Upper and Lower Blepharoplasty
Treatment of Drooping Eyelids (Blepharoplasty)
With aging, the upper eyelids may become droopy or heavy, giving patients a tired look that decreases the overall attractiveness of a person’s eyes.
Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure to improve the appearance of the eyelids. Surgery can be performed on the upper lids, lower lids, or both, and improve your appearance or fix functional problems with your eyelids.
What this surgery can treat:
- Loose or sagging skin that creates folds or disturbs the natural contour of the upper eyelid, sometimes impairing vision
- Fatty deposits that appear as puffiness in the eyelids
- Bags under the eyes
- Drooping lower eyelids that reveal white below the iris
- Excess skin and fine wrinkles of the lower eyelid
Good candidates include:
A good candidate is a patient who is concerned with the overall aging process in the upper eyelid and lower eyelid region. As we age, there is loss of the bony anatomy surrounding the eye region, as well as changes in the skin, including thinning of the skin and loss of collagen and elasticity in the skin. These all contribute to the overall aging changes in the eyelid region.
If desired, this surgery can be combined with other cosmetic procedures, such as the endoscopic brow lift, laser skin resurfacing, and facelift surgery. The goal of this procedure is to achieve a natural aesthetic rejuvenation of the region and a natural, more youthful appearance.
- Healthy individuals with no medical conditions that can impair healing
- Nonsmokers
- Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic goals
- Individuals without serious eye condition
What Are the Common Reasons Why a Patient Would Want a Blepharoplasty?
A patient seeks out this procedure when they notice a tired or heavy appearance of their eyelids and are seeking a refreshed, rejuvenated appearance. Patients may not only have cosmetic concerns but may also notice functional issues – the heaviness of the upper eyelids can also obscure their peripheral vision.
How Long Does a Blepharoplasty Usually Take to Perform?
An upper eyelid blepharoplasty typically takes about thirty minutes to perform. A bilateral cosmetic lower-lid blepharoplasty typically takes thirty to forty-five minutes to perform.
How Do You Perform a Blepharoplasty?
This procedure can be performed at an outpatient surgical center or in the office setting and can be performed either with IV twilight anesthesia or with a local anesthetic. Both are performed as outpatient procedures.
The appearance of a drooping upper lid may also be due to relaxation of the forehead skin and eyebrow. Sometimes stretching out of the upper eyelid muscle may cause a drooping eyelid. This is called eyelid ptosis and requires a different surgical treatment. Your plastic surgeon will evaluate your facial anatomy thoroughly and will discuss what procedures might improve your areas of need.
How Long Does It Take for a Patient to Recover?
This procedure is performed as an outpatient procedure. Ice packs are immediately applied to the upper and/or lower eyelids to decrease the amount of bruising and swelling post-operatively. It is also recommended that the patient stops all blood thinners seven to ten days before surgery, including non-steroidals and aspirin-containing products. Most of the healing occurs in the first seven to ten days following surgery.
It is very important that the patients apply ice packs to both the upper and lower eyelids for the first forty-eight hours. It is also recommended that patients avoid any bending, lifting, or straining during the first week following surgery to decrease the amount of bruising and swelling. Patients who follow the above treatment protocol heal very quickly. They are very pleased with their aesthetic rejuvenation and the natural appearance of their upper and lower eyelids.
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