Improve The Look Of Your Eyelids
Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery, is a procedure that improves the look of the eyelids, either upper, lower, or both. Blepharoplasty rejuvenates the appearance of the eyes and its surrounding areas, giving you a more lively and rested look.
In the case of upper blepharoplasty, incisions are made on the skin to remove excess skin and fat underneath. A thin stitch is then made, allowing the skin to fuse together to create an eyelid crease.
On the other hand, a lower eyelid surgery involves the creation of incisions directly under the line of the lashes or on the inside of the eyelids, which is done in the transconjunctival approach. With this technique, eyelid fat can be accessed without needing visible stitches. This makes the procedure suitable for patients who require fat to be added or removed.
Blepharoplasty can be done to treat the following conditions:
Before eyelid surgery, the patient should have an initial consultation with a trusted surgeon like Dr. Randall Barnett in Salt Lake City, UT. During your initial consultation with Dr. Barnett here at Alpine Plastic Surgery Clinic, you will learn more about the procedure and its potential risks.
Your surgeon will also give you pre-operative instructions that you have to follow carefully. Instructions are given well in advance to give you enough time to prepare certain medications at home, such as gel packs, gauze, or artificial tears, as part of post-surgery home preparation.
Whether you want work to be done on both your upper and lower eyelids, Dr. Barnett will work on the upper lids first. An incision along the natural fold in your upper eyelid is made. Once the incision is made, skin, muscle, or fat under the skin are removed. The incision is then closed using surgical tape or other skin adhesives.
Just like upper eyelid surgery, incisions on the lower lid are made along the natural crease of the lower lid. Excess fat or muscle are then removed or redistributed.
In certain cases, blepharoplasty can be done together with another procedure that treats the drooping of the eyelids close to the pupil, also known as ptosis.
Usually, patients who undergo this procedure only require a short recovery time. Bruising or swelling may appear on the day after treatment, but they start to disappear a few days after. Cold compresses may be applied during the first 48 hours to alleviate swelling on the eyes and face. To speed up healing, light exercises like walking can help. Depending on your surgeon, stitches done on the incision sites may remain until about a week, although self-absorbing stitches may also be used to make removal unnecessary.
After blepharoplasty, most patients can already resume their normal daily activities within 7 to 10 days. After about 2 weeks, most of the swelling and bruising are usually gone.
Dryness may occur, so your doctor may advise you to apply a lubricating ointment over the treated area. Blepharoplasty can also cause light sensitivity, excessive tearing, and double vision right after treatment. Initially, the incisions may appear red and the eyelids puffy and numb for a couple of days. However, cold compresses can counter these symptoms.
Minimal pain may be present as well. A pain reliever may be prescribed to alleviate pain. However, it is advised that the patient avoids aspirin, ibuprofen, and other anti-inflammatory medications as they can increase the risk for bleeding.
A week after surgery, you may be advised to take the following precautions:
Just like any other surgery, blepharoplasty comes with potential risks and complications, including:
