Blepharoplasty
Eyes are a prominent
facial feature. It is the surrounding skin, rather than
the eyes themselves, that conveys emotion. The tissue,
muscle, fat, hair and lashes all contribute to the wide
array of expressions. Age, sun exposure and hereditary
factors all contribute to wrinkles, deep lines and
puffiness around the eyes.
The aging process can
cause unwanted changes in expression, causing us to look
permanently fatigued and older than we really are. These
changes in appearance can cause emotional distress and
sometimes even visual impairment. An eyelid lift, or
blepharoplasty, is designed to restore a more youthful
appearance to your eyes. It may involve the upper lids,
the lower lids, or both.
New and
Traditional Techniques
- Traditional
Blepharoplasty: An incision is made in the crease of
the upper lid toward the temples. Once healed, it is
not noticeable when the eye is open. On the lower
lid, the incision is made along the lash line toward
the temples, and is hidden by lashes when healed.
- The
Transconjunctival Approach: This is a newer
technique for lower lid blepharoplasty, involving an
incision inside the lower lid. Fat can be removed
through this incision, but excess skin cannot be
eliminated.
- Laser resurfacing of
the eyelids is a non-surgical alternative that may
delay the need for a surgical blepharoplasty. It
results in significant tightening of the skin around
the eyes, but will not effect the fat around the
eyes and may even accentuate it.
Please ask your doctor if
you have any questions about which procedure is right
for you.
The Surgery
Local anesthesia is given
around the eyes. An intravenous line is started so that
sedation may also be given. During the procedure you
will be awake but comfortable and relaxed. General
anesthesia may also be used.
This procedure is
performed on an outpatient basis. It is important to
arrange for care after the surgery. Someone must drive
you home and be available to care for you for the first
24 hours.
Recovery:
What to Expect
The area surrounding the
eyes will remain swollen in the days following the
surgery. It should begin to subside after the first day.
Some vision blurring is normal.
The stitches will be
removed in 4-5 days. Swelling and bruising will persist
for about 10 days, but you can begin wearing makeup to
help conceal these concerns. You may expect to resume
normal activity within a week to 10 days, and start
enjoying your new look within approximately 10-14 days.
It may take about 6 months for the scars to lose their
redness.
Wrinkling will recur
later in life; however, it is unlikely that the “bags”
will recur because the fat has been removed. Deeper
wrinkles around the outer eye extended onto the temple
are not greatly affected by the eyelid lift. These areas
may be treated with laser resurfacing.
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