Blepharoplasty: The Art of Youthful Eyes

What is Blepharoplasty?

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that eliminates excess skin, muscle and fat from the eyelids. As you age, your eyelids become looser as the muscles supporting them weaken. Consequently, the excess skin and fat may accumulate above and below your eyelids, which may lead to sagging brows, drooping upper lids, and puffy eyes.

In addition to aging, significant drooping skin around the eyes can diminish side vision (peripheral vision), particularly in the upper and outer areas of the visual field.

Blepharoplasty can alleviate or eliminate these visual issues. The procedure can also enhance the youthful appearance and alertness of the eyes.

Why It's Done?

Blepharoplasty could be an option if your eyelids are droopy or sagging, preventing your eyes from opening. Eliminating the excess tissue from your upper eyelids can enhance your eyesight.

Blepharoplasty on the upper and lower eyelids can give your eyes a more youthful and attentive look.

Blepharoplasty is an option if you have:

Baggy or droopy upper eyelids
Excess skin of the upper eyelids that interferes with your peripheral vision
Excess skin on the lower eyelids
Bags under your eyes

You may undergo blepharoplasty at West Bay Medicare at the same time as another procedure, such as a brow lift, face-lift or skin resurfacing.

Risks

All surgery has risks, including reaction to anaesthesia and blood clots. Besides those, rare risks of eyelid surgery include:

Infection and bleeding.
Dry, irritated eyes.
Difficulty closing the eyes or other eyelid problems.
Noticeable scarring.
Injury to eye muscles.
Skin discoloration.
Temporarily blurred vision or, rarely, loss of eyesight.
The need for follow-up surgery.

How you prepare

Before scheduling blepharoplasty, you will have a consultation with our expert Plastic Surgeon, who will conduct a full assessment and will discuss the below:

Your medical history. The plastic surgeon will ask about your previous surgeries and your past or current conditions such as dry eyes, glaucoma, allergies, circulatory problems, thyroid problems and diabetes. The plastic surgeon will also ask about your medication history including vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs.
Your goals. A discussion regarding your expectations from the surgery will help create a foundation for a successful result. The plastic surgeon will discuss with you the likelihood of the procedure being effective for you.

The plastic surgeon will likely ask you to do the following:

Stop taking warfarin (Jantoven), aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve, others), naproxen (Naprosyn), and other drugs or herbal supplements that can increase bleeding.
Quit smoking several weeks before surgery. Smoking can reduce the ability to heal after surgery.
Arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery if you are having outpatient surgery. Plan to have someone stay with you for the first night after returning home from surgery.

What You Can Expect Before the Procedure

Blepharoplasty at West Bay Medicare is usually done as a day case procedure, generally lasting between 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on whether it addresses the upper lids, lower lids, or both, under our expert Plastic and Reconstructive surgeons.

During the procedure

For the upper eyelids, the surgeon makes an incision along the natural crease of the eyelid. The surgeon excises some excess skin, muscle, and potentially fat. The surgeon then sutures the incision.

The surgeon makes an incision just beneath the lashes on the lower lid, in the natural fold of your eye or inside the lower lid. The surgeon extracts or reallocates extra fat, muscle, and loose skin. The surgeon stitches up the incision.

If your upper eyelid sagging approaches your pupil, your surgeon might perform blepharoplasty along with a procedure known as ptosis (TOE-sis). Ptosis is intended to elevate the eyelid and eliminate excess eyelid skin.

After The Procedure

After the procedure, you will stay in a recovery section, where you will be monitored carefully for any complications for approximately 2-3 hours. You will be discharged later that day to recuperate at home.

After surgery, you may temporarily experience:

Blurred vision from the lubricating ointment applied to your eyes
Watery eyes
Light sensitivity, double vision
Puffy, numb eyelids
Swelling and bruising
Pain or discomfort

The plastic surgeon will likely suggest you take the following steps after surgery:

Gently clean your eyelids and use prescribed eye drops or ointments.
Avoid straining, heavy lifting and swimming for a week.
Avoid strenuous activities, such as aerobics and jogging, for a week.
Avoid smoking.
Avoid rubbing your eyes.
If you use contact lenses, don't put them in for about two weeks after surgery.
Wear darkly tinted sunglasses to protect the skin of your eyelids from sun and wind.
Sleep with your head raised higher than your chest for a few days.
Apply cool compresses to reduce swelling.
After a few days, return to the doctor's office to have stitches removed, if needed.
For about a week, avoid aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve, others), naproxen (Naprosyn), and other medications or herbal supplements that may increase bleeding. If needed, use acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) to control pain.

Outcome/Result

Numerous patients report feeling pleased with the outcome of blepharoplasty, including a more refreshed and youthful look along with increased self-confidence.

For certain individuals, the outcome of surgery can endure for a lifetime. For some, sagging eyelids might return. Bruising and swelling typically reduce within 10 to 14 days, which could be when you feel ready to be in public again.

Marks from the surgical incisions can require months to diminish. Be sure to shield your sensitive eyelid skin from excessive sun exposure.