Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery)
The Best Candidates For Eyelid Surgery
Ethnicity, heredity, and overall skin quality help to determine when these changes start to occur and how noticeable they are. Excess skin can sag or fold in an unflattering manner, and fat that is normally deep in the face may start to bulge out and become more visible.
In the upper eyelid, these changes can make you look tired and may even affect or obscure your vision. In the lower eyelid, these changes make the lid look “puffy” and create the appearance of “bags under the eyes.”
Before going ahead with blepharoplasty, it’s important to determine whether or not a patient is a good candidate for the surgery. Patients must first attend an initial consultation where the consultant will take a medical history and perform an examination.
As well as discussing aesthetic characteristics such as brow position, eyelid tone, and skin laxity, patients must also be screened for a range of chronic conditions including high blood pressure, dry eye, glaucoma, and abnormal thyroid which increase procedural risk.
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Types of Eyelid Surgery
Patients choose to undergo eyelid surgery both for cosmetic and functional enhancements. The procedure can be carried out on either one or both eyelids. By treating sagging skin, drooping lids, wrinkles, and fatty deposits, blepharoplasty can effectively improve both the appearance and function of the eyelid.
Eyelid surgery is divided into three main types. These are upper eyelid surgery, lower eyelid surgery, and double eyelid surgery. Patients should discuss the type of procedure they wish to pursue during the pre-surgery consultation with their doctor.
Upper Eyelid Surgery
This surgery targets issues with the upper eyelid. If you have sagging skin around the eyes, puffiness, or excess fat on your upper eyelids then you may be a candidate for upper eyelid surgery. In many cases, upper eyelid surgery is used to improve vision loss or sagging associated with aging. For example, a patient may require the removal of excess, loose, or sagging skin that has been impairing their vision or causing discomfort. The procedure can also restore a more youthful look.
Lower Eyelid Surgery
Lower eyelid surgery targets issues of the lower eyelid, mainly under-eye bags and wrinkles. A lower blepharoplasty will reduce the appearance of under-eye wrinkles and bags for a more youthful look. Some patients also opt for dermal fillers. Dermal fillers can be applied alongside lower eyelid surgery to prevent any further volume loss and dark undereye circles.
Double Eyelid Surgery
Individuals without a visual fold along the upper eyelid may choose to undergo double eyelid surgery. A double eyelid blepharoplasty will create a crease in the upper eyelid. This is a purely cosmetic procedure that has the effect of creating a wide-eyed look.
Eyelid Surgery Procedure & Recovery
Eyelid surgery can be performed under local or general anesthesia. During the procedure, incision sites are located in natural creases of the eyelid, excess skin, fat, and tissue are removed, and sagging skin tightened. Each procedure is unique. Patients will discuss the specific details of their surgery with their consultant before entering the operating room. Incisions are always designed to hide in the eye’s natural creases for optimum healing and minimal scarring.
- For the upper eyelids, the incision is designed to hide in the natural crease of the upper lid.
- For lower eyelids, the external incision (on the outside of the skin) is well-camouflaged below the lower lash line. Lower lid bags and puffiness can sometimes be corrected internally without making a skin incision at all, depending on what exactly needs to be done.
Healing Time and Precautions
Patients go home once they have recovered from the anesthesia. It is normal to have some swelling and bruising around the eyes for a few days after surgery, but most patients do not have significant pain after the surgery. Patients are generally able to get back to work and social activities about a week after this procedure. A complete set of post-operative instructions, including what to expect after your surgery, may be found here:
