Blepharoplasty
Introduction
Ralph Emerson famously said “One of the most wonderful things in nature is a glance of the eye; it transcends speech; it is the bodily symbol of identity. Eyes without speaking confess the secrets of the heart. Although 6/6 vision is desirable, the eye is also admired for its colour, shape, expressiveness, lashes and size.
Men and women of diverse backgrounds desire to change the appearance of their eyes to enhance their beauty and to avoid signs of aging that are very evident around the eyes
Procedure
Periorbital aging causes predictable changes in the skin, fat, muscle, and bone. The brows descend, producing a sad or fatigued appearance. There is excessive skin in the upper lid that may cover the lid crease or the eyelashes and may obstruct the upper visual field.
Blepharoplasty involves doing excision of excessive eyelid skin, with or without orbital fat, for either functional or cosmetic indications. It can be done for upper eyelid or both eyelids in the same sitting. The procedure is done under local anaesthesia with intravenous sedation.The procedure lasts for 30 to 45 minutes, after which you can return back home.
Do I need blepharoplasty?
You can undergo blepharoplasty if:
- you have bags under your eyes
- your upper eyelids sag and hang over your eyes
- you have wrinkles or excess skin in the lower eyelids
- you have droopy lower eyelids
- the excess skin in the upper eyelid impairs your vision
Difference between upper and lower blepharoplasty?
In upper blepharoplasty, an incision is made across the lid and excess skin and fat are removed as needed. In the lower eyelid, the incision is made on the inside of the lower eyelid or outside just beneath the eyelashes. Excess skin and fat are removed in both cases, and droopy eyelids are corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Will I have visible scars after surgery?
A1. The incisions are not visible because they are hidden in the natural folds of the eyelids, on the inside of the lower lid, or just under the lower lash line. After they heal, these incisions are undetectable.
Q2. What type of anesthesia is used for the surgery?
A2. A local anesthetic with intravenous sedation administered.
Q3. What is the recovery time for blepharoplasty?
A3. The recovery time ranges from one to four weeks. You may experience some swelling and bruising but very little discomfort. To minimize swelling use cold compresses and keep your head elevated. Sutures are removed within one week, and makeup can be applied after that.
Q4. Will eyelid surgery fix sagging brows?
A4. No. Sagging or hooded eyebrows are fixed through a brow lift, which can be performed by direct excision. The small incisions are well-hidden. This procedure elevates the brow to a more natural position.
Q5. When can I wear my contact lenses after surgery?
A5. Once the swelling resolves after surgery and you can easily manipulate your eyelids you can consider wearing them. You should wait two weeks before wearing contact lenses. In the meantime, you can wear glasses.
Q6. Will I be able to read immediately after surgery?
A6. Your vision may be blurry following the surgery due to cornea swelling and the use of eye lubricants that we provide. Your vision will recover completely in a few days.
Q7. How soon will I see the results after surgery?
A7. You should notice an improvement in the area around the eyes immediately following the surgery. But you will see the final results in about four weeks once the swelling is gone. Many patients return to work after a week.
Q8. Are blepharoplasty results permanent?
A8. The results of eyelid surgery are long lasting. Nevertheless, over time, the skin elasticity and the facial muscles of the eyes will continue to change in response to the environment, sunlight and the aging process. As more time passes, the brow could drop or descend enough to cause excess skin to reappear on the upper eyelid. In this case the solution will be a brow lift
rather than a second eyelid surgery.