Who is a candidate for eyelid surgery?
Women and men who are in good health and are concerned about a tired or sad look around their eyes are good candidates for blepharoplasty surgery. Most commonly, patients complain of sagging or wrinkling around the eyes with a loss of the natural eyelid crease. Occasionally, this excess skin may interfere with vision. A puffy or tired appearance of the lower eyelids may develop with age or may be hereditary, appearing at a younger age. This fat excess may or may not be associated with excess skin and wrinkles.
What results can I expect from eyelid surgery?
Following eyelid surgery, patients will look more rested. It is often easier to apply eye makeup, as the excess skin will have been removed. The overall shape of the eye will generally remain the same, so results are natural. When sagging of the eyebrow is prominent, a brow lift may be suggested at the same time as the blepharoplasty.
What is involved in eyelid surgery?
Blepharoplasty is usually performed as an outpatient procedure. It can be done using local anaesthesia along with intravenous sedation, so you will feel relaxed and comfortable or may be performed using general anaesthesia. Excess skin and fat is removed from the upper eyelids. Following the procedure, the resulting scar will be well hidden within the natural fold of the lid itself. When treating the lower eyelid, an incision is made either below, or just behind your eyelashes. This decision is based on whether there is excess skin in need of removal. Through the incision, the fat that causes a puffy or tired look to the eyelid is either removed or repositioned to produce a more pleasing contour and a more rested look. Following your surgery, you will be asked to rest for one to two days and apply ice packs regularly to help minimize any bruising and swelling. Makeup can be worn after one week and most people are back to normal activities within 10-14 days. It may take several months for the swelling to completely subside, but the positive results of your eyelid surgery will last for years.
