Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Blepharoplasty: Review of the Current Literature

The purpose of this study was to provide an evidence-based overview of antibiotic prophylaxis in blepharoplasty. We performed a literature search that evaluated the risk of infection associated with blepharoplasty, as well as the risks and benefits of antibiotic prophylaxis. The overall infection rate associated with eyelid surgery is extremely low. However, the use of antibiotic prophylaxis has increased over the past 25 years in esthetic facial procedures. There is no standard of care for or against antibiotic prophylaxis, and routine practices vary widely. This leads to the question of whether reducing the risk of surgical-site infection to near zero outweighs the real danger of antibiotic-related complications, including the escalating emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. No direct consensus can be drawn from the current literature; thus, at this time, there is no current standard of care for oral and maxillofacial surgeons to adhere to in terms of when and if antibiotic prophylaxis is needed when performing blepharoplasty.