Blepharoplasty

Synonymous to: Eyebag Removal, Slit Eye Surgery, Eye Fold Creation, Double Eyelid Surgery, Deep Set Eye, Eye Bag Surgery

Rejuvenation of the eyelid area is technically called blepharoplasty, the procedure used to improve the appearance of the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both, restoring firmness to the area surrounding the eyes and making you look more rested and alert. A lot of patients who seek to improve the appearance of their eyes complain that they have a lot of loose and excess skin at their eye area, giving them a tired and aged appearance that does not reflect their actual age.

The changes that occur with aging at the eyelid area are very noticeable and often affect a patient’s self esteem. These changes can be fullness and hooding of the upper eyelid skin, poor definition of the upper eyelid folds, and puffiness or bagginess of the lower eyelid. They can be very prominent and affect the facial profile or appearance of the patient, giving him or her a tired, sad, and haggard appearance.

Eyelid surgery can treat loose or sagging skin of the periorbital area, redefine or recreate the upper eyelid folds, or hide the natural contour of the upper eyelid. It can address the excess skin that hangs from the upper eyelid (sometimes impairing vision) and the excess fatty deposits that appear as puffiness in the upper eyelids or bags under the eyes. It can also remedy droopiness, excess skin, and fine wrinkles of the lower eyelid.

Unlike brow lift, the effects of a blepharoplasty procedure are more localized on the eyelid area. The skin surrounding the eyes is the area where the first signs of aging set in. As early as the second to the third decade of life, skin redundancy and fat protrusion in the periorbital area can be noted. Through time, this may progress to deep wrinkling with hooding of the upper eyelid skin, puffy lower eyelids, and may be accompanied by drooping of the eyebrows. These give the face a tired, sad, or angry expression. Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that addresses these issues in the eyelid area. It can brighten the face, improve the definition of the upper eyelid folds, and restore a more youthful appearance. This is attained by removing the loose, sagging skin of the eyelids and the excess fat that bulges from them.

This procedure is done under local anesthesia and takes two to three hours to complete. The incision is oriented along the natural fold or crease of the upper and lower eyelids so that the result will be a very inconspicuous scar. Patients should not worry about the final appearance of the scar since this is much concealed and hardly noticeable. Excess skin and protruding fats are excised to create a smooth and crisper appearance of the eyelid skin. This will also improve the definition of the upper eyelid fold. This procedure is usually performed in a fully-equipped out-patient surgical facility without compromising the patient’s health, safety, and the results. After the procedure, the patient may go home or stay at a hotel to rest and recuperate. Patients must be aware and accept that there will be mild swelling and bruising for two to three days after the procedure. However, this will start to subside on the fourth day onwards. The patient’s eyes would be socially presentable by the seventh to tenth day after the surgery because much of the swelling would have subsided by then. Sutures are removed on the fourth to fifth day after the procedure.

Patients planning to have this procedure are required to allot ten to 14 days for the initial consultation, laboratory, medical clearance, surgery, follow-up, suture removal, and early recuperation. After these, patients are safe to travel since wounds are already dry and healed by then.

Possible risks and complications:

• Unfavorable scarring
• Temporarily blurred or impaired vision
• Dry eyes
• Difficulty closing your eyes
• Lid lag, a pulling down of the lower eyelid may occur and is often temporary
• Ectropion, rolling of the eyelid outwards
• Bleeding (hematoma)
• Poor wound healing
• Infection
• Fluid accumulation
• Blood clots
• Numbness and other changes in skin sensation
• Anesthesia risks
• Eyelid disorders that involve abnormal position of the upper eyelids (eyelid ptosis), loose eyelid skin, or abnormal laxness of the lower eyelid (ectropion) can co-exist with sagging forehead and eyebrow structures; brow lift surgery will not correct these disorders; additional surgery may be required
• Pain, which may persist
• Skin discoloration and swelling
• Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible, or produce irritation that requires removal
• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
• Possibility of revisional surgery
• Loss of eyesight