Eyelid lift (Blepharoplasty)
Eyes are our most beautiful features. Yet its’ the delicate periorbital skin which shows the signs of ageing first. As skin ages, it gradually loses its elasticity. Lack of elasticity plus the constant pull from gravity causes excessive skin to collect on the upper and lower eyelids. Excess skin on the lower eyelid causes wrinkles and bulges. On the upper eyelids, an extra fold of skin can hang over the eyelashes and get in the way of seeing. Upper eyelid excess skin and fat can create a heavy looking eyelid, aged appearance, puffiness, and sometimes block the upper field of vision.
Blepharoplasty (also called an eyelid lift) is a procedure to reduce the droopiness of the upper eyelids and bagginess around the lower eyelids. This procedure can often be combined with a Brow lift or a face lift. During this type of plastic surgery, a doctor removes skin, muscle, and sometimes fat that may be causing the area around your eyes to sag.
Operation
For the upper eyelid, the surgeon will usually cut along the natural lines of your eyelids. Through these cuts, your surgeon will separate the skin from the underlying tissue and remove the excess fat and skin. The surgeon will close those cuts with very small stitches. The stitches in the upper lids will stay for three to six days. The lower lid blepharoplasty usually involves removal of fat, which contributes to the under-eye bags, as well as sometimes removing a small amount of skin. In some people, the lower eyelid may be tightened or secured to the bony skeleton.
An eyelid lift procedure is performed under general or local anesthesia & takes anywhere between 2 to 3 hours if both upper and lower eyelids are done together. The procedure is usually day care and patient can go home same day.
Result
Blepharoplasty procedure will help achieve following.
- Enhanced appearance and reduced tired eye look
- Smoother forehead with reduced wrinkles
What about scars?
Scars are inevitable part of any surgery. Incisions taken for Blepharoplasty are usually concealed in the skin creases & are barely visible. Also, Scars often fade with time. Scar lightening will take several months up to a year after surgery. Scarring tends to be most visible in people with extremely dark skin. Please discuss about scars with your surgeon.
Risks/ Complications
An eyelid surgery is generally a safe procedure but following potential complaints, risks and complications may occur; most of the which will subside in 2 weeks’ time. These are largely driven by one’s healing abilities.
- Bleeding, Infection, Bruising, swelling & pain
- Dry Eyes
- Unusual fold of eyelids
- Nausea
- Itching around wound
In rare case, as with all surgical procedures, a revision surgery may be necessary to correct minor irregularities.
Care after treatment/ surgery
Immediately following surgery, your surgeon might put bandages to cover wounds to support natural healing process, minimize bruising and swelling. Most patients return to normal activities within 1 to 2 weeks after surgery. It’s important to rest for a few days immediately following eyelid surgery. You can’t wear contact lenses for two weeks following eyelid surgery. Be sure to have an alternative, such as glasses, on hand.
After you are discharged from hospital, you will see your surgeon in post-surgery follow up sessions during which as well, you will be given more guidance on care, activities etc. Any plastic or other surgery does not stop biological ageing process and your surgeon will recommend you ways to have effect of surgery lasted for long.
Costs
Costs for individual procedures will vary widely based on procedure & hospital chosen for surgery but usually involves following.
- Surgeon’s fee
- Hospital facility charges
- Anesthesia fees
- Medical tests & medicines
- Any post-surgery garments
If revision surgery is needed in a rare case, your surgeon will not charge Surgeon’s fee but other costs will have to be borne by patient as applicable.