Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid Surgery, or Blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure aiming at rearranging the area around the eyes in order to correct imperfections and deformities of the eyelids which compromise facial appearance (for other facial contouring options click here), vision, or both. With eyelid surgery, an amount of loose skin is removed, thus addressing the problems of drooping eyelids and puffy bags once and for all, also rendering a refreshed appearance of the area surrounding the eyes.
Earlier Dr. Kristina Tansavatdi wrote an in depth article on aspects we should be aware of about Eyelid Surgery and it would be also useful to have a look at it!
How Does Eyelid Surgery Work?
Eyelid surgery is performed under either local anesthesia or general anesthesia, depending on the structure of the treated area and the surgeon’s preferences. It works by removing, relocating, or both, the excess tissues through incisions applied into the natural folds that head outwards from the eye (upper eyelid surgery) or incisions created below the lash line (lower eyelid surgery), ultimately allowing for the reinforcement of loose muscle and tendon tissues. In the end, the surgeon closes the incisions with sutures and, in many cases, applies small sterile bandages.
After the operation, the patient should rest and abstain from work and other activities for about 8-10 days. Stitches are usually removed within 3-5 days. Typically, 3-4 weeks are sufficient before the patient is able to fully resume his / her normal everyday activities.
Benefits
Undergoing an eyelid surgery can render the following benefits:
- Firmer and more lifted skin
- Elimination of puffiness and the “tired” look that they deliver
- Less evident bags under the eyes
- Reduction of the folds under around the eyes
- Improved vision
- Less noticeable wrinkles of the lower eyelid
- Almost permanent results
The results of blepharoplasty begin to become evident after some weeks or a couple of months; they are also anticipated to last for ever, however such assertion is relatively inaccurate due to the fact that it tends to undervalue the aging factor. Nevertheless, a selection of maintenance measures could be enough to preserve the achieved outcome for many years. In any case, what is crucial for the long-term success of this operation is to meekly follow the physician’s guidelines, primarily after the first days and weeks, mainly by avoiding applying unnecessary motions or scratching.
Side Effects
For the majority of lay people, and for potential users of course, an eyelid surgery seems like a distressing, to say the least, endeavor. Fortunately, things are less unsettling than they initially look. Potential risks and complications from a blepharoplasty cannot be excluded of course, but they are infrequent and not very severe. Still, they may include:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Numbness
- Inflammation and skin discoloration
- Fluid accumulation
- Temporarily blurred or impeded vision
- Inability to perfectly close the eyes
- Dryness
- Tendency of the lower eyelid to get dragged down
- Abnormal laxity of the lower eyelid (ectropion)
- Abnormal position of the upper eyelids (eyelid ptosis)
- Soreness
- Irritation spawned by the sutures
Most of these effects are only transient. Needless to say that, in order to ensure the best possible outcome and to avoid encountering some of the unsettling aforementioned reactions, it is imperative that someone have this procedure done by an accredited surgeon. Moreover, taking specific medications, using aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs as well as smoking are contra-indicated prior to a blepharoplasty.
Areas To Be Treated
As mentioned above, the exact areas for the procedure are the upper and/or lower eyelids. Operation on the former spot focuses on clearing out the fat tissue through a cut made in the natural eyelid crease; on the other hand, lower eyelid blepharoplasty is targeted on removing excessive skin as well as mitigating wrinkles of the area beneath the eye.
Cost
Keeping in mind that a successful operation can greatly refine one’s appearance, blepharoplasty can not be deemed as a steeply priced procedure. To get an illustration, for a complete package, the average cost shown on Realself.com is $4,100. Yet, the final expenditures can vary significantly, as the medical tests, the choice of the surgeon (find some plastic surgeons who expertise on eyelid surgery right here), anesthesia and operating room facilities, prescriptions for medication and more could cause the total cost either to shrink or soar.
Eyelid Surgery Reviews
In the vast majority of cases, individuals who decided to undergo blepharoplasty are totally satisfied, or even delighted, with their choice. Almost all patients comment positively on the elimination of puffiness, the upgraded appearance, the loss of the “sleepy” look and the unobstructed vision. As expected, there are complaints about swelling and bruising, the constant need for cleaning the eye area, dryness and itchiness from the stitches, difficulty in sleeping for some days etc., but, in general, the level of satisfaction is high. For a multitude of testimonials click here and here!
Before and After Photos
Our Advice
Eyelid surgery is an exceptional way of perking droopy eyelids and upgrading one’s appearance. Still, if you are thinking about proceeding through it, you should always remember that blepharoplasty is unrelated to the traditional cosmetic procedures (facelift, skin resurfacing etc.), which however may have to be performed sometimes in a complementary way in order for the final outcome to be more distinct and long-lasting.
To be an eyelid surgery candidate, you should be generally healthy, with equally healthy facial tissues and muscles, while not encountering eye diseases like glaucoma, detached retina or dry eye, high blood pressure, cardiovascular ailments, diabetes, or problems with thyroid. Finally, of great importance is to be pragmatic in terms of what you actually expect from an operation like this!
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