by Brenda Williams
Surgery on the eyelids is known as blepharoplasty. It is performed to correct several different problems. These may be reduction of creases around the eyes, heaviness above the lids, bags under the eyes, and extra skin. There is also a procedure that Asians often have done that changes the epicanthal fold and results in a rounder eye. Blepharoplasty cannot eradicate "crows feet" or do away with dark circles under the eyes. Sagging eyebrows cannot be helped by blepharoplasty but there is a separate surgery that will raise eyebrows. This is known as a brow lift or forehead lift. Older people sometimes need blepharoplasty for non-cosmetic purposes such as a drooping eyelid that obstructs their vision. Some people are born with a heavy eyelid that interferes with vision at any age. Those contemplating blepharoplasty should first have their eyes thoroughly examined by an ophthalmologist. The surgeon performing the blepharoplasty will need to know that your eyes are healthy and that you don't have any eye problems that could be affected by the surgery.
The surgeon will also want to know about your general health and especially if you have any chronic illnesses such as thyroid disease, congestive heart failure, kidney disease or diabetes mellitus that might cause changes in the tissues of the eye. Your surgery will probably be an outpatient type. You will be given a local anesthesia along with a sedative. If you are having both lids done the procedure requires about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. When doing the upper eyelid, the surgeon makes an incision that follows the crease of your lid. The incision for lower lid surgery is just below the eyelashes. The surgeon then removes the excess skin and fat and closes the incision with small stitches. If your bags are caused only by excess fat under your eyes and you don't have any excess skin, the surgeon may do a transconjunctival blepharoplasty. In this procedure, the incision is made inside your lower eyelid. Then the doctor removes the fat and closes the incision. There is no visible scar.
Once the incisions are closed, the surgeon will lubricate your eyes with an antibiotic ointment. You will be kept at the facility until the anesthesia wears off. When this happens you can expect your eyes will be sore and feel gummy due to the mixture of ointment, tears and blood. You may also have blurry vision. For about ten days following the operation, you can expect some swelling and bruising. Your eyes may be sensitive to light and tear excessively for a few weeks afterward. The site of the incision might also be numb. The incision site will not lose its redness for several months. But after three to six months the scar from the incision will be hardly noticeable if at all.
You will need to protect your eyes from the sunlight. Contact lens wearers may not be able to use their lenses for a month after the surgery. Complications from this surgery are rare. Any that do occur are usually due to bleeding.
The surgeon will also want to know about your general health and especially if you have any chronic illnesses such as thyroid disease, congestive heart failure, kidney disease or diabetes mellitus that might cause changes in the tissues of the eye. Your surgery will probably be an outpatient type. You will be given a local anesthesia along with a sedative. If you are having both lids done the procedure requires about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. When doing the upper eyelid, the surgeon makes an incision that follows the crease of your lid. The incision for lower lid surgery is just below the eyelashes. The surgeon then removes the excess skin and fat and closes the incision with small stitches. If your bags are caused only by excess fat under your eyes and you don't have any excess skin, the surgeon may do a transconjunctival blepharoplasty. In this procedure, the incision is made inside your lower eyelid. Then the doctor removes the fat and closes the incision. There is no visible scar.
Once the incisions are closed, the surgeon will lubricate your eyes with an antibiotic ointment. You will be kept at the facility until the anesthesia wears off. When this happens you can expect your eyes will be sore and feel gummy due to the mixture of ointment, tears and blood. You may also have blurry vision. For about ten days following the operation, you can expect some swelling and bruising. Your eyes may be sensitive to light and tear excessively for a few weeks afterward. The site of the incision might also be numb. The incision site will not lose its redness for several months. But after three to six months the scar from the incision will be hardly noticeable if at all.
You will need to protect your eyes from the sunlight. Contact lens wearers may not be able to use their lenses for a month after the surgery. Complications from this surgery are rare. Any that do occur are usually due to bleeding.
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