Technically called blepharoplasty, eyelid plastic surgery is a procedure to remove fat, usually along with excess skin and muscle, from the upper and/or lower eyelids.
You may wish to consider eyelid surgery to:
• Correct drooping upper lids
• Eliminate puffy bags below your eyes
• Improve features around the eyes which may interfere with vision.
What eyelid plastic surgery won't do is remove crow's feet or other wrinkles, eliminate dark circles under your eyes, or lift sagging eyebrows. Blepharoplasty can be done alone, or in conjunction with other facial surgery procedures such as a face lift or brow lift.
FAQs
| How is this surgery performed? |
 |
Typically, surgeons make incisions following the natural lines of your eyelids during eye plastic surgery. That is, in the creases of your upper lids, and just below the lashes in the lower lids. The incisions may extend into the crow's feet or laugh lines at the outer corners of your eyes. Working through these incisions, surgeons separate the skin from underlying fatty tissue and muscle, remove excess fat, and often trim sagging skin and muscle. The incisions are then closed with very fine sutures.
If you have a pocket of fat beneath your lower eyelids but don't need to have any skin removed, your surgeon may perform a transconjunctival blepharoplasty. In this procedure the incision is made inside your lower eyelid, leaving no visible scar. It is usually performed on younger patients with thicker, more elastic skin.
|
| How long will the surgery take? |
|
Blepharoplasty usually takes one to three hours, depending on the extent of the surgery.
|
| How long will my recovery take? |
|
You should be able to read or watch television after two or three days following cosmetic eyelid plastic surgery. However, you won't be able to wear contact lenses for about two weeks, and even then they may feel uncomfortable for a while.
Most people feel ready to go out in public, and back to work, in a week to ten days. By then, depending on your rate of healing and your doctor's instructions, you'll probably be able to wear makeup to hide the bruising that remains. You may be sensitive to sunlight, wind, and other irritants for several weeks, so you should wear sunglasses and a special sun block made for eyelids when you go out.
Your doctor will probably tell you to keep your activities to a minimum for three to five days, and to avoid more strenuous activities for about three weeks. It's especially important to avoid activities that raise your blood pressure, including bending, lifting, and rigorous sports. It is also wise to avoid alcohol, since it causes fluid retention. |
| What am I to expect after my surgery? |
|
Your eyelids may feel tight and sore as the anesthetic wears off, but any discomfort will be controlled with the pain medication prescribed by your doctor following your cosmetic eyelid plastic surgery.
Your doctor will instruct you to keep your head elevated for several days, and to use cold compresses to reduce swelling and bruising. Bruising varies from person to person but usually reaches its peak during the first week, and generally lasts anywhere from two weeks to a month following eye plastic surgery.
You'll be shown how to clean your eyes, which may be gummy for a week or so. Many doctors recommend eye drops, since your eyelids may feel dry at first and your eyes may burn or itch. For the first few weeks you may also experience excessive tearing, sensitivity to light, and temporary changes in your eyesight, such as blurring or double vision.
Your doctor will follow your progress very closely for the first week or two. The stitches will be removed two days to a week after eyelid plastic surgery. Once they're out, the swelling and discoloration around your eyes will gradually subside, and you'll start to look and feel much better. |
|
|
