Eyelid surgery corrects excess, sagging skin around the eyelids. The eyelids are a prominent part of the face and often begin showing signs of aging first.
The skin loses elasticity with age and the eyelids form excess skin. Other influencing factors include heredity, skin type, lifestyle, allergies, kidney disease, etc. This is not merely a cosmetic defect, but a functional one as well that can cause feelings of fatigue and eye strain.
Depending on the patient’s needs, we can either operate on the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both in the same operation. Blepharoplasty involves removing excess skin from the eyelids and if necessary eliminating bags under the eyes.
The procedure leaves a scar in the crease of the upper eyelid where the skin folds when the eyes open. The scar on the lower eyelid sits just under the eyelashes. The procedure is performed under local anesthetic as an outpatient procedure or with an overnight stay.
|
|
After the procedure is over the wounds are covered with a thin bandage and sterile dressing taped to the skin. Your eyes will not be covered up and you will still be able to see. In most cases you can go home right after the procedure, but you should not drive yourself.
|
|
| Before blepharoplasty | After blepharoplasty |
For the first 24 hours you will need to put cold compresses over the dressings (ice in a plastic bag, cooling gels) and avoid physical activity. We recommend that you not lie horizontally, but prop yourself up with pillows. Two days after the operation you can remove the dressing covering your eyelids, but keep the bandage taped to the skin. You should keep this dry and do not get the area wet for seven days. After the operation you will experience swelling and bruising in the eyelids and face that can last for up to 2-3 weeks.
|
|
| Before blepharoplasty | After blepharoplasty |
You can come in to the clinic for the operating surgeon to remove your stitches seven days after the operation, or if you wish you can remove them yourself at home. Pull the tape off your face with tweezers and then give the thread on the outside of the eyelid a smooth pull to remove the whole stitch. After that you can wash your eyelids and apply cream.
|
|
| Before blepharoplasty | After blepharoplasty |
You can resume office work three days after the operation, but keep in mind that you will still be wearing the bandages and you will have some bruising and swelling. We recommend avoiding sports and physical exertion for two weeks after the procedure.
After the operation the scar will gradually fade from red to nearly invisible, hidden in the upper eyelid crease and under the lower eyelashes. The final results of the operation can be assessed after four to eight weeks.
