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What is a Blepharoplasty?
A blepharoplasty (or eyelid surgery) is a procedure to correct drooping or sagging eyelids or lift the upper eyelid. The procedure may also correct decreased vision in the eye due to abnormal growths (tumors) or injury.
Types of Blepharoplasty
There are two types of blepharoplasty:
- Lenticular-based Blepharoplasty: This involves creating a pocket between the lid and the base of the eyelid, which allows for more volume in the upper lid area. The surgeon will also remove excess skin around your eyes and may even go as far as removing excess skin around your nose.
- Extraocular-based Blepharoplasty: This involves creating a pocket between the lids and adding more skin to give you an overall more extensive look to your eyes. The surgeon might also perform other procedures on your eyelids or nose, such as brow lift, Rhinoplasty, or chin augmentation surgery.
How It Works
Blepharoplasty is performed through small incisions (less than one-half inch) made in the skin of your upper eyelid. The incision goes through the upper lid so that only a tiny part of your upper eyelid is removed. The incision is then filled with tiny stitches for about two days to help prevent it from healing over in that area. This helps prevent large scars inside the eyelid from forming during recovery. This leaves you with a natural-looking, smooth, and lifted appearance.
The surgery is performed under local anesthesia, which means you will feel nothing during the procedure. You may feel a little pressure in your eyes, but that should go away within a few minutes. Afterward, you can expect some swelling and bruising around the eye. This usually goes away within a week or so. You should avoid rubbing your eyes for several hours after the surgery.
What to expect after a Blepharoplasty surgery?
In the weeks following your surgery, you may notice that your eyelids are swollen and tender. You may also experience bruising and swelling under the eyes.
You can look in the mirror the next day and see a difference. Surgery reshapes the upper eyelids to narrow their appearance and raise them higher on your face. This procedure does not affect the lower lids (the part that covers your cheekbones).
You can expect to see significant improvement in your appearance within three months of surgery. Your surgeon will recommend follow-up visits every two to three months for the first year after surgery. During these visits, they will check for any signs of infection or complications that may occur after surgery.
How Long Is the Recovery from Blepharoplasty?
The recovery time for blepharoplasty is usually 4-6 weeks. You can resume all your normal activities after the surgery, including work, leisure, and social activities. The stitches may be removed within two weeks of the surgery if they haven’t healed correctly or if they are bothering you.
Follow-up visits may be scheduled to check on your healing process, prevent infection or remove any swelling or redness from the eyelids. You may have discomfort for a few days following surgery, but it should not interfere with your daily activities.
Who is a Good Candidate for Blepharoplasty?
The ideal candidate for blepharoplasty is a person who has been unhappy with the shape and appearance of their eyes. If you have not pursued any other eye treatments, such as Botox injections or fillers, you may be an excellent candidate for blepharoplasty.
Blepharoplasty candidates should have no long-standing medical conditions, such as diabetes or thyroid disorders, that would impair vision or cause disfigurement after surgery. They also must be able to undergo anesthesia and surgery without complications safely.
If you are interested in undergoing blepharoplasty, you should speak with an experienced surgeon about your options and risks before making an appointment for consultation and evaluation.
Advantages of Blepharoplasty
The benefits of eyelid surgery include:
- It improves the shape of your eyes. If you have ptosis (drooping eyelids), surgery can lift your upper lids and improve the shape of your eyes.
- Improved vision. By lifting the upper lid, it may be possible to correct astigmatism and improve vision in that area.
- It Increases eye comfort and dryness. Lifting the upper lid can reduce puffiness around the eyes, often caused by excess fluid under the eye. It also can help prevent dryness by reducing or eliminating any extra surface area on top of your eyelid that may be contributing to irritation or irritation from other causes.
- A more youthful appearance. A prominent crease with a long, narrow base is associated with aging and can cause bags under the eyes and lines around the eyes. Surgery can remove this wrinkled appearance, giving you a more youthful appearance without creating a permanent change in facial structure that might make other changes difficult later down the road if desired.
How to Choose the Right Blepharoplasty Surgeon?
When choosing a surgeon for your eyelid surgery, there are numerous factors to consider.
You first need to find out if the surgeon offers a local or an out-of-state procedure. If you do not live in the same state as the doctor, it will be much more difficult for you to meet with them and discuss your options.
Next, determine whether or not the doctor has experience performing out-of-the-ordinary procedures such as blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery). Most surgeons only perform standard procedures such as eye lifts, brow lifts, and facelifts. This may be important to consider if your surgeon has expertise in other types of cosmetic surgery.
Lastly, ask questions about how long they have been practicing medicine and what training they have received from other doctors who have performed similar procedures. This information will help you determine if their knowledge base is sufficient for performing complex procedures such as blepharoplasty.
Risks of Blepharoplasty
The risks of blepharoplasty are minimal. A small amount of bleeding may occur, and bruising or swelling may last a few days.
The most common complications are:
- A small percentage of patients develop mild swelling in their eyelids (periorbital). This may last for several months.
- One or two patients experience temporary double vision after surgery. Depending on the size and location of your incisions, this can happen anywhere from a few days to weeks after surgery.
- You may experience some mild discomfort during the healing process. This should subside within three to six weeks after surgery.
If you want to rejuvenate your appearance, you should consider undergoing a blepharoplasty. The procedure is harmless and gives you a facelift that will leave you younger.