BLEPHAROPLASTY – EYELID SURGERY

Blepharoplasty is a plastic surgery that eliminates excess skin, muscle or fat tissue from the upper and lower eyelids. It lifts the drooping upper lids and removes puffy bags under the eyes to achieve refreshed rejuvenated and energetic look. This cosmetic surgery can also improve vision if drooping eyelids interfere with it. 

The eyes have the most delicate skin so they start showing the signs of aging earlier than other body areas. Eyelids that are aging can make the person appear older, tired, sad or upset. Blepharoplasty makes the eyes look youthful again which can significantly help patients feel more confident about their appearance. 

Procedure info at a glance

Will I be awake or asleep during the surgery? Can be local anesthesia with sedation, or general anesthesia
Do I stay in hospital after surgery? Usually no
What is the recovery time? When can I return to work/exercise? Recovery takes 1 to 2 weeks; back to work/gym after one week
How long will the surgery last? Upper lids around 1 hour, lower lids 1-2 hours
How long until the final results of surgery are visible? 6 months after the surgery

WHY IS BLEPHAROPLASTY PERFORMED?

There are different reasons why people choose to have this surgery – both cosmetic and functional. 

As the eyelid’s skin ages, it becomes stretched because the muscles that support it become weaker. It also loses elasticity. Excess skin and fat tissue gather below and above the eyelids and cause unattractive saggy eyebrows, droopy upper lids and puffy bags under the eyes. It can also cause wrinkles in the skin under the eyes. 

This cosmetic surgery involves removing the excess skin from the eyelids and making the eyes look more open. The shape of the eyes is not changed because the surgery doesn’t reposition the eyelid margin but only removes the hood of skin that blocks the iris or pupil of the eyes. 

Besides being unattractive, saggy skin around the eyes can interfere with side/peripheral vision. With functional blepharoplasty, the vision can improve once the eyelid ptosis is resolved. 

Generally, after the surgery, the eyes appear more youthful and alert. 

WHO IS AN IDEAL CANDIDATE FOR EYELID SURGERY?

Good candidates for this surgery are patients who are in good overall health and have realistic expectations from this procedure. The usual patients are over 35, but they can be younger if they are genetically predisposed to develop droopy eyelids. 

This surgery is ideal for patients who don’t want to appear tired anymore but wish to look refreshed instead. 

It can improve the appearance of the patients but it is important to have a consultation with the plastic surgeon in order to get a customized treatment plan that will bring the best possible results from this procedure. 

Patients who suffer from dry eyes, blood diseases or thyroid illness cannot have this surgery. 

WHAT TYPES OF EYELID SURGERIES ARE THERE?

Blepharoplasty can be performed with different techniques depending on the patient’s anatomy and changes that need to be made in order to achieve the best outcomes. Therefore the patient can get Blepharoplasty on the upper, lower or both eyelids. It all depends on the patient’s needs and concerns. 

Upper Eyelid surgery

makes tired-looking eyes more alert and rejuvenated. It can contour upper eyelids by removing saggy excess skin from them. The eyes restore a naturally youthful shape. 

Lower Eyelid surgery

makes puffy eyes more youthful by smoothing out the skin under the eyes. By removing the saggy bags that accumulate fat and make the patient look tired, the surgery makes the eyes appear more energetic. 

Both upper and lower eyelid surgery

can create smooth, natural-looking contours of the eyes. Once the saggy skin is lifted and bags under the eyes are eliminated, the patient can dramatically improve his/her facial appearance. 

One important benefit of eyelid surgery is that it can be done as a stand-alone procedure or together with facelift or brow lift surgeries. 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BLEPHAROPLASTY?

The patients who had eyelid surgery feel more confident because they look younger and rested. The results of this surgery can be life-changing – even the small improvements in the eye area can be extremely beneficial. 

Eyelid surgery can improve vision especially if the upper-lid drooping is severe. When the excess skin has been removed, the field of vision gets expended. 

Another functional benefit of eyelid surgery is that it can make the forehead area smoother. If the patient has heavy eyelids that interfere with vision, the patient has to raise their eyebrows to see better. But when the extra skin from the eyelids is removed, the patient doesn’t have to raise the eyebrows anymore and the forehead wrinkles don’t look so prominent. 

Regarding cosmetic enhancement, after the eyelid surgery, the patient’s eyes become brighter and more sparkling. They also get a youthful-looking shape, once the excess skin and fat deposits are eliminated from the upper and lower eyelids and the skin around the eyes is firmer and better supported. 

Whatever reasons the patients have for considering Blepharoplasty, they can have a consultation with Lucia’s plastic surgeon who will advise them on the best solution for their eyelid concerns. 

 

FREQUENT QUESTIONS

  • WHAT DOES BLEPHAROPLASTY SURGERY INVOLVE?

    Before the patient can schedule the eyelid surgery, he/she needs to meet with the plastic surgeon. During the consultation, the patient talks about his/her previous medical history - allergies, dry eyes, problems with the circulation and immune system diseases. The surgeon also asks the patient about his/her goals and expectations from the surgery. All this information can help the surgeon to create a customized treatment plan that will work specifically for the patient’s eyelid concerns.

    The surgeon also examines the patient’s eyes and determines how much excess skin the patient has on his/her eyelids.

  • HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE EYELID SURGERY?

    The surgeon will recommend the patient to stop using aspirin, ibuprofen, warfarin, naproxen and other blood-thinning medications, a couple of weeks before the surgery. These medications can increase bleeding during and after the surgery, so it’s better to prevent this side effect.

    If the patient smokes, it is recommended to stop it, because smoking can interfere with the healing process after the surgery.

    The patient should also arrange for someone to drive him/her home after the surgery and stay with him/her for the first 24 hours.

  • WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE BLEPHAROPLASTY SURGERY?

    When the patient arrives at the scheduled eye lift surgery, he/she is prepped for the surgery and given either local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. It all depends on the surgeon’s and anesthesiologist’s decision.

    If the patient is having eyelid surgery on all 4 eyelids, the surgeon generally starts with the upper eyelids. He makes the incision along the lines of the eyelids and separates the skin from the tissue to eliminate excess fat, muscle or skin. After that, the surgeon closes the incisions with stitches.

    Next, he moves to the lower eyelids. He makes the incision inside the lower eyelid to eliminate the excess fat from the under-eye bags and the excess skin and to support the tendon and muscles of the eyelid. With this technique, the incision will be invisible, once the patient heals. The surgeon can use another method for lower eyelids like making the incision just under the eyelashes. It all depends on the treatment plan. Finally, he closes the incisions and puts thin suture strips to support the eyelids. These strips are generally removed after a week post-surgery.

    If the patient’s upper eyelid drops too close to the pupil (condition called ptosis), the surgeon may also perform a procedure that tightens and lift the muscle for better functionality of upper eyelid.

    Blepharoplasty for upper eyelids lasts approximately one hour, while for the lower eyelids it may last 2 hours.

    Generally, the patient can leave the hospital and go home soon after the surgery, unless advised otherwise.

  • WHAT SIDE EFFECTS MAY BE EXPECTED AFTER EYELID SURGERY?

    Every surgery carries a certain risk of developing side effects, so Blepharoplasty is no exception.

    The patient may expect his/her eyes to be irritated, watery and sensitive to light for a couple of weeks. Also, the eyelids will be puffy and numb. The patient may also develop swelling and bruises that look like black eyes and feel mild pain or discomfort. Finally, there will be minor scarring on the eyelids that should eventually fade away.

    Some more severe complications include dry eyes, infection, difficulty when closing eyes, discolororation of eyelid skin, temporary blurry vision and others.
    In case of any unusual side effects, the patient should inform the surgeon immediately.

  • WHAT DOES THE RECOVERY PERIOD INCLUDE?

    After the eyelid surgery, the patient will have stitches on both eyelids for a week. After approximately two weeks, the patient’s eyelids should heal completely.

    The recovery period isn’t long - it usually lasts 1 to 2 weeks. The patient should rest and take time off work to achieve the best results from the surgery.

    The surgeon will give instructions on how to recover quickly after the surgery. Some of the recommendations include:

    Putting ice packs on the eyes for 10 minutes every hour one day after the surgery. On the second day, ice packs should be applied only 4 or 5 times a day.
    Using ointments or eye drops prescribed by the surgeon.
    Sleeping with the head slightly elevated, for a couple of days.
    Applying cold compresses to decrease bruising and swelling.
    Wearing sunglasses to protect the eyes from sun exposure.
    Taking prescribed pain medications if necessary.

    The patients should avoid:

    Doing strenuous activities like lifting heavy objects, jogging, swimming and other sports for a week.
    Smoking because smoke can irritate the eyes and also slow down healing.
    Touching or rubbing the eyes.
    Wearing contact lenses for a minimum of 14 days.
    Taking blood-thinning medicines.

    It is very important to follow all the surgeon’s recommendations to heal faster and to achieve the best results from the surgery.

  • WHAT RESULTS CAN BE EXPECTED FROM BLEPHAROPLASTY?

    The results of eyelid surgery are long-lasting. The effects of the surgery can be seen for up to 10 years. It’s very important to protect the eyes from sun exposure so that the eyelid skin doesn’t age quickly. Also, a healthy lifestyle and good skin care can prolong the results even further.