Frequently Asked Questions About Blepharoplasty
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- What is blepharoplasty?
- How is the procedure performed?
- Is there much scarring with a blepharoplasty?
- At what age is blepharoplasty performed?
- Will a blepharoplasty rid me of my eye wrinkles?
- What should I expect post-operatively?
- When will my stitches be taken out?
- When will I be able to see the results?
- What are the risks involved with blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is a surgical procedure to remove bags and excess, drooped skin around the eyes. It is done to remove excess fat, skin and atrophied or loose muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. It is a very common procedure and can rejuvenate and improve the look of hooded eyes that seem old or tired. For many people, the fat pads that are behind their upper eyelids have pushed forward, or herniated, causing a bag over the eye. Fat herniation and loose skin around the eyes usually happen with age, but some young people are prone to it.
Sometimes a blepharoplasty can improve an individual's vision. Excess skin on the upper eyelid can start to droop, blocking peripheral vision. However, generally, blepharoplasty is done to improve the look of the eyes, and may the face younger looking.
2. How is the procedure performed?
In blepharoplasty, incisions are made within the natural creases of the eyelids or on the inside of the eyelids. Your surgeon removes some of the herniated fat and excess skin and then closes the incision with very fine sutures. Complete removal of the fat pads underneath and above the eye should not be done because this can cause a very hollow look that can make you look even older. It can also cause some complications where the eyelid gapes outward or curls in. Many people only need excess skin removed to look younger and refreshed.
3. Is there much scarring with a blepharoplasty?
As with any surgical procedure some scarring is to be expected. However, scarring with blepharoplasty is quite minimal and practically nonexistent after several months. Incisions are placed within the normal creases and folds of the upper and lower eyelids, so that when the eyes are open the scars are invisible. With lower blepharoplasty where only fat is being removed, the incision is often made on the inside of the eyelid, where it will not show at all.
4. At what age can blepharoplasty be performed?
Although there is no set age when blepharoplasty is performed, the usual age that patients start making thinking about having their eyes done is anywhere from 35 to 45. However this is an individual decision, and someone who is younger than 35 may want excess fat or skin in the eye area removed. Older people who are in good health can have a blepharoplasty procedure at almost any age.
5. Will a blepharoplasty get rid of my eye wrinkles?
A blepharoplasty is not designed to remove the wrinkles at the outer corners of your eyes (crow's feet) or fix sagging brows. It is designed to remove the excess skin and herniated fat from the upper and lower lid areas only. There are other procedures available that can be used to remove wrinkles near the eyes, including laser resurfacing and intense pulsed light treatments.
6.What should I expect postoperatively?
After your surgery, your eyes will be tender, swollen, and sore. You will probably have some bruising. Swelling and bruising should resolve in a few days. You may be in some discomfort, but this can be controlled with pain medications. Your vision may be a little blurry for the first few days because of the swelling and your eyes may be watery or may be very dry.
7. When will my stitches be taken out?
Your sutures are normally removed 3 to 5 days after your surgery. This removal process may sting a little bit but is usually not too uncomfortable.
8. When will I be able to see the results?
You should be able to see a definite difference after the swelling goes down,but this won't be for several days. You will need to sleep with your head and shoulders elevated (on two to three pillows) to minimize swelling.
9. What are the risks of blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty, like all surgery, has risks that you must know about before your decide to have the surgery. Minor complications associated with blepharoplasty include temporary double or blurry vision, temporary swelling, and or tiny white pimples. Your two eyes may heal at different rates, which can mean that they will be asymmetrical temporarily. More seriously, you may develop permanent asymmetry or difficulty in closing your eyes and keeping them closed. You may also develop ectropion (where your eyelid gapes outwards) or entropion (where it curls inward), although these are rare possibilities. Ectropion can lead to dry eyes and entropion can cause infections and pain because your eyelashes may scrape against your eye. Further surgery would be needed to correct these problems.
If you have certain underlying health conditions, including thyroid problems (hyperthyroidism or Graves' disease) or insufficient tearing (dry eyes), cardiovascular disease, or high blood pressure, having blepharoplasty may be more risky for you than for others. Graves disease is frequently associated with severe swelling of the tissues around the eye that can sometimes be misdiagnosed as excess under eye fat pads. Other disorders that may increase your risks are myasthenia gravis, diabetes, a detached retina, or glaucoma (high pressure within the eye), and poor skin elasticity. Make sure your surgeon knows everything about your health, including what medications you take.
Sometimes the eye area will not heal correctly and you must have additional surgery to correct it. A surgeon may not charge additional fees if another surgery is necessary, but check on this in advance.
There is also the risk that your doctor may remove all or too much of the fat pads around your eyes. If this happens, as you age further, you may end up with sunken eyes and a hollow, tired, aged look. Many times after complete removal, attempts are made to replace fat with fat grafting. If this has happened to you or you are suffering from hollow or "sunken" looking eyes in general, you may want to look more into fat grafting to correct the problem.