As a person gets older, muscles around the eyelids weaken, allowing excess fat to gather which may cause sagging eyebrows or under-eye bags.
Blepharoplasty is plastic surgery to the eyelid. A common reason to undergo a blepharoplasty can be to restore function or to improve the appearance and function of the eyelids.
What Happens During a Blepharoplasty
A numbing medication will be administered to help the eyelids relax and make the procedure painless. For surgeries that occur on the upper eyelid there is usually skin, and sometimes muscle and fat removed from the fold in the eyelid before the incision is closed. On the lower eyelid, the surgeon usually makes a cut underneath the lashes and skin, muscle, and fat will be redistributed or removed. The procedure generally takes less than two hours to complete.
Tips for After the Procedure
If no complications arise, the patient can go home later that day. Common side effects include blurred vision, watering eyes, pain, swelling and bruising, puffy eyelids, and light sensitivity.
Steps that should be taken following the procedure are:
- Use doctor-recommended pain medication and antibiotic
- Gently clean eyelids and use prescribed eye drops
- Wear dark-tinted sunglasses
- Have stitches removed at the appropriate time
- Apply a cool compress to ease swelling
- Avoid rubbing the eyes
- Use glasses instead of contact lenses
If a patient is in good health, has no eye problems, and has reasonable expectations as to what eyelid surgery entails they should have good results from this procedure. Consult with a plastic surgeon at West Coast Plastic Surgery Center to find out if you are a good candidate for blepharoplasty!