The upper and lower lids of our eyes often show signs of “puffiness”, or excess skin, as they age. Blepharoplasty removes excess fat and skin from the eyelids. It can also be used to address lower and upper eyelids that are sagging. A hidden inside incision can remove excess fat from the lower eyelids of younger patients. While Blepharoplasty has many benefits for the aesthetics, it does not reduce crow’s foot or dark circles. It is usually combined with an eyebrow lift to achieve a complete facelift. If necessary, the blepharoplasty procedure can also be done in combination with a facelift, more info.

Consultation

Board Certified Plastic surgeons will usually spend up to one hour with you, taking your medical history and examining your body. They’ll also discuss in detail any concerns and his recommendations. Along with eyelid appearance and contour, the brows and forehead contours will be examined. Sometimes, a brow lift is recommended in order to enhance the upper eyelid, forehead and brow appearance. The surgeons perform the brow lift with the help of the endoscope.

The Surgery

It is important that eyelid surgeries are only performed in a facility with full accreditation. In most cases, the combination of intravenous sedation and local anesthetic is used for anesthesia. Anesthesia by certified board certified anesthesiologists is administered when this procedure is done in conjunction with a brow or face lift.

During this procedure, excess fat and skin are also removed. A lower eyelid incision is made beneath the lashline, or an inner incision can be used (for only fat removal).

Local anesthesia may be used during surgery, and post-operative discomfort is usually reduced with analgesia orally administered along with a cold face mask. Sutures are usually removed on the 5th or 7th post-operative day. A common post-operative symptom is swelling or bruising. These usually resolve within 10 to 14 working days. You can apply makeup after a week. However, you should avoid strenuous activity for a month. It is best to avoid driving until pain medication oral can be taken without causing any more discomfort.

Recovery

Generally, patients can go home on the same day of the procedure. However, a responsible person should remain with them for the first night. The patients who undergo this procedure in conjunction with a browlift or facelift are usually required to stay at least 1 night at a recovery facility. The night before the surgery is a good time to ambulate, however any strenuous activities should be avoided at least for 2 weeks. While it takes at least two weeks to reduce the majority of swelling and bruising, most patients notice an overall improvement within five to seven days. After two weeks, patients feel more rested and appealing.