Here are some of the main issues facing people who are considering eyelid surgery – Blepharoplasty – on their upper and lower eyelids
How should a Blepharoplasty change my appearance?
The area around the eyes are the first to show changes of ageing. A properly performed Blepharoplasty should rejuvenate your face and make it look more alert. This operation can also be performed for people with excessive skin on the upper eyelids blocking peripheral vision
How long will the results last?
Nothing lasts forever. However, by rejuvenating the part of the face most prone to ageing, it should take many years for the loose sagging skin to reform and the fat pockets to reaccumulate.
Will there be visible scars following surgery?
Every surgical procedure leads to scars. The incisions in Blepharoplasty are in the normal creases and folds of the upper and lower eyelids. With time the scars become very thin and hardly visible. If surgery is performed to treat baggy lower eyelids, the incision can sometimes be done from inside the eyelid with no external scarring.
Can Blepharoplasty treat sagging eyebrows, crow's feet or dark circles?
Blepharoplasty is not intended to deal with these problems. Other cosmetic procedures may be able to help. Please discuss this with your oculoplastic surgeon.
What are the risks with this surgery?
We are all slightly asymmetrical – if you reflect one side of your face to the other side you would look very different. We tend to have our own concept of what is or is not unacceptable asymmetry in one’s own appearance. So the main risk of any surgery to the eyelids is the risk of unacceptable asymmetry.
Short-term bruising and swelling after surgery is normal and the eyelids may feel quite tight in the immediate post-operative period. The eyes may also feel uncomfortable and dry. Usually this is alleviated by using soothing drops (artificial tears) in the early postoperative period.
Please see Complications of eyelid surgery
How long does Blepharoplasty take?
The surgery is normally performed on a day patient basis under local anesthesia and light intravenous sedation for relaxation.
How much time will I need away from work?
The maximum bruising and swelling should settle after two weeks, although it may take a full month or more to achieve complete recovery. Consult your surgeon.
Can the expenses be covered by medical insurance?
Where there is a case for undertaking surgery to treat visual impairment, some insurance companies will reimburse all or part of upper eyelid surgery. Procedures for cosmetic improvements are generally not covered. However patients should check these details with their insurance companies or agents.
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