What is Blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery improves the appearance of the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both, and gives a rejuvenated appearance to the surrounding area of your eyes, making you look more rested and alert. This is a procedure used to eliminate the tired look or the aged look in the eyes. This primarily involves removal of the bags in the eyelids . It may be done in the upper eyelid or the lower eye lid or both.
Specifically, eyelid surgery can treat the following situations:
- Loose or sagging skin that creates folds or disturbs the natural contour of the upper eyelid, sometimes impairing vision
- Excess fatty deposits that appear as puffiness in the upper eyelids
- Bags under the eyes
- Droopiness of the lower eyelids, showing white below the iris (colored portion of the eye)
- Excess skin and fine wrinkles of the lower eyelid
What are the risks associated with Blepharoplasty?
Like any other surgery, there are certain risks involved in this procedure. Your plastic surgeon will explain in detail the risks and potential complications associated with this surgery. You will also be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure you will undergo and any risks or potential complications..
What happens after Blepharoplasty?
Immediately after the surgery, lubricating ointment and cold compresses may be applied, and in some cases your eyes may be loosely covered with gauze.
Your surgeon will also give you specific instructions on how to take care of your eyes, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your overall health, and when to follow-up with your plastic surgeon.
Initial healing may include some swelling, bruising, irritation or dry eyes and discomfort that can be controlled with medication, cold compresses and ointment. Irritation at the incision sites also is possible.
What are the expected results?
Your final results will appear within several weeks, but it may take up to a year for incision lines to fully refine.While eyelid surgery can be expected to correct certain conditions permanently, you will continue to age naturally. Life-long sun protection will help to maintain your results.
You need to know that the practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although good results are expected, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure and another surgery may be necessary.