Blepharoplasty or Eyelid Surgery | Everything You Need to Know
If you are encountering droopy eyelids that come with age, making you look older, you might wonder if an elective blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery, is right for you.
Research has shown that about 6% of eyelid surgery patients are between the ages of 30 to 39, while 42% are between 40 and 54.
In your late 30s or early 40s, your eyelids start to lose elasticity and begin to stretch, resulting in excess folds of skin hanging down over the edge of the upper eyelids.
What is Blepharoplasty?
It is a cosmetic eye surgery requiring the removal of excess skin, muscle, and fat from eyelids. The usual blepharoplasty before and after scenario consists of revived sagging upper eyelids and under-eye bags, an increase in your field of vision due to the repositioning of fat, tightened muscles, and tendon support.
In upper blepharoplasty surgery, the surgeon creates an incision for the convenient removal of skin and fat. Later, a thin stitch allows for the creation of an eyelid crease.
Lower eyelid surgery involves incision of the skin directly below the lash line or inside of the eyelid. You can choose to combine this with laser resurfacing of the eyelid skin for further reduction of lines and incision.
Why is Blepharoplasty done?
A fat eyelid leads to an aged face, puffiness, loss of confidence, and even hampers the field of vision. People prefer blepharoplasty to get excess skin and fat removed for eyelid reduction, improve their vision, and lift their facial appearance.
The Procedure
After using a numbing agent for your eyelids, your surgeon will cater to the upper eyelids first. They will create a small cut to remove excess skin, muscle, and fat as required.
In the case of lower lid blepharoplasty, your surgeon will incise either the inside of the eyelid or underneath the lower eyelashes to reduce cut marks.
Risks Involved
While the typical risks from surgeries such as bleeding, bruising, and infection apply here, too, there are a few other dangers associated with blepharoplasty. For instance, you may experience blurry vision, damage due to excessive sun exposure, dry eyes, difficulty closing your eyes, or muscle damage.
Recovery
The recovery time for blepharoplasty may vary according to your case. Initially, your vision will be blurry. It occurs due to a thick antibiotic ointment used to protect eyes from drying. You have to continue using it for one week, four times a day, on the inside of the eye and the wounds.
Next, use ice packs 24-48 hours after the surgery while resting to reduce the swelling. After 48 hours, you can apply warm compresses to promote faster healing.
For a speedy eyelid surgery recovery, avoid strenuous activities, exercises, and eye makeup for at least seven days post-surgery. However, you do need to move, so walk at a gentle pace.
Who are the suitable candidates for Blepharoplasty?
If you are interested in blepharoplasty strictly for cosmetic purposes, then it is only fair to keep your expectations realistic. You need to understand that eyelid reduction will not eliminate dark circles or wrinkles.
The ideal candidate for an eye lift is healthy and does not bear possible surgical risk factors such as dry eye problems, thyroid eye disease, and diabetes. Because smokers are at an increased risk of surgical complications due to their slower healing capacity, they should quit smoking several weeks before the surgery.
Ideally, people who are thirty-five or older go for eyelid reduction surgery. But if droopy eyelids run in your family, you may get the surgery performed earlier too.
We hope this article helped you gain more clarity about blepharoplasty, to make an informed decision for yourself.
Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK.
