Blepharoplasty
or eyelid surgery, can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence
by removing the appearance of droopy or sagging eyelids. As people
age the eyelid stretches, muscles weaken, and fat accumulates
around the eyes, causing "bags", or excess skin to become
prominent. During your consultation, the doctor will assess which
of the four eyelids (top and bottom for both eyes) require surgery.
The best candidates for eyelid surgery are men and women who are
physically healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in their
expectations. Generally patients for this procedure are 35 years
or older. However, if sagging eyelids runs in your family, it
is possible to have eyelid surgery at a younger age.
Eyelid surgery is performed under general or local anesthesia.
If your doctor chooses local anesthesia, he will numb the area
around your eyes, along with giving you a mild oral or IV sedative.
The actual surgery takes one to three hours. The incisions made
during the surgery follow the natural lines of your eye.
As with any procedure there is the possibility of complications
occurring. For eyelid surgery, these include infection, or a reaction
to the anesthesia used. Minor complications that commonly follow
eyelid surgery include double or blurred vision for a few days,
which is caused by swelling at the corner of the eyelids, and
slight asymmetry in healing or scarring. Following surgery, some
patients may have difficulty closing their eyes when they sleep.
Adhering to the physician’s advice on pre and post-op care
will greatly reduce the risk of complications.
After your surgery, you may feel tightness in your eyes. An ointment
and a bandage will cover your eyes. A cold compress and elevation
will help keep the swelling and bruising down. For the first few
weeks following your surgery, you may also experience excessive
tearing, sensitivity to light, and temporary changes in your vision
such as blurring or double vision. Your stitches will be removed
2 to 7 days after your surgery.