She has honed her surgical approach over the years, giving patients results that maintain focus on health and preserving a natural appearance.

Will Insurance Cover Eyelid Growth Removal?

Insurance providers may cover medically necessary procedures. For example, a growth that is cancerous (or concerning for cancer) may be covered by insurance. Other potential qualifications include a growth that impacts vision, causes irritation or tearing, or poses a risk to the eye’s health.

Schedule Your Consultation

If you want eyelid lumps and bumps removed by a skilled hand, start with a consultation with Dr. Choe. As a board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained oculoplastic surgeon, she has extensive knowledge of the eye and the delicate structures around it. With a focus on patient well-being and aesthetically pleasing results, her procedures have led to countless satisfied patients.