Eyelid Surgery reduces excess skin folds, muscle and fat bags from upper and lower eyelids. Blepharoplasty can provide both a cosmetic improvement as well as a functional improvement for the patient.

This surgery can make the patient look and feel younger by correcting bags below the eyes and drooping upper eyelids. The procedure may also make the patient appear less tired. Blepharoplasty is often performed in conjunction with facelifts and eyebrow lifts.

Eyelid surgery will not improve drooping eyebrows or correct wrinkles on cheeks, temples, forehead, or face.

Blepharoplasty cannot improve upon dark circles under eyes or make the patient appear to have a different ethnic background. For individuals who tend not to have an upper eyelid crease (Asians), eyelid surgery may provide this feature.

Normally Blepharoplasty is not covered by insurance.

However, for patients' whose vision is affected by drooping eyelids (Eyelid Ptosis), insurance may cover the procedure. Eyelid Ptosis usually requires shortening the levator muscle (muscle that controls the upper eyelid). Be sure to utilize a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for this procedure. If the procedure is not done correctly, the eyelid can remain permanently closed.

Consultation:
As with any cosmetic procedure, a consultation with the surgeon is a necessity. Setting realistic expectations and assessing risks is important before any time or money is spent. During the Blepharoplasty consultation, most surgeons test for tear production and test the patient's vision. Bring glasses and contact lenses to the consult. Patients may also want to bring a copy of their opthalmologist's records.

Candidates:
As a person ages, the skin on eyelids wrinkles, becomes less opaque, and becomes redundant. In some cases, excess skin on eyelids can become so excessive that it may obstruct an individual's vision. Extra weight on the eyelid can make it difficult to keep the lid open. Bulges may appear on or under upper and lower eyelids from sagging skin and muscles.

As always, the best candidates for surgery are healthy people. Most individuals who complete this procedure are 35 years or older. Some patients who genetically have baggy eyes may also want the procedure.

Since Blepharoplasy is an operation surrounding the eye, patients with the following conditions should seek the advice of medical experts before having the procedure: Graves' disease, dry eye, detached retina, and glaucoma. Individuals with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, thyroid problems, high blood pressure, or circulatory disorders should also use caution before having Blepharoplasty performed.

Possible Complications :
As with any surgery, patients sometimes react to anesthesia or may experience infections. Some Blepharoplasty patients experience double for blurred vision. This usually only lasts for a few days. Eyelids will swell for a brief period of time, and small whiteheads may appear after stitches are removed. In some cases, the whiteheads need to be removed with a needle.

Because both sides of a person's face are not identical, the eyes may not be perfectly symmetrical after they heal. Scarring may be different for each eye.

Since the muscles of the eye are sometimes corrected, some individuals may experience difficulty closing their eyes. This may be permanent in rare cases. Another rare occurrence is the drooping or sagging of lower eyelids, called ectropion. With this complication, additional surgery will probably be needed.

The Surgery:
The surgeon will mark the incision sites with a special pen, and follow the marks for the incision. Incisions usually follow the natural lines of the eyelids, such as creases in upper lids and immediately under the lashes of lower lids.

As with a facelift, the surgeon separates the skin from the muscle and fat below the skin's surface. Excess fatty tissue is removed, and drooping muscle and skin is trimmed.

The incision is closed with special sutures designed for the eyes ( usually smaller and thinner than normal stitches).
If both eyes are being corrected, usually the upper eyelids are handled first, followed by the lower lids.
If the patient does not need skin removed from the lower lid, a transconjunctival blepharoplasty is performed. In this procedure, an incision is made inside the lower eyelid, and excess fat is removed. This procedure leaves no visible scars on the skin, and is usually performed on younger patients with greater skin elasticity. The entire procedure should last from one to four hours, depending upon the individual and the extent of the surgery.

After the Surgery:
Patients will experience bruising and swelling around the eyes after surgery. This should subside after two or three weeks.

Temporary vision problems and excessive tearing may occur.

Instructions are given to the patient to avoid complications. The eyes will are lubricated with ointment after the surgery. This will leave eyes feeling gummy for a few weeks. The surgeon should provide special cleansing instructions for eyes. Bandages may also be applied.

This operation may be more painful than the facelift. Eyes tend to be sensitive. After the anesthesia wears off, eyelids tend to be sore and tight. Pain medications may be prescribed by the surgeon.

Eye-drops may be recommended to keep the eyes moist. For a few weeks, eyes may be sensitive to light and blurred and double vision may occur.

Stitches are usually removed from two days to a week after surgery. After the stitched are removed, swelling and bruising around the eyes should dissipate.

Most patients can return to work 7-10 days after surgery.

Applying cosmetics around the eyes too early may cause infection.

Keep out of the sun and wear sunglasses for a few months!

Successful operations leave patients appearing younger and more alert. Eyelid creases will be improved and fat bulges should disappear. Scarring should be hidden within the folds and creases of the eyes