Some Basic Facts About Eye Lid Surgery
Eye surgery is actually a very common form of cosmetic surgery
. This is because droopy eyelids will often be the first real sign of facial aging, giving people a constantly tired, staring or stressed look. Eye lid surgery (or blepharoplasty) sets out to eradicate these problems. It will remove bags or puffiness from below a patient's eyes and take away that worn-out appearance.
Even though blepharoplasty will obviously have a dramatic effect on a patient's appearance it will not be able to help with sagging eyebrows, dark circles or wrinkles around the eyes. This procedure is often used in a 'stand alone' manner, but a surgeon will sometimes recommend that it is used in conjunction with another treatment such as a facelift or brow lift to achieve even better results.
In one way, blepharoplasty is just like any other procedure and a surgeon will usually expect a patient to be in good physical health. If a patient has any ophthalmologic or circulatory problems, then it will be down to the discretion of the surgeon to decide whether or not blepharoplasty is a realistic option.
Consultation
If you are seriously considering this procedure, then it will be necessary to arrange a pre-surgical consultation. During this discussion you will be asked about the standard of your vision, your use of glasses and your tear production. The surgeon will also want to know about your own expectations of the procedure so that he/she will know if you have a realistic understanding of the operation.
If you and your surgeon arrive at the conclusion that you are a suitable candidate for this procedure, then your individual requirements will be discussed; the clinic where it will be carried out, the type of anaesthesia and any risks which may be involved.
Procedure - Upper Eye Lid
To keep any possibility of scarring to a minimum, the surgeon will work as closely as possible to the natural folds in the skin.
Once an incision has been made, any excess fat, muscle and loose skin will be removed from the area. The incisions will then be closed-up with fine sutures.
Procedure - Lower Eye Lid
In this procedure, the surgeon will make an incision along the lash line and 'smile creases' of the patient's lower eye lid. Again, any excess muscle, fat and skin are removed before the incision is sewn back together with fine sutures.
Some surgeons will use more a modern technique which involve the 're-draping' of excess fat rather than its complete removal. This is a very skilful method and the surgeon must have sufficient training in occuloplastic surgery.
Post Surgery
Once the procedure is complete, the surgeon will often apply tiny sterile bandages to the patient's eyes. It may also be necessary for an ointment to be applied. This will help to prevent the patient suffering from any discomfort caused by dryness of the eyes.
Patients should be prepared for a certain amount of swelling or bruising around the treated area and this is perfectly normal. To enhance the healing process, cold compresses may be used on the eyes and patients may also be required to lie down whilst their head remains slightly elevated. If need be, your surgeon will also be able to prescribe painkillers to reduce any discomfort during the recovery period.
Aftercare
A patient's eyes will often feel sticky, itchy and dry after the procedure, so it may be necessary to use eye drops. The area around the eyes will need to be kept clean for ten days after the surgery and certain activities/environments should be avoided. Any permanent stitches will normally be taken out within a week of eye lid surgery whilst self-absorbing ones will disappear on their own.
Most insurance policies will not cover this type of surgery if it has been carried out purely for cosmetic reasons. However, if it has been performed because of injury or deformity, then it may be reimbursable. It will obviously be down to each patient to look into this with their own insurance company.
by: Toby Dicks
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