Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty is an effective and popular method of treatment which improves the appearance and function of the eyelids. Blepharoplasty is used to fight against the impacts of aging on the skin and is applied to people at the age of 30 and above. 

Like the other parts of the body, eyelids lose their flexibility gradually as you age and with gravity, excessive skin may gather above your eyelids and droopy eyelids occur. This makes a person look older and more tired and affects a person’s appearance. Sagging skin around your eyelids and bags under your eyes can be improved by blepharoplasty. 

How Should Your Eyelids Look? 

Eyelids with abnormal look can affect the health of the eye, facial beauty and even the psychology of people. You should be able to open and close your eyes completely in order to protect them. If your eyelids are droopy and heavy (upper eyelids), they might affect your eyesight and cause chronic red eyes and dryness (lower eyelids). 

Besides the health effects, the aesthetic apperance of the eyelids might be significant for a person. Apart from oral communication, we contact with people through our eyes. That’s why; sagging eyelids and dark circles under your eyes may affect a person’s psychology in a bad way and prevent them from communicating properly. 

Before the Procedure

The diagnosis of sagging eyelids and eye bags can be done by the doctor easily. The doctor informs the patient about the risks, benefits, and the details of the procedure by assessing the severity of the situation.

There are two types of blepharoplasty: upper eyelid surgery and lower eyelid surgery. The upper and lower eyelid surgery can be performed independently, or can be performed on the same session together. They can also be done as part of rhytidoplasty procedure. 

What Does Blepharoplasty Involve?

Blepharoplasty is done under local anesthesia on the natural curves of the upper and lower eyelids. The excess fat layer is removed in upper eyelid blepharoplasty and the skin is tightened. After the procedure, the cuts are closed with small stitches which dissolve in time. 

On the lower lid, the surgeon makes a cut just below the lashes in your eye's natural crease so that the scar will be invisible. In order to have a natural appearance, blepharoplasty should be performed by an experienced doctor who has had an intensive training. 

Who are the Candidates for Blepharoplasty?

Healthy adults with excess fat or sagging skin on their eyelids or with a lower eyelid bag are the candidates for blepharoplasty. Majority of the patients are interested in blepharoplasty for aesthetic purposes, but there are cases in which sagging eyelids obstruct eyesight. Abnormalities in the lower eyelid may cause eyes to dry. People must have realistic expectations about the result of the operation. 

Recovery

After blepharoplasty, patients spend time in a recovery room for 1 or 2 hours. When there is no abnormal bleeding, feeling of nausea and swelling and when the doctor is sure that the effect of anesthesia is over, you can leave the hospital. 

The results of the surgery will be seen within a few weeks. Even though blepharoplasty cannot stop aging, the results of the surgery may generally last a lifetime. The surgery is rarely repeated. Patients recover within a week or 10 days. The aim is to reach functional and aesthetic results and to have a natural appearance. 

After the Procedure

During or after blepharoplasty, patients do not suffer from any pain and are discharged from the hospital on the same day. You may experience some swellings and bruising around your eyes for one or two weeks.  Light sensitivity may be observed. These side effects can be treated by ointments prescribed by your doctor, cool compresses, and eye drops.  You can apply cool compresses to reduce swelling. Recovery is quite fast. The side effects will subside in 1 or 2 weeks. 

Sleep with your head raised higher than your chest for a few days. Avoid strenuous activities for a week. Use your medication regulary. Avoid supplements or activities that may increase your blood pressure and pulse for a few days in order to reduce the risk of bleeding and swelling.