Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that is performed on the eyelids to improve the appearance of puffy lower eyelid bags and to reduce the wrinkling of skin by removing excess tissue such as skin and fat. The skin and fat is removed or repositioned and the surrounding muscles and tendons may be reinforced.
The need for blepharoplasty is often due to age, which causes the eyelids to stretch. Age also weakens the supporting muscles. This may cause the excess skin and fat to gather above and below the eyelids which can make you look older as well as impairing your vision.
Blepharoplasty is commonly done as a cosmetic procedure but it can have a functional purpose as well. The sagging eyelid skin can impede peripheral or side vision because the skin sags over the eyelashes and reduces the field of vision. The outer and upper fields of vision are usually affected and this can cause problems with reading, driving and other activities.
Asian blepharoplasty is special procedure to create an eye fold in people of Asian descent who may not have a crease (called the supratarsal fold) in their upper eyelids. The surgeon creates a crease so that the eye will appear double lidded. This surgery is the most common cosmetic procedure in Asian countries.
Good candidates for the surgery are healthy individuals who do not smoke and who do not have any serious eye conditions or other medical conditions which could cause complications or inhibit healing. They should also have a positive outlook on life as well as reasonable expectation for the results of the surgery.
The procedure is usually done as an outpatient. You will be able to go home the same day and recovery time will be a few weeks. The patient will use ointment to keep the incisions from drying out the first few days. Iced eye pads are recommended to help reduce pain, swelling and bruising. After a few days, warm eye pads are recommended. Pain medication as well as eye drops may be prescribed to treat any pain during the first few days.
Stitches are removed after two days and the patient is advised to wear dark glasses for at least a week after surgery to prevent light and wind from irritating and drying out the eyes. You can expect to be off of work for a week to ten days after surgery which is also the amount of time you can expect the eyes to feel tight or stiff. Patients are advised to not wear contacts until the doctor clears them to do so. As with every surgery done under anesthesia, there are risks involved although most of them are minor and not permanent. You need to discuss them with your doctor prior to your surgery, as well as asking questions about any concerns that you may have.
The final results of your surgery will be evident within a few weeks after surgery and the incision lines will continue to fade over a few months. Avoiding the sun is recommended to protect the result of your surgery and to reduce the effects of further aging. By preparing yourself properly before surgery and taking care of yourself properly after surgery, it is likely that the results will please you for many years to come.