Blepharoplasty – Aesthetic Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid surgery
Every year, hundreds of thousands of women and men choose blepharoplasty to enhance their appearance. Drooping eyelids can make a person look older and may also impair vision. Blepharoplasty permanently corrects these issues and removes puffy, baggy formations under the eyes that give a tired and worn-out appearance. This procedure cannot eliminate dark circles, fine lines, or wrinkles around the eyes, nor can it lift sagging eyebrows.
If you're wondering how blepharoplasty can change your appearance, it’s important to understand how eyelid surgery is performed and what to expect from this type of procedure. The aim of this text is to spark your interest in common questions and provide the information you need to seriously consider blepharoplasty.
A successful aesthetic surgery is the result of close collaboration between the patient and the surgeon. Trust, based on realistic expectations and refined medical expertise, develops during the consultations leading up to the procedure. Your surgeon can provide answers to specific questions tailored to your individual needs.
Do you need blepharoplasty?
As with all facial plastic surgeries, good health and realistic expectations are key prerequisites for a successful outcome. Blepharoplasty removes excess fatty and muscle tissue, as well as skin, from both the upper and lower eyelids. The result is a refreshed, more youthful, and longer-lasting appearance of the eye area.
Individuals with circulatory, ophthalmological, or other serious medical conditions should rely on the diagnostic expertise of their specialists to determine whether blepharoplasty is a viable option for them. A consultation with a surgeon will help you decide whether an additional, well-planned surgical procedure could enhance the results of the operation.
How to decide on the procedure?
Whether you are considering surgery for functional or aesthetic reasons, choosing a qualified head and neck surgeon is of utmost importance. The patient must also commit to following the surgeon’s preoperative and postoperative instructions.
During the consultation, your surgeon will explain what you can expect from blepharoplasty and will review your personal medical history. Factors that will be assessed include age, skin type, and the degree of visual obstruction. You can expect an open and honest exchange of information between you and your surgeon, establishing a foundation for a successful outcome.
Once a mutual decision is made, the surgical technique tailored to your specific concern will be discussed. The type of anesthesia, surgical equipment, and risks associated with the procedure will also be explained.
The surgical procedure
During upper eyelid blepharoplasty, the surgeon first marks individual lines along the natural folds of the eyelids to ensure that the resulting scars are virtually invisible. After making an incision in the skin, excess fat, muscle, and loose skin are removed. Fine sutures are used to close the incision, minimizing the appearance of scars.
In lower eyelid blepharoplasty, the surgeon makes an incision in a discreet location along the lash line and within the natural creases of the lower eyelid that appear when smiling. Excess fat, muscle, and skin are removed before the wound is closed with delicate sutures.
Eyelid puffiness caused by excess fat can also be corrected using transconjunctival blepharoplasty. In this technique, the incision is made inside the lower eyelid, and excess fat is removed. Invisible, self-dissolving sutures are used to close the incision, leaving no visible scar.
Under normal conditions, blepharoplasty typically takes about one to two hours to complete.
What to expect after the surgery?
mmediately after the surgery, your surgeon may place sterile dressings over the incision. This is not typically done after transconjunctival blepharoplasty. It is also not necessary to keep the eye closed, although various eye ointments may be used to prevent dryness. Some degree of swelling and bruising is normal. The use of cold compresses, as well as keeping your head elevated while resting, will aid the healing process and reduce discomfort. Your surgeon will also prescribe pain relief medication.
About a week and a half after the blepharoplasty, you will be able to clean the area around your eyes (your eyes may feel sticky, dry, or slightly itchy). Eye drops may be recommended at this stage. Your surgeon will advise you on the level of activity you may resume and what environments you should avoid in the following weeks after surgery. Permanent sutures will typically be removed three to five days after the operation, while dissolvable sutures will disappear on their own over time.
This procedure can correct many imperfections and signs of premature aging that may affect your confidence. By enhancing your appearance, your surgeon can help you feel like yourself again.
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