Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty): Brighter Eyes, Brighter You!
Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) serves to rejuvenate the upper eyelids, lower eyelids or both by removing excess skin and fat, as well as reshaping the eye.
A youthful eye typically has smooth, wrinkle-free skin on the upper and lower eyelids and absence of puffiness. However, with increasing age eyelid skin can become lax and wrinkled.
This combined with puffiness can give the eyes a tired look. The lax and sagging upper eyelid skin can also fold over the eyelashes causing ‘hooding’ and in severe cases compromise vision.
Eyelid surgery may be combined with brow lift or sub-brow fat grafting to completely rejuvenate the eyes.
Upper eyelid surgery is performed under local anaesthetic and the incision is hidden in the natural eyelid crease. Postoperative discomfort is minimal and most patients can expect to return to normal activities after one week. Sutures are removed at one week and most patients can resume wearing makeup and contact lenses at that time.
Lower eyelid surgery is performed under local or general anaesthetic and the incision is placed just under the eyelashes. Through this incision prolapsed fat can be removed or re-draped. If required, a midface lift can also be performed at the same time to address midface descent.
The ideal patient for eyelid surgery is one who has healthy eyes with no serious conditions, does not smoke, does not have any medical condition that can hinder healing and has realistic expectations of the outcome of surgery.
Prior to your surgery, Mr Karri and his team will give you detailed aftercare instructions. This will include how to care for the surgical site and incisions, pain relief that may be used to handle discomfort and when you may resume normal activity.
Although eyelid surgery is a relatively straightforward procedure, it carries risks inherent to any surgical procedure. These risks include:
- Noticeable scarring
- Slight asymmetry in the appearance of the eyes
- Temporary blurred or double vision
- Haematoma (collection of blood beneath the skin), which typically resolves within a few weeks
In rare cases, more serious complications can arise from eyelid surgery, such as:
- Infection
- Excessive bleeding and formation of a haematoma
- Drooping of the lower eyelid away from the eye (known as ectropion)
- Injury to the muscles surrounding the eyes
- Blindness
- Allergic reaction to the anaesthesia
During your consultation, Mr Karri will thoroughly discuss these potential risks and side effects with you. The purpose of this comprehensive discussion is to provide you with the necessary information to make an informed and safe decision.
Medically reviewed by
Mr Vasu Karri
BSc(Hons), MBBS, MRCS, MSc, FRCS(Plast)
Consultant Plastic Surgeon
Last updated 4th September 2023
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