Eyelid surgery (technically called
blepharoplasty) is a procedure to remove fat--usually along with
excess skin and muscle--from the upper and lower eyelids. Eyelid
surgery can correct drooping upper lids and puffy bags below your
eyes - features that make you look older and more tired than you
feel, and may even interfere with your vision. However, it won't
remove crow's feet or other wrinkles, eliminate dark circles under
your eyes, or lift sagging eyebrows. Blepharoplasty can be done
alone, or in conjunction with other facial surgery procedures such
as a facelift or
brow lift.
If you're considering eyelid surgery, this information will give
you a basic understanding of the procedure-when it can help, how
it's performed, and what results you can expect. It can't answer
all of your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient
and the surgeon. Please ask Dr. Vincent about anything you don't
understand.
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 Dr. Vincent.
The best candidates for eyelid surgery are men and women who are
physically healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in their
expectations. Most are 35 or older, 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 is also reason for caution; check with your ophthalmologist
before you have surgery.
The initial consultation with Dr.
Vincent is very important.
Dr. Vincent will need your complete medical history, so check your own
records ahead of time and be ready to provide this information.
You will also be required to have a recent eye exam and have the
results sent to our office prior to the surgery.
You and Dr. Vincent should carefully discuss your goals and expectations
for this surgery. You'll need to discuss whether to do all four
eyelids or just the upper or lower ones, whether skin as well as
fat will be removed, and whether any additional procedures are appropriate.
Dr. Vincent will explain the techniques and anesthesia he
will use, the type of facility where the surgery will be performed,
and the risks and costs involved. (Note: Most insurance policies
don't cover eyelid surgery, unless you can prove that drooping upper
lids interfere with your vision. Check with your insurer.)
Don't hesitate to ask Dr. Vincent any questions you may have, especially
those regarding your expectations and concerns about the results.
You will be given specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery,
including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking
or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. Carefully following
these instructions will help your surgery go more smoothly.
While you're making preparations, be sure to arrange for someone
to drive you home after your surgery, and to help you out for a
few days if needed.
Blepharoplasty usually takes less than one hour depending on the
extent of the surgery.
Eyelid surgery may be performed in our office-based facility, an
out-patient surgery center, or a hospital. It's usually done on an
out-patient basis; rarely does it require an in-patient stay.
Eyelid surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia—which
numbs the area around your eyes—along with general or intravenous
sedatives.
In a typical procedure, the surgeon makes incisions following the
natural lines of your eyelids; in the creases of your upper lids,
and just below the lashes in the lower lids. The incisions may extend
into the crow's feet or laugh lines at the outer corners of your
eyes. Working through these incisions, the surgeon separates the
skin from underlying fatty tissue and muscle, removes excess fat,
and often trims sagging skin and muscle. The incisions are then
closed with very fine sutures.
If you have a pocket of fat beneath your lower eyelids but don't
need to have any skin removed, Dr. Vincent may perform a transconjunctival
blepharoplasty. In this procedure the incision is made inside your
lower eyelid, leaving no visible scar. It is usually performed on
younger patients with thicker, more elastic skin.
You will need you to keep your head elevated for several days,
and to use cold compresses to reduce swelling and bruising. (Bruising
varies from person to person: it reaches its peak during the first
week, and generally lasts anywhere from two weeks to a month.) You'll
be shown how to clean your eyes, which may be gummy for a week or
so. Dr. Vincent may recommend eye drops, since your eyelids may
feel dry at first and your eyes may burn or itch. For the first
few weeks you may also experience excessive tearing, sensitivity
to light, and temporary changes in your eyesight, such as blurring
or double vision.
Dr. Vincent will follow your progress very closely for the first
week or two. The stitches will be removed four days to a week after
surgery. Once they're out, the swelling and discoloration around
your eyes will gradually subside, and you'll start to look and feel
much better.
You should be able to read or watch television after two or three
days. However, you won't be able to wear contact lenses for about
four weeks, and even then they may feel uncomfortable for a while.
Most people feel ready to go out in public (and back to work) in
a week to ten days. By then, depending on your rate of healing and
Dr. Vincent's instructions, you'll probably be able to wear makeup
to hide the bruising that remains. You may be sensitive to sunlight,
wind, and other irritants for several weeks, so you should wear
sunglasses and a special sun-block made for eyelids when you go
out.
You will need to keep your activities to a minimum for three to
five days, and to avoid more strenuous activities for about three
weeks. It's especially important to avoid activities that raise
your blood pressure, including bending, lifting, and rigorous sports.
You may also be told to avoid alcohol and salt, since it causes
fluid retention.
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 Dr. Vincent'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 your stitches are
taken out; Dr. Vincent 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 is ectropion, a pulling down of the
lower lids. In this case, further surgery may be required.
Click here for more information on Cosmetic Surgery
Dr. Vincent
specializes in plastic and cosmetic surgery and his practice is located in
Ogden, Utah. Patients from the following cities and areas of Salt Lake City, West
Valley City, Provo, Sandy, Park City, Orem, Layton, Taylorsville, St. George,
Utah (UT) and Twin Falls, Idaho (ID) can conveniently schedule an appointment
with our Ogden, Utah office.
