Eyelid Lift -- Blepharoplasty
Eyelid Lift -- Blepharoplasty
An eyelid lift, also known as a blepharoplasty, is a surgical
procedure to remove excess fat and skin from the upper and
lower eyelid region. Eyelid surgery can correct dropping
upper lids and reduce puffy bags below your eyes. However,
it won't remove crow's feet or other wrinkles, eliminate
dark circles under your eyes, or lift sagging eyebrows.
And while the surgery can add an upper eyelid crease to
Asian eyes, it can't eliminate ethnic or racial characteristics.
An eyelid lift can be done alone or in conjunction with other facial procedure such as a forehead lift to enhance the overall youthful appearance of your face. Working with the experienced doctors and staff at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery, you will feel comfortable knowing that you have selected the procedure that is right for you and that the outcome will be one that you desire.
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Are You A Good Candidate for an Eyelid Lift?
The ideal candidates for eyelid lift surgery are men and women who are in general good health, who have realistic expectations about the procedure, and who have one or more of the following characteristics. Most candidates are 35 years of age or older, but if your droopy eyelids are an inherited condition you may decide to have the surgery at a younger age.
· Puffy areas or "bags" under the eye
· Excessive skin or sagging of your upper eyelid
· Excessive skin on your lower eyelid
· Loss of your natural upper eyelid crease
Meeting With The Doctor
Prior to scheduling your eyelid lift, you will have an extensive
consultation with the doctors and staff at The Metropolitan
Institute for Plastic Surgery. The goals of the consultation
are to evaluate your facial structure to determine if an
eyelid lift will give you the facial enhancement you desire
and to assess your specific risks for the procedure. The
doctor will thoroughly explain the procedure and its expected
results and answer any questions you have. The type of anesthesia
to be used and cost and payment information will also be
discussed. You will be asked to provide a medical history
and to explain the results you hope to achieve with an eyelid
lift.
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The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery
doctors and staff will:
· Test your vision and assess your tear production
· Review the various eyelid lift options with you
· Clearly discuss the potential risks of the procedure
· Outline in detail how the surgery is performed and what you can expect before, during, and after the procedure
· Provide detailed cost and payment information
· Answer all your questions
You will be asked to provide:
· Details about your medical history
· A list of all medication you currently take including over the counter medications such as aspirin, vitamins, and herbal supplements
· Information regarding your tobacco and alcohol use
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How
The Procedure Is Performed Your surgery will
be performed at one of region's
premiere accredited outpatient-based surgical facilities:
the Center for Ambulatory
Surgery, Inc. (CASI) or the Washington
Hospital Center, or at Sibley
Memorial Hhospital. The procedure generally takes one
to three hours to complete depending on how extensive it
is. The surgery is usually performed using local anesthesia
with sedation. You may feel a bit of tugging around your
eyelid area, but will experience no discomfort. General
anesthesia can be used if you would rather be completely
asleep during the procedure.
The doctor makes small incisions following the natural
lines of your eyelids. These incisions are made in the creases
of your upper lids and just below the lashes of your lower
lids or inside the lower lids. The incisions may extend
into the crow's feet or laugh lines at the outer corners
of the eyes. Working through these incisions, the doctor
separates the skin from underlying tissue and muscle, removes
excess fat, and trims any sagging skin and muscle. If you
are having all four eyelids done, the doctor works on the
upper lids first, then the lower ones. The incisions are
then closed with very small stitches. Ointment is placed
in your eyes and bandages are placed over your eyes for
the first 24 hours after surgery.
The type of anesthesia used and the anticipated length
of your procedure will be discussed with you at your initial
consultation. In most cases, the surgery is performed on
an outpatient basis and you go home shortly after the procedure.
If your eyelid lift is extensive (or combined with other
procedures), a stay of one to two nights in the hospital
may be required.
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What To Expect After Your Surgery
| Activity | When |
|---|
| Watch TV or Read | Two to Three Days After Surgery |
| Wear Makeup Around the Eyes | Seven to Ten Days After Surgery |
| Stitches Removed | Two to Seven Days After Surgery |
| Back to Work or School | Seven to Ten Days After Surgery |
| Driving | As Soon as You Feel Comfortable |
| Wear Contact Lenses | Two to Three Weeks After Surgery |
| Strenuous Activity | Three Weeks After Surgery |
| Fading of Scars |
Several Months to One Year |
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Immediately After Your Surgery
In most cases, eyelid lift surgery is performed on an outpatient
basis and you go home shortly after the surgery. You may
be sleepy from the anesthesia and your eyelids will feel
tight and sore as the anesthesia wears off. Pain medication
will help you control this discomfort. It is important to
have someone drive you home after surgery and to stay with
you for the first few days after surgery. Your eyes also
will appear bruised. Bruising varies among patients, and
usually reaches its peak during the first week after surgery.
The discoloration disappears two to four weeks after your
eyelid lift.
The First 24 to 48 Hours After Your Surgery
In the first few days after surgery, your eyes will most likely feel sticky and itchy and you may experience a burning sensation. Your eyelids also may feel dry and tight. You may also have some numbness along your lash line. Your discomfort level will improve rapidly after the first two days, but it is still important to keep regular activities to a minimum for the first three to five days after your procedure.
There may be some bruising and swelling around your eyes. You can use cold compresses (a medium size bag of frozen peas works well) to help reduce these conditions. You may have slight bleeding from your incisions; this is nothing to worry about and can usually be controlled by firmly holding a pad or sponge on the area for 10 to 20 minutes. You can clean off any dried or clotted blood with soap and water or diluted peroxide. If the bleeding does not stop, call The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery for further instructions.
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The First Two Weeks After Surgery
You will notice a marked improvement in your discomfort level during the first few weeks after your surgery. Although you will be up and around in the first few days, you should take it easy for the first three to five days after surgery. Your stitches will be removed two to seven days after your surgery depending on how extensive the procedure was. The bruising and swelling will begin to fade within about five to seven days of your surgery.
You may read or watch TV a few days after your surgery and most patients return to work within a week to ten days. You can wear makeup around the eye area within seven to ten days of your surgery and begin to wear your contact lenses within three to four weeks. Strenuous activity should be avoided for at least three weeks after your surgery.
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Resuming Your Normal Routine
Everyone heals at different rates and you are the best judge
of when you are ready for certain activities, but the following
are general guidelines: · You may read or watch TV within
three days of your surgery.
· You can most likely return to work or school within one seven to ten days after your surgery.
· You may resume driving as soon as you feel comfortable doing so.
· You can most likely return to your physical exercise
program within three weeks of your eyelid lift. Our patients
are encouraged to plan an exercise program and discuss it
with the staff prior to resuming exercise.
· Your scars may look slightly pink for six months, sometimes
longer. Eventually the scars will fade to a nearly invisible
white line. Tiny whiteheads may appear after your stitches
are taken out and they can be easily removed and cause no
scarring.
· The scars caused by the incision should be protected from
sunlight for at least a year after surgery.
· Your eyes will be sensitive to sunlight, wind, or other airborne irritants for several weeks after your surgery. Wear sunglasses, along with a special eyelid sun block whenever you are outside.
Things To Be Aware Of After Your Surgery
· It is normal to experience blurry or double vision for
a few days after your eyelid procedure. · After surgery,
some people have minor trouble closing their eyes to sleep.
· The nerves of the lower eyelid may be temporarily affected
by the surgery, causing sagging of the margin of the eyelid.
This condition usually corrects itself within a few days
or weeks. Upward massage and support of the eyelid itself
with tape can help the healing process.
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What Are Possible Side Effects or
Risks? All surgical procedures have some degree
of risk; however, major complications from eyelid lift surgery
are unusual. During your initial consultation with the doctors
and staff of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery,
your individual risks will be assessed and discussed. As
with any surgery, you can help reduce the risks by closely
following the pre and post-surgery instructions provided
to you. And the doctors and staff of the Institute will
be with you every step of the way to ensure a safe and pleasing
outcome. Most likely risks include the following.
· Infection
· Dry eyes
· Inability to close eyes
· Loss of asymmetry of the eyes
· Scarring
· Sagging of the lower eyelid (ectropion)
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How Long Will the Results of Your Eyelid Lift Last?
Eyelid lift surgery can enhance the youthful appearance of your eyes. These results generally last between five to ten years and longer in many cases. It is important to keep in mind that the effects of aging, gravity, and environmental factors will eventually cause sagging and drooping of the eyelid area.
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Questions You May Have
· Are there other procedures that could be done along with eyelid lift surgery to give me a more youthful appearance?
An eyelid lift is often performed in conjunction with a brow lift or a mid-face lift to provide a smoother, more youthful look to the face. Many patients have blepharoplasty in conjunction with body contouring.
· Will my insurance coverage pay for my eyelid lift?
In most cases, eyelid lift surgery is considered cosmetic
surgery and, therefore, is not covered by insurance.
You are responsible for the full payment of the procedure.
Cost and payment information will be fully discussed with
you during your initial consultation. In rare instances,
insurance will cover the cost of an eyelid lift if it is
considered medically necessary to improve vision that is
impaired due to overhanging eyelid skin or drooping of the
upper eyelid itself (ptosis). The staff at The Metropolitan
Institute for Plastic Surgery will work with you to determine
if your procedure is covered by your insurance.
· Are there alternatives to eyelid lift surgery?
Botox injections are a non-surgical alternative to an eyelid lift. These injections can reduce or eliminate wrinkling skin around the eyes by blocking the nerve impulses to temporarily paralyze the muscles that cause wrinkles. Meticulous medically directed skin care may also improve the skin tone, skin coloring, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Laser resurfacing and chemical peels are a less invasive, but very effective method to improve tone, wrinkles, and even contour.
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