Blepharoplasty

Upper Eyelid Surgery

Upper eyelid surgery is one of the most rejuvenating facial surgeries performed today. The procedure removes excess skin and fat to give the patient a well rested, refreshed appearance. As you age, your eyelid skin can stretch and fat can accumulate above and below the eyes, causing noticeable bags. By removing fat, excess skin and muscle through incisions in the natural eyelid crease, eyelid surgery can resolve these problems. The upper eyelids will no longer droop and the skin below the eyes will look smooth and firm.

Lower Eyelid Surgery

If you have problems with lower eyelid fat that protrudes significantly, creating a tired or sad appearance, lower eyelid blepharoplasty might be the best solution. Whether to proceed with surgery depends on a careful evaluation of your eyelid anatomy and skin laxity. Excess fat in the lower eyelid area can be removed in conservative amounts, shrunk with a cautery device, or transferred below the bulge to fill in a tear trough deformity.

Eyelid Surgery Techniques

Transconjunctival blepharoplasty is a technique in which no external incisions are made on the skin. Instead, access to the fat pockets and other structures is obtained through the inside lining of the eyelid, usually in the lower lid. This has its pros and cons, one of the cons being a higher risk of damage to the muscles that move your eyeball.

Blepharoplasty of the lower eyelid is more complex. Because of the potential for long-term hollowing of the lower lid, the old fashioned method of fat removal is no longer performed. Instead, lower eyelid surgery may involve any of the following techniques:

• Fat repositioning
• Conservative fat removal
• Arcus marginalis release
• Septal tightening
• Canthopexy

What To Expect After Eyelid Surgery

In most cases, patients look great 2 weeks after eyelid surgery and may resume exercise at that time. Recovery time varies, depending on whether both upper and lower eyelids have been operated on and how. Contact lenses can usually be worn after two weeks of recovery. Patients should expect some tearing and sensitivity to light during recovery.

FAQ

What is blepharoplasty?

Correct drooping upper eyelids and puffy bags below the eyes by removing excess fat, skin, and muscle.

How much time is required for eyelid surgery?

Surgery time is 1-3 hours. An experienced plastic surgeon will need approximately 45-60 minutes to perform upper eyelid blepharoplasty, with exceptions in certain cases.

Is eyelid surgery covered by insurance?

Upper-eyelid surgery may be covered by insurance if used to correct visual field defects

What type of anesthesia is used during eyelid surgery?

Local anesthesia with sedation or in some cases, general anesthesia.

What are the risks of eyelid surgery?

Temporary blurred or double vision. Infection, bleeding. Swelling at the corners of the eyelids. Dry eyes. Formation of whiteheads. Slight asymmetry in healing or scarring. Difficulty in closing eyes completely (rarely permanent). Pulling down of the lower lids (may require further surgery). Blindness (extremely rare).

What can I expect during recovery from eyelid surgery?

Reading: 2 or 3 days. Back to work: 7 to 10 days. Contact lenses: two weeks or more. Strenuous activities, alcohol: about 3 weeks. Bruising and swelling gone: several weeks.

How long do blepharoplasty results last?

Several years. Sometimes permanent.

Are there eyelid surgery alternatives worth considering?

For many people, surgery can be postponed or avoided by using fillers like Restylane to fill in the hollow tear trough area that often creates the appearance of eye bags.