subject: Eyelid Surgery Risks And Procedure [print this page] Eyelid surgery or also known as blepharoplasty treats drooping or fullness of the upper or lower eyelids. As we get older, their upper eyelids tend to sag and their lower eyelids tend to become puffy. These developments can lead to a tired and older appearance. Blepharoplasty uses small incisions that are hidden within natural skin folds. Various amounts of excess skin, fat and muscle are removed. Scars are usually almost imperceptible. Sometimes the lower eyelids can be treated using incisions made on the inside of the lower eyelid, with no external scars, in a procedure called transconjunctival blepharoplasty. At Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery, we tailor our eyelid surgery to the needs of each individual patient. Though these procedures can only last one to two hours, the improvements in appearance are often dramatic.
During your first consultation , your plastic surgeon will examine you and discuss recommendations for the best type of procedure and incision placement to yield the best results. The procedure can be done as an outpatient, under local anesthesia and sedation administered by a physician anesthesiologist to minimize discomfort during the eyelid surgery. Most patients have very little pain following the surgery because long-acting local anesthetic is administered as part of the procedure. Most patients return to work about a week after surgery. There may be some bruising for a week or so and some swelling for a few weeks after the surgery.
Blepharoplasty can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it won't necessarily change your looks to match your ideal, or cause other people to treat you differently. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon.
The best candidates for eyelid surgery are men and women who are physically healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in their expectations. 35 or older men and women, but if droopy, baggy eyelids run in your family, you may decide to have eyelid surgery at a younger age.
A few medical conditions make blepharoplasty more risky. They include thyroid problems such as hypothyroidism and Graves' disease, dry eye or lack of sufficient tears, high blood pressure or other circulatory disorders, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. A detached retina or glaucoma can also be a reason for caution; check with your ophthalmologist before you have surgery.
When eyelid surgery is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Nevertheless, there is always a possibility of complications, including infection or a reaction to the anesthesia. You can reduce your risks by closely following your surgeon's instructions both before and after surgery.
The minor complications that occasionally follow blepharoplasty include double or blurred vision for a few days; temporary swelling at the corner of the eyelids; and a slight asymmetry in healing or scarring. Tiny whiteheads may appear after you get your stitches taken out; your surgeon can remove them easily with a very fine needle.
Following surgery, some patients may have difficulty closing their eyes when they sleep; in rare cases this condition may be permanent. Another very rare complication of the surgery can be ectropion, a pulling down of the lower lids. In this case, further surgery could be required.
