Eyelid Surgery
One of the first indicators of aging can be seen in the eyes. As you age, your eyelids begin to droop, making you appear tired and older than you probably are. If it progresses far enough, drooping eyelids can even impair your vision. Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is a procedure that can counteract this, as well as repair unsatisfying eye traits you may have inherited. Upper eyelid surgery and/or lower eyelid surgery can be performed to achieve your desired look.
If you choose to get surgery on your upper eye lids, an incision is made along the upper fold - this is naturally hidden by the crease of your eye. Then any excess fat, muscle, and skin are removed, and the incision is closed with very small, thin sutures. If you choose to have lower eyelid surgery, the incision can be hidden beneath your lower lashes. Then one of two things occurs: either excess fat, muscle, and skin are removed, as in upper eyelid surgery, or the fat is redistributed. The latter is a good choice if your main concern is the puffiness around your eyes. If no skin needs to be removed, the surgeon is able make the incision inside the lower eyelid, so that there is no visible scar.
Often this procedure is done in conjunction with a facelift or brow lift, all of which combine to create a much more youthful appearance. However, as with any surgery, certain risks apply. These risks will be discussed in detail at your complimentary consultation. Surgery will also only correct certain imperfections. This is why it is important to discuss reasonable expectations with your surgeon. Eyelid surgery is a great option if your main concern is drooping eyelids or puffiness. It won't, however, eliminate crow's feet, wrinkles, dark circles, or erase ethnic or racial heritage. Some of these issues can be addressed if you combine your eyelid surgery with other procedures.
Ultimately, eyelid surgery is a relatively quick procedure that will leave you looking years younger. Plus, unlike certain other surgeries, the results for many people are permanent. The majority of people are able to return to their normal routine within a week to 10 days. Pinkish scars can remain for six months or more, but eventually they will fade and become almost invisible, leaving fresh eyelids that don't impair your vision and make you look very youthful.
A Guide to Eyelid Surgery
Although it does not receive as much media attention as many other types of plastic surgery, eyelid surgery can help both men and women improve the appearance of their faces. If you are a healthy, stable individual with realistic expectations, you should continue reading to find out more about eyelid surgery.
While eyelid surgery is most commonly performed on men and women over the age of thirty-five, if you are younger and have baggy or droopy eyelids, you can still be a potential candidate to undergo eyelid surgery.
As with every other surgery, there are risks associated with blepharoplasty (the medical term for eyelid surgery). There are several medical conditions that can increase a patient's risk of encountering complications if they choose to undergo this procedure. Medical conditions that may increase the level of risk include circulatory disorders, hypothyroidism, a detached retina, cardiovascular disease, dry eyes, glaucoma, Graves' disease and diabetes.
Some of the minor complications that may occur after eyelid surgery are the appearance of tiny whiteheads following the removal of stitches (these can be removed by a surgeon with a fine needle), minor differences in healing or scarring, temporary swelling at the corner of the eyelids, and temporary blurred or double vision.
In some cases, patients have trouble closing their eyes when they go to sleep. While it is not common, this condition can be permanent. The other potential rare complication of this surgery is called ectropion, which is the pulling down of the lower lids, and is a condition that could require an additional procedure to correct. There is also the potential for a negative reaction to the anesthesia or an infection.
The process of undergoing eyelid surgery begins with a surgical consultation. During this consultation, your board certified plastic surgeon will evaluate whether or not you are a good candidate for this procedure. The surgical evaluation will include a review of your medical history, a survey of your current condition (allergies, medications, vitamins, and other substances including alcohol, cigarettes and recreational drugs). Your surgeon will also review information and records from your ophthalmologist, along with testing your sight and tear production. While this evaluation may make you feel uncomfortable, it is very important to be completely honest with your surgeon so they can identify and minimize the chances of any complications.
In addition to conducting an evaluation, your surgeon will discuss all of the details of the procedure with you. From the cost of the surgery (which will normally not be covered by insurance carriers unless there is significant proof of your eyelids negatively impacting your vision) to the specific technique that will be used to the type of anesthesia that will be administered during your eyelid surgery, you can get all of the information that you need to make an informed decision about this procedure directly from your surgeon.
The other important component of this consultation is ensuring that you and your surgeon are on the same page about your expectations for the results of eyelid surgery. By being candid and honest about your expectations, your surgeon can decide on the best approach and method to achieve the results that you desire.
Once your consultation is complete, if your surgeon approves you for this procedure and you decide that you still want to go through with it, you will receive detailed guidelines on how to prepare for your surgery. This includes instructions about drinking, eating, taking medications and smoking. To ensure that your recovery process gets off to a smooth start, you should find a family member or friend who can take you home from the hospital and help you get settled into your home to begin your recovery.
Although there are cases where a surgeon will choose to use local anesthesia, most surgeons choose to use general anesthesia. Once the anesthesia has been administered, your surgeon will make incisions along the natural lines of your eyelids (in the event of all four eyelids being done, most surgeons choose to start at the top and end on the bottom). One at a time, the surgeon will separate the skin from the muscle, remove any excess fat that is causing the eyelid to sag and possibly trim away sagging muscle or skin. After an eyelid is done, the incisions around it will be closed with very small sutures.
Once your surgeon has finished all of your eyelids, ointment will be used to lubricate your eyes and a bandage may be applied. Although you should call your surgeon if you feel severe pain at any time following your surgery, the minor pain you will experience can be reduced through the use of prescription medications.
Once you reach your home, you will need to elevate your head and use cold compresses to help reduce the bruising and swelling on your face. The bruising on your face will be at its worse during your first week of recovery, and will fade within two to four weeks. You will also be given instructions on how to clean your eyes, since they will normally be gummy during the first week of recovery (eye drops are one of the preferred methods for cleaning the eyes during this time period). Your stitches will be removed in two to seven days, which will greatly decrease your level of discomfort and allow your eyelids to continue healing.
In most cases, your eyes should feel comfortable enough for you to resume work within seven to ten days. However, over the next several weeks, it is not uncommon to experience sensitivity to light and wind or temporary distortion of your vision. Many of these problems can be reduced by wearing sunglasses and special eyelid sunblock any time you go outside.
While you should avoid alcohol and strenuous activities that raise your blood pressure during the first three to four weeks of recovery, after this time period, you should be able to resume your normal lifestyle. Your scars may remain pink for over six months after your surgery, but they will eventually fade to an almost invisible white and you will be left with youthful looking eyes for years to come.
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