What is blepharoplasty(Eye lid lift) ?

Our eyes do more than seeing; they communicate our feelings to others. Cosmetic eyelid surgery works to restore a more open, refreshed, and naturally youthful appearance to aging eyes. If you’re tired of looking tired even when you feel great, it may be time to talk to a plastic surgeon about your options.

Your eyes are one of the good indicators of your state of well being and your age. If your eyes are puffy or drooping, you look stressed and tired as well. Sagging eyelid skin not only makes you look older but also it can cause limitations to the peripheral vision or the ability to drive.

Blepharoplasty can help restore a naturally youthful, refreshed appearance to tired-looking, aging eyes. An eyelid lift is a highly individualized procedure that can address sagging skin, smooth wrinkles, reduce puffiness, and correct other signs of aging around the upper and lower eyelids.

Blepharoplasty is a cosmetic surgical repair of the drooping eyelids and the bags under the eyes, which involves the removal of the excess skin, fat, and muscles. This surgery also addresses the wrinkles on your lower eyelids. It makes you look younger and eliminates the associated vision problems.

It is either performed alone or in conjugation with other facial surgeries.

Why consider Eyelift or Blepharoplasty surgery?

Our eyelids are home to the thinnest, most delicate skin on our bodies, so it’s no surprise that signs of aging will begin to appear around our eyes earlier than in most other areas. Aging eyelids can affect a person’s appearance in ways beyond just looking older—because so much emotion is expressed with our eyes, sagging, drooping eyelid skin can cause a tired, sad or even angry appearance, even when a person feels great.

Cosmetic eyelid surgery is designed to help counteract these changes and restore a naturally refreshed, youthful appearance to the eyes. The results can be life-enhancing, helping a patient feel more confident in his or her appearance.

What are the options for eyelid surgery?

Upper Eyelid Surgery

Do you feel like your eyes always look tired, as though you are unhappy or less alert than you feel? Do your upper eyelids seem to lack contour or obscure your upper eyelashes? Sagging, wrinkled skin on the upper eyelids can cause this type of appearance, and upper eyelid surgery can help remove the excess skin and restore a naturally youthful shape to your eyelids and a more open, refreshed appearance to your eyes.

Upper eyelid surgery typically involves an incision made in the natural crease above the eye, through which your plastic surgeon will remove a precise amount of excess skin and fat and/or adjust the surrounding muscles to make the desired improvements.

Lower Eyelid Surgery

Do you have puffy, sagging “bags” beneath your eyes that make you look as though you haven’t slept well, even though you have plenty of energy? This is likely due to herniated fat that collects beneath the eyes. While this can become more pronounced over time as skin loses elasticity, puffy lower lids can occur in patients as young their twenties, causing them to look much older than they actually are.

Lower eyelid surgery can be an excellent solution to correct eyelid bags. There are a variety of surgical techniques that cosmetic surgeons can use to improve the lower eyelids; incisions are generally located on the outer edge of the lower eyelid, just beneath the eyelashes or inside the eyelid. Your cosmetic surgeon will explain the approach he or she determines is best for you.

Through the incisions, your plastic surgeon will remove or reposition fat to create a smooth, natural contour beneath the eyelid. Depending on the case, excess, sagging skin may be removed or the lower eyelid muscle may be tightened to provide the most natural, effective results.

Combining Eyelid Surgery with Another Procedure

If you are like many patients, you may want to address aging in a few different areas of your face. While eyelid surgery alone can significantly rejuvenate your appearance, it’s quite common to have a facelift, brow lift, or both performed in conjunction with an eyelid lift to achieve more comprehensive facial rejuvenation. A brow lift will address sagging skin and deep furrows above the eyes, while a facelift will address jowling, sagging, and wrinkles on the cheeks and neck.

Which individuals are suitable for the surgery?

Your surgeon decides whether you are a suitable candidate for the surgery.

• People who are healthy and are with realistic expectations can undergo the surgery.
• Non smokers
• People who do not have any serious eye condition
• No life threatening conditions

Which individuals are not suitable for the surgery?

People with certain medical conditions as listed below are not right candidates to undergo blepharoplasty.

• Hypertension (uncontrolled)
• Diabetes (uncontrolled)
• Heart diseases (On Blood Thinners)
• Thyroid problems
• Glaucoma or dry eyes

Such candidates are more prone to have complications after the surgery and should thus avoid the surgery.

How should I prepare for the surgery?

Prior to the surgery, you should have a detailed discussion about the procedure, the risks and benefits, with the surgery and follow the instructions of your surgeon carefully. You should be prepared to your best both physically and mentally.

• Stop smoking at least for a few weeks before and after the surgery. Smoking can hinder your healing process and increase your risk for complications. Also, do not drink alcohol during the week before your surgery.
• Do not take medications such as aspirin or other anti-inflammatory agents in the last weeks before your surgery.
• You should avoid taking food and water for at least 6 hours before undergoing the surgery.
• Arrange for a friend to drive you to the hospital and back home after your discharge. You will feel tired with the affect of anesthesia, and it is not safe to drive.
• Ask someone to take care of your household work, as you will need rest for a few days after the surgery.

You may have to undergo certain tests such as heart and lung examination to check your safety for giving anesthesia. Also, a series of eye tests will be performed by your surgeon.

What are the types of blepharoplasty?

Transconjunctival blepharoplasty: This is the most popular type of blepharoplasty which involves removal of excess fat but not skin, from beneath the lower eyelids.
Transcutaneous blepharoplasty: This technique involves removal of excess skin from both the eyelids.

What will happen during the surgery?

The procedure is done in a daycare basis and usually takes around 2 hours based on the amount of the tissue to be removed.

Pre operative skin markings are made prior to surgery in sitting position.

Your surgeon injects anesthesia to numb your eyelids and to help you relax during the surgery.

The surgery begins with the upper eyelids. An incision is made along the natural fold of the upper eyelid and the excess skin, fat and muscle are removed, and the incision is closed. While working on the lower lid, an incision is made inside the lower lid or just below the eyelashes in the folds of your eyes. The excess skin, fat, and muscle are removed or redistributed, and the incision is closed with thin, biodegradable stitches.