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Blepharoplasty commonly known as eyelid surgery

Overview

Although eyelid surgery is most often undertaken for cosmetic reasons, there are conditions where the procedure can become necessary for medical reasons.

It is a common sense precaution to take advice from your usual medical practitioner before committing yourself to surgery.

You should be aware that, as with all types of surgery, there are risks. These include infection, blindness, dry eyes,blurred vision,swelling, inability to completely close one or both eyes and double vision.

Although these risks are by no means common it is a sensible precaution to check out the reputation and qualifications of your intended surgeon and be sure to ask him to run through the procedure and risks with you before committing yourself to surgery.

More often than not you will feel that undertaking successful eyelid surgery has made a significant difference to your self confidence by removing unsightly features around your eyes.

It is often said that the eyes are the first point of contact people make with each other and we all know how important first impressions can be.

Blepharoplasty can be a truly ' life enhancing ' cosmetic procedure.

What is it?

Blepharoplasty is a procedure in which excessive fat, skin and muscle, which has either accumulated over the years or is a natural feature is removed surgically from the upper and/or lower eyelids. As people age, the eyelid skin stretches, muscles weaken, and fat accumulates around the eyes, causing "bags" above and below.

Why have it?

Drooping upper eyelids and puffy bags below the eye can age a person and make them look more tired then they actuall feel.

Sometimes excessively lids can interfere with eyesight. Removal of these can rejuvenate an appearance resulting in more self confidence and self esteem.

Blepharoplasty will not remove crow's feet or other wrinkles.

Who can have it?

The best candidates are physically healthy and psychologically stable men and women in their 30s onwards. If droopy or baggy eyelids run in the family surgery can be perfomed earlier.

The Procedure.

The patient is normally administered with a local anaesthetic along with general sedatives.

A general anaesthetic is also available for patients who prefer to sleep through the operation. An incision is made following the natural line of the eyelid, in the creases of the upper lids and immediately below the lashes in the lower lids.

The excess fat is removed and the sagging skin and muscle is often trimmed. The insicions are then closed with very fine sutures and a bandage may be applied.

After Effects

When the anaesthesia wears off the eyes may feel sore and tight. This can be relieved with prescribed pain killers.

The swelling and bruising will take up to a month to reduce, varying upon the individual. There may be sensitivity to sunlight or wind and it will be advisable to wear sunglasses during this period.

Televison and reading should be restricted for about 2-3 days and contact lens will not be advisable.

The scars may remian slightly for about 6 months but will eventuall disappear to an almost invisible line.

The positive results will last for years and for many people are permanent.

Copyright 2006 Jaks Lloyd