All About Blepharoplasty: Are You Ready for Eyelid Surgery?

It’s a familiar sight to those who are aging, even if they’re doing so gracefully: the saggy, droopy flap of skin of the eyelid. Gone are the days of a taut, flat canvas for eye makeup and summertime bronze powder; instead, you’re trying to figure out what to do with this extra swath of skin. It’s not something you can hide on a daily basis either, especially given how important our eyes are to conversation, first meetings, and connecting with others. For those suffering from this unfortunate side effect of aging, there is help. Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, can be the answer to your problems.

What is Blepharoplasty?

Eyelid surgery is a procedure conducted to rejuvenate the fat, skin, and sometimes muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. It can reverse years of damage to this delicate area, correcting drooping upper lids and even puffy bags beneath the eyes. Both features can make you appear years older than you are, so a blepharoplasty procedure can literally be a near instant way to look younger.

Who is a Candidate for Eyelid Surgery?

Blepharoplasty can help individuals who appear to have excess, drooping, puffy, and/or sagging areas around the eyes. These are caused by fat deposits and excess skin that can develop and accumulate over time. The best candidates for eyelid surgery are men and women exhibiting these conditions who are physically healthy, psychologically stable, and have realistic expectations.

Are There Medical Reasons to Have a Blepharoplasty?

Sure, it’s inconvenient to have a part of the face that makes you feel uncomfortable or less confident in your personal interactions. For women, it’s also inconvenient to suddenly not wear eye makeup if that’s something you’ve grown accustomed to. Beyond these reasons, however, there are real medical concerns that can occur from having droopy eyelids. With this excess skin above the eye, the added weight and pressure can actually result in frequent headaches. In extreme cases, there is so much excess skin and fat in the fold of the eyelid that it will actually overlap the eyelashes and impair your vision. It’s easy to see how that could be a very dangerous condition to leave untreated.

What Is The Blepharoplasty Procedure Like?

Eyelid surgery can last anywhere from one to three hours, depending on the severity of your condition and extent of the procedure. It is possible to have both upper lids and both lower lids reshaped in one single procedure, with your surgeon working on the uppers first and then the lowers. For surgery on the upper lid, a tiny and well-hidden incision is made in the upper eyelid crease and excess skin is removed to leave the eye with its original shape again. Fat may also need to be removed to eliminate bulges and puffiness in some cases.

Next your surgeon may perform lower lid surgery, if needed, using either an incision placed on the inside of the lower eyelid or an incisions just underneath the lashes. With delicate surgeries like blepharoplasty, plastic surgeons will always use the natural creases of the eye to minimize visibility after you have healed. Once the incision is made, your physician will remove or redistribute the fat deposits that have accumulated beneath the eye or tighten the skin of the eyelid to smooth it out, reversing the puffiness that has formed over time. If needed, excess skin and muscle will also be trimmed from beneath the eyelid to eliminate any folds that have occurred. If you’re only in need of fat removal but don’t need to have any skin removed from beneath the eyelids, this is a simpler process called a transconjunctival blepharoplasty in which the incision is confined to the inside of the eyelid. Sometimes this technique is combined with laser resurfacing to smooth the overlying skin. These surgical techniques will help to eliminate the appearance of both under-eye bags and wrinkles.

What Is Recovery Like After Eyelid Surgery?

Right after your blepharoplasty surgery, your plastic surgeon will lubricate your eyes with an ointment and apply a protective bandage. You may feel some tightness and soreness as your local anesthetic wears off, but your physician will discuss pain medications with you and allow you to use these to help control any discomfort. You should only experience moderate pain and tenderness in the eye area, but contact your surgeon immediately if you do experience severe pain.

The recovery from this outpatient procedure is often relatively short, lasting only a few days to a week if you take proper care of yourself and the area post-op. As you heal, expect to see some bruising around the eyes for about a week or so, as well as some swelling which will increase after 48 hours and then subside gradually. You will also experience pink or thickened scars for the first few weeks that will fade with time, slight dryness of the eyes, and some sensitivity to bright light or blurred vision. Your surgeon can help you to manage your side effects with ointments and other treatments, if necessary.

For a quick recovery, pay attention to what tires your eyes out and give them a rest. It’s common to experience eye fatigue after watching several hours of television or reading at close range. Allow your eyes and body the time they need to rest and recuperate for best results after your surgery. Follow your

Where Can I Learn More About My Own Eyelid Surgery?

If you’re seriously considering a blepharoplasty to reverse the problems you have with your own eyelids, the best way to get reliable and trustworthy information is to consult with a reputable plastic surgeon. Through private consultations, you’ll be able to determine whether your situation calls for upper eyelid surgery, lower eyelid surgery, or both. Contact Weniger Plastic Surgery of 350 Fording Island Road, Suite 200, in Bluffton, South Carolina by phone at (843) 757-0123.

Weniger Plastic Surgery is the office of founder Frederick G. Weniger, M.D., F.A.C.S., M.D., F.A.C.E., M.B.A., F.A.C.S. who is a plastic surgeon certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. He is committed to taking the time to get to know each patient and understand his or her needs before recommending treatments and procedures, so you’re guaranteed to get the best services, tailored to your unique needs. He is Board-Certified and highly-skilled doctor at Weniger Plastic Surgery could be the answer to your eyelid problems, so call today to take charge of how you look and feel.