Eyelid aesthetic or blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure for improving the appearance of eyelids. It includes reducing the under-eye bags emerging in down eyelids, removing excess skin and removing excess skin on upper eyelids. This surgery is usually operated for cosmetic reasons. At the same time, it can also be operated for better vision by removing the sagginess on upper eyelids which impedes vision in old patients.
Blepharoplasty does not remove dark color under eyes, goose foot or other facial wrinkles. Generally, eyelid surgery is operated together with procedures like laser skin resurfacing, injectable filler or forehead lifting.
Eyelid Aging Process
As the skin ages, it loses its elasticity slowly. Skin excess in upper and down eyelids is caused by lack of elasticity and gravity. Excess skin in down eyelid causes excessive skin wrinkles and swellings. Excess skin in upper eyelid may cause an extra layer on eyelashes and have negative effects on vision.
It weakens with the thin membrane that keeps in fat in eye socket in its place, and it causes the fat to gush forth. With the effect of it, there may be swellings in upper and down eyelids.
Who Are The Eligible Candidates For Blepharoplasty?
Individuals who have sagging, bags and excess skin in their eyelids with good health conditions and realistic expectations are eligible candidates for the surgery. Blepharoplasty improves your appearance and boosts your self-confidence. Before deciding to have the surgery, it would better for you to discuss your expectations and details of the process with your doctor.
What is Done During The Blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty is a procedure operated with local anesthesia and sedation with a period that can change depending on whether upper and down eyelids will be fixed together and is an outpatient surgery which approximately takes around 1 or 2 hours.
Excess skin and excess fat, if any, are removed with a cut on upper eyelids’ natural fold. Afterwards, they are closed with stitches that will stay around 3 or 6 days.
Surgery on down eyelids may be operated by using one method among many. In one method, excess fat tissue is removed with a cut inside the down eyelid. This cut will stay in an unseen area, but if there is excess skin then the other method should be preferred. In the other method, a cut is made through the eyelash border, therefore excess skin, loose muscle and excess fat tissue can be removed. Scar will fade away in a short time period.
What Are Rhe Scars?
As plastic surgeons, we know the importance of cosmetic results. We make all efforts to optimize the scar size and hide it under the less seen part of lobe. Upper eyelid surgery scars are hidden inside the lids’ natural fold. Down eyelid scars are under eyelashes and fades away in time.
Emergence of scars varies between individuals and is strongly related to person’s genetic susceptibility. Scars generally fade away slowly in time, but it is hard to guess its final size and color.
How is The Recovery Period? How Long Resting is Needed?When Can You Continue Exercising?
Surgery area is closed with protective surgery dressing. After the anesthesia effect goes down, it will be possible for you to go home. For a comfortable post-surgery period and good results, it would be better to rest after the procedure. In order to reduce swelling and bruise around eyes to minimum, you should rest your head up for the first couple of days and ice can be applied periodically. There may be bruises under eyes and it will recover in couples of days. There can be ache and swelling responding to medicine during first couple of days after the surgery. Many patients can go back to work within 1 or 2 weeks. During the recovery period, tiring physical activities like heavy lifting and pulling should be avoided for 2 or 4 weeks after the surgery.
What Are The Complications Of The Surgery?
The complications are rare as in other cosmetic procedures, and there can be bleeding, infection, dry eyes, inability to totally close the eyes and swelling. Some of these complications may require additional surgical operations. Your plastic surgeon will give you detailed information about the expected results including possible complications.
When Will We See The Absolute Results Of The Surgery?
The results of the surgery will be seen right after the procedure. As the swellings are reduced, recovery will continue. Generally swelling and bruises are recovered in 2 weeks. Small amount of swelling in unnoticeable amounts may continue for a few months after the surgery. Final contour and scar results continues for at least 3 or 6 months after the surgery.
