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 Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is designed to remove excess skin, muscle, and fat to improve the appearance of the eyes. Bright, open eyes convey alertness, vigor and youth.
Droopy eyelids can make you look older and can also impair vision. Blepharoplasty corrects these problems and also removes puffiness and bags under the eyes that make you look worn and tired. This procedure cannot alter dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, nor can it change sagging eyebrows.
Is Blepharoplasty For You?
As with all facial plastic surgery, good health and realistic expectations are prerequisites. Blepharoplasty removes the excess fat, muscle, and skin from both upper and lower lids. The results can be a refreshed appearance, with a younger, firmer eye area. A consultation with Dr. Honrado can help you decide whether eyelid surgery is right for you and if any additional, complementary procedures would increase the success of the surgery.
Making The Decision For Blepharoplasty
During the pre-surgical consultation, you will be examined and asked to answer queries concerning vision, tear production, use of lenses, and your desires for surgery. Dr. Honrado will explain what you can expect from blepharoplasty and take a complete medical history. Factors to be weighed include age, skin type, ethnic background, and degree of vision obstruction.
After a mutual decision is made by both you and your surgeon, the technique indicated for your individual surgery will be discussed. Dr. Honrado is experienced in all techniques of blepharoplasty, including a method that does not use external incisions (transconjunctival blepharoplasty).
Understanding The Surgery
For the upper eyelids, an incision is placed at the natural eyelid crease. Excess skin, muscle and fat are then removed. Fine sutures are used for closure. Because the incision is placed in a natural crease, it is frequently almost invisible after surgery.
A number of options exist in performing lower eyelid surgery and Dr. Honrado is experienced in all the techniques for blepharoplasty. The traditional approach places the incision a few millimeters below the lower lashes. Excess fat, muscle, and skin are then trimmed away before the incision is closed with fine, absorbable sutures. Another method involves making an incision inside the eyelid, a transconjunctival blepharoplasty. Excess fatty material is removed through this concealed incision. When sutures are used to close this kind of incision, they are invisible to the eye. They are also self-dissolving and leave no visible scar. Under normal conditions, blepharoplasty can take from one to two hours. If skin removal is required in a transconjunctival eyelid surgery, a “pinch technique” or in some cases, laser resurfacing or a chemical peel is performed to tighten excess skin and decrease wrinkles. What To Expect After The Surgery
Immediately after the surgery has been completed, cool compresses are placed over the operated area to help decrease the swelling. However, an ointment to prevent dryness of the eye area may also be used. A certain degree of swelling and bruising is normal. Head elevation when lying down, will enhance healing and relieve discomfort. Dr. Honrado will prescribe medication for your discomfort.
For a week and a half following blepharoplasty, you will clean the eye area (the eyes may feel sticky, dry, and itchy). Eyedrops may be recommended. Permanent stitches will be removed in three to five days after surgery. Self-absorbing stitches will dissolve on their own.
Recovery
- Postoperative pain tends to be minimal
- Bruising and swelling around the eyes can be expected for several weeks after the procedure
- It is typical to have some blurriness for several days after the surgery as a result of swelling and topical medications
- Refrain from use of contact lenses for approximately two weeks after surgery
- Suture removal is done approximately five days after surgery
- Make up can be worn, except over incisions, at 7-10 days after surgery
- Steri strips may be applied to your lower eyelids after surgery. These typically fall off on postoperative day three
Insurance does not generally cover surgery that is done purely for cosmetic reasons. Surgery to correct or improve vision or surgery for eye deformity or injury may be reimbursable in whole or in part. Ancillary Procedures to Eyelid surgery - Face/neck lift
- Browlifting
- Chemical Peels
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