 Blepharoplasty, or surgery of the eyelids, is a plastic surgery procedure which can correct drooping upper eyelids and puffy under eye bags in order to restore a more youthful, refreshed appearance to the eye area. Blepharoplasty involves the removal of excess fat, skin and muscle, and may be performed on the upper eyelids, the lower eyelids or both. The procedure can also improve vision in cases where excess skin of the upper lids interferes with eyesight. Blepharoplasty may be performed on its own or it may be combined with other procedures, such as a forehead lift or skin resurfacing.
Candidates for blepharoplasty should be physically healthy and realistic in their expectations. Patients with circulatory, ophthalmologic or other conditions may not be good candidates for surgery.
Blepharoplasty may be performed in a surgeon’s office-based facility, a hospital, or an outpatient surgery center. Anesthetic options include local anesthesia and sedation, or general anesthesia. The average surgery time is about one to three hours.
Surgery begins by making incisions which are usually located in the crease of the upper eyelids or just below the lashes of the lower eyelids. Once the incisions are made, the surgeon will remove excess fat, trim sagging skin and muscle, and then close the incisions. Patients who have only a pocket of fat beneath the lower eyelids and no excess skin may be candidates for a transconjunctival blepharoplasty procedure in which the incisions are made inside of the lower eyelids. Once the surgery is complete, a bandage may be applied to the eyelids.
Bruising and swelling are common after surgery, and most of the bruising fades within two to four weeks. Patients may feel a tight or sore feeling in the eyelids, and discomfort can be alleviated with pain medication. The eyes may also feel dry, itchy, or burning and patients may experience increased tearing, sensitivity to light, or double or blurred vision during the first week. Stitches may be removed within two to seven days.
Normal activities, including work, can usually be resumed within seven to ten days. Strenuous activities and alcohol consumption will need to be postponed for about three weeks. |
Rhinoplasty
