Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery)

The ideal candidate for Eyelid Surgery are the ones who are over the age of 40 or the ones who see the signs of aging a bit earlier.

Blepharoplasty is the right surgery for the ones who has got the problems below;


 

• Excess or loose skin that hides the natural fold of the upper eyelids,

• Loose upper eyelid skin that impairs vision,

• Droopy or baggy eyelids,

• Fine, ‘crepe paper’ lower eyelid wrinkles,

• Under-eye ‘bags’ or large dark circles,

• ‘Hooded’ upper eyelids,

• Irritation due to rubbings of excess folds on the eyelids,

• Droopy lower eyelids that make the white portion of iris visible.

You can learn how to prepare for blepharoplasty surgery in detail from the specialist doctor and his(her team. You will be informed about what you need to know before the surgery and the instructions you need to follow.

You can expect questions about your medical history at the first meeting with your doctor before the surgery. Blepharoplasty is a surgical operation performed under general anesthesia.

For this reason, whether you have had surgery before, the medications you use, your alcohol and smoking habits, and the supplements you take are important. In addition to these, problems with your eyelids and eyes, allergies and things like that should be known.

Patients who know what result they will get from the blepharoplasty operation enter the operation with realistic expectations.

Sharing the dreams and wishes of the patient with the doctor and knowing more or less how the postoperative results will take shape prepares them better for the operation.

Before your blepharoplasty procedure, you will be asked to:
 

• Get a medical evaluation

• Take certain medications,

• Adjust your current medications if necessary,

• Stop smoking,

• Stop drinking alcohol,

• Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements (they can increase bleeding and bruising)

A blepharoplasty should be performed in a fully equipped surgical facility either a licensed surgical center, or a hospital.

Make sure to arrange for a companion to drive you to and from surgery, and to stay with you the first night following surgery.

During eyelid surgery, the following happens:

Anesthesia:

Sedation or general anesthesia is applied before blepharoplasty surgery. Your doctor will recommend the best option for you.

General anesthesia is preferred more for the comfort of the patient. Thus, the patient does not feel any pain during the operation.



Incision:

The incision lines for blepharoplasty are opened in such a way that the surgical scars are inconspicuous. For this, the incision is well hidden within the natural folds of the upper eyelid.

This incision allows the removal or reshaping of fatty tissues, tightening of muscles and removal of excess skin.

For the lower eyelid, an incision is made just below the lower lash line. Excess skin on the lower eyelid is removed through this incision. Interventions on the upper eyelid are also performed on the lower eyelid.

Closing the Incisions:

The final stage of blepharoplasty surgery is the closure of the incisions. The eyelid incisions are closed with sutures. If self-absorbing sutures were not used, the sutures are removed one week after the surgery.

After the operation, you will be discharged on the same day. It is not recommended to drive a car or go home alone after eyelid surgery. Therefore, you must have a companion.

The results of eyelid surgery appear in the first week after swelling and bruises subside. After the surgery, patients have a smooth and youthful-looking eyelid and surrounding area.

The average cost of cosmetic eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) in the United States is $4000. This cost is average and the price may increase depending on the institution you contact. The prices are roughly around the same in European countries.

The surgeon's fee will depend on his/her experience, the type of procedure used, and geographic office location.

Each patient is different so the healing differs from person to person. After the Eyelid surgery, it's recommended to take 7-10 day off from work and do nothing but relax at home, rest, and begin to recover.

Swelling and bruising are unavoidable. Most bruising resolves within 10-14 days. Swelling will start usually 1-2 days after the eyelid surgery but in the first 7-10 days it will resolve quickly. 



After about six weeks you will start to see the final result of your eyelid surgery. At this stage, some very mild residual swelling may still be visible as the delicate tissues and muscles around the eye adjust to the surgery.

After the healing your surgeon may also suggest use of a laser or chemical peel to reduce discoloration of the lower eyelids.

Pros of Blepharoplasty
 

• An eyelid surgery will make you look fresh and young,

• Any scars from the eye lift will be hidden in your natural eyelid creases, making them almost indiscernible.

• Recovery time after eyelid surgery is comfortable. Within and around a week you will be able to turn back to normal life.

• It helps to improve vision as excess, loose skin around eyes may impair vision.

• It corrects lower eyelid droopiness

Cons of Blepharoplasty
 

• To go back to work or your daily life you will need 4-7 days of downtime,

• You may find difficulty in closing your eyes.

• Swelling, bruising, and dryness are the most common side effects.

• You may feel dry and itchy eyes after surgery.

• You may need to have the repetitive surgery after a few years, as this surgery doesn’t stop eyes from aging.

• It may damage the underlying structure of the eye as the anatomy around the eye is delicate.

Blepharoplasty is not risk free but with minimal side effects it’s a safe procedure.  Pain level may change from person to person but as common the only pain you will feel is the shot of local anesthesia. 

There is no specific season or month to have blepharoplasty surgery. The operation can be performed in four seasons and in every month of the year.

However, winter and autumn seasons may be more advantageous in order to better protect the surgical incisions and to have a relatively comfortable healing process.



Direct exposure to the sun is prohibited, especially in summer. If you have your surgery in the summer, you need to be careful about it. Apart from this, you can have blepharoplasty surgery in any season you want.

The effect of eyelid surgery is permanent for many years. Under normal conditions, it does not need to be repeated because the outcomes of the surgery countinue for about 10-15 years.

However, surgery may be required at very advanced ages. There is no harm in performing blepharoplasty surgery again.

A droopy eyelid is usually only seen as a cosmetic problem and is not considered dangerous. However, this is not true. If the droopy eyelid is not severe, it may initially cause cosmetic problems.

However, if it is not corrected, it may cause vision loss by restricting the field of vision of the person in the future. Not to mention that it makes the person look old, tired and exhausted.

The situation is even more dangerous if the droopy eyelid is caused by an infection. In this case, the patient should go to the nearest hospital and be examined by a specialist ophthalmologist.

Droopy eyelids are congenital in some patients. This is usually due to the inability of the muscle holding the eyelid to be strong enough in the womb.

In the case of drooping eyelids that develops later, the reason is mostly the weakening or damage of the muscles holding the eyelid.



In some cases, it can be caused by a blow to the eye, injury or the presence of eye tumors. In addition, eyelid inflammation and infections can also cause drooping of the eyelids.

Droopy eyelids are not always caused by the above reasons. Apart from all these, some methods and drugs used in the treatment of some eye diseases brought by old age can also damage the muscles of the eyelid.

Today, ptosis disease may occur due to the side effects of drugs used in the treatment of some diseases.

The expectation of patients from blepharoplasty surgery is to remove the excess skin on the eyelids and to have tighter and healthier eyelids. Some patients may also request removal of bags on the lower eyelids.

Following your post-operative instructions is crucial to the success of your surgery. It is important that surgical incisions are not exposed to excessive force or movement during the recovery process.

Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself. As long as you follow these instructions, you can expect successful results.

Due to genetic factors, aging and environmental factors can cause deformation around the eye. As the person starts aging, fat cells around eyelids start to accumulate while the muscles tend to weaken which causes droopy eyelids and eyebrows.



Saggy eyelids or eyebrows are not only an aesthetic problem it also affects the vision besides looking ages and tired. Blepharoplasty can be done due to the cosmetic or medical reasons. Edema or an eye allergy can also cause puffy eyes which causes sagging eyelids.

Possible risks of Eyelid surgery are rare and can usually be avoided by carefully choosing a qualified surgeon and following his or her instructions. 

But this doesn't mean that eyelid surgery is risk free. As any surgical procedure there are common risks such as; swelling and bruising, bleeding from the surgery lines and taking anesthesia...  

Possible risks of Eyelid surgery includes; 
 

• Dryness to the eyes and Infection,

• Sensitivity to the sun or other bright light,

• Difficulty in closing your eyes,

• Lid lag, a temporary pulling down of the lower eyelid, may occur,

• Temporary or even permanent change in vision,

• Changes in skin sensation or numbness of the eyelashes,

• Possible need for revision surgery,

• Bad scarring.

You will be asked to sign approval forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks and possible complications involved in the  Eyelid Surgery.

Eyelid surgery usually takes less than an hour.