The aging process causes the eyelids to sag and droop, which in combination with bags and puffiness can make a person appear more tired and older than they really are.
Both upper and lower eyelid surgery can have a dramatic effect on rejuvenating your eyes. Surgery is often required for the upper eyelid; however, a combination of surgical and non-surgical methods can be used to refresh the lower eyelids.
There are two approaches for treating the lower eyelid. The most commonly used technique for younger patients is to remove only the excess fat from behind the eyelid, leaving no visible scars.
Men appreciate this. An alternative approach is used when there is both excess skin and fat. In this procedure, the incision is placed just below the lower eyelashes and the excess skin is removed to tighten the lower eyelid.
The results are often dramatic. Tired eyes are transformed after surgery into brighter, wider and more refreshed looking eyes. These remarkable changes result from a shorter procedure under local anesthesia with a rapid recovery.
BEFORE & AFTER PICTURES
Upper Eyelids
Excess skin in the upper eyelid may come to rest on the upper eyelashes giving a heavy or tired look, it also makes it difficult to wear eye make-up. Prominent fat pads in the upper eyelid can add to the aged look. Eyebrows often descend as well, and a combination of brow lift and blepharoplasty may be required.
Lower Eyelids
As we age, gravity acts on the lower lids to make them loose and wrinkly, and eventually folds develop in this area. The muscles supporting the lower eyelid become weak and the underlying fat may bulge forward which produces bags and can give the appearance of looking tired.
Upper Blepharoplasty
Upper blepharoplasty surgery in many cases can be performed under local anesthetic in our dedicated procedure rooms, while a general anesthetic option is also available for the patients that wish to undergo the procedure in this manner. While the operation is reasonably straightforward, the challenge arises in the pre-operative evaluation and planning.
Your eyebrow position and shape have a large influence on your upper eyelid and in some patients, it is the brow which is the primary problem. In this situation, a browlift may be the more appropriate procedure. Keeping these two areas in harmony leads to a fresh and rejuvenated appearance.
A strip of excess skin and some muscle is removed from the upper eyelids. Occasionally, a small amount of excess fat is also removed just from the inside edge of the upper eyelid. The incision is sutured, and the stitches need to come out approximately five days after the surgery.
Lower Blepharoplasty
In much the same way as the upper eyelids are influenced by brow position, the lower eyelid appearance is influenced by the cheek. This makes lower blepharoplasty a technically more demanding procedure.
An incision is made either directly below the eyelashes or within the inner aspect of the eyelid itself. Depending on what is required for you, the fatty bulges can be redistributed, removed or in the majority of cases a combination of both, to achieve a more youthful appearance to the lower eyelid. The structures supporting the lower eyelid are also tightened, to deliver a more youthful lower eyelid.
Upper and lower blepharoplasty can be combined with other cosmetic facial procedures, such as facelift, brow lift or non-surgical interventions to rejuvenate the entire face.
Recovery
- Local anesthetic is used during your surgery, so your recovery should be relatively painless, and you should only need simple analgesia to control any discomfort after the surgery. You will have some blurred vision caused by the use of a lubricant in your eyes which is inserted at the end of your blepharoplasty surgery, and you will continue to use this lubricant and/or eye drops for up to a few weeks after the surgery.
- Post-operatively, swelling, discoloration and bruising is to be expected and this generally lasts up to two weeks. Ice packs may also be used to limit the swelling and bruising, and make-up can be used after a week to camouflage these signs. Sun protection is paramount, and we suggest wearing sunglasses when outside following your surgery, which also of course also helps cover your bruising.
- Temporary swelling after eyelid surgery can affect your vision and your eyes will fatigue more quickly in the early days after your surgery. You should avoid extended television viewing, reading, or straining your eyes for a few days after surgery. Contact lenses may be worn within two weeks once bruising and swelling settle. You may drive and return to work once your vision has returned to normal and you are not taking any strong analgesia.