Upper Eyelid Surgery- Belpharoplasty
An eyelid lift or blepharoplasty as it is called is a procedure that will remove the skin from the eyelids
Upper blepharoplasty surgery uses incisions to allow for removal of skin and fat. A thin stitch is then used to bring the skin together to allow for a creation of an eyelid crease.This procedure is used to address drooping or puffy eyes and create a more rested and youthful appearance and improve symmetry.
Why Have An Eyelid Reduction ?
With age, our muscles slacken and the skin loses its elasticity. For the eyelids, this results in folds in the upper lids and deepening creases in the lower lids. Also, the slackening of muscle beneath the skin allows the fat which cushions the eyes in their sockets to bulge forwards to give the appearance of bagginess. In some families there is an inherited tendency for bags to develop during early adulthood.
Folds, creases and bagginess often seem worse in the morning, particularly after periods of stress and lack of sleep. This is because fluid that is normally distributed throughout the body when it is upright tends to settle in areas where the skin is loose, such as the eyelids, when a person is lying down.
The ageing process can also cause drooping of the eyelids, and folds of skin to gather in the upper eyelids. Sometimes there is so much skin that the upper lids hang over the eyelashes.
What to Expect/Consultation
Knowing what to expect after the procedure is important and can make the process less overwhelming. An initial consultation will allow you to talk to your Doctor about the reasons why you wish to have eyelid surgery/results and expectations. Our Doctor will take photographs using our state of the art Vectra 3 D analysis as well as a full medical history. This will assess your suitability for the surgery.
Your upper Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is performed under local anaesthetic and takes around 1 hour.
The procedure involves removing skin and excess fat from the upper eyelid. An incision will be made into the natural folds of your eyes and is stitched using a non dissolving stich. This is r1emoved approx0 days post procedure from our Nurse. The skin is then carefully stitched with a non-dissolving stitch which is taped to the nose and temple.
We will supply you with some eye ointment and this should be used for one week post-surgery, four times a day, on the inside of the eye and the wounds.
Ice packs can be used and patients should also sleep in a sitting up position, using several pillows to reduce the swelling by preventing fluid from accumulating.
Absolutely avoid any strenuous activities, such as heavy lifting or exercising for at least 7 days into the blepharoplasty recovery period. However, patients need to be mobile right away, so we recommend walking at a gentle pace to begin with.
For the first couple of weeks it is recommended that dark sunglasses be worn to protect the eyes from becoming irritated by wind or sun. We also suggest taking regular naps as the eyes can become tired easily during the recovery period.
Is there any bruising?
Moderate swelling and bruising is very normal, though the severity of it will differ significantly from each patient . This should decrease within just 1-2 weeks after having upper eyelid blepharoplasty. After this time it is generally not at all noticeable that surgery has recently taken place. In a few patients, this swelling and bruising can last for a longer period of time.
Bandages are not normally necessary during the blepharoplasty recovery period, though dressings tend to be placed over the eyes to reduce swelling after the procedure.
Is there any pain ?
This is not a painful procedure and blepharoplasty recovery is relatively easy. You will be numb throughout the procedure and fully awake. The procedure is done using lidocaine making it pain free. Any pain following surgery will usually be slight and can be managed with the appropriate painkillers such as paracetamol.
Recovery/Aftercare
Although the procedure is not major, patients will still need to take some time off from work. Patients who have undergone upper lid surgery will usually be able to go back after 7-10 days. You will be discharged the same day after spending some time in our recovery room. You will be required to have someone pick you up as you will be unable to drive home.
We also ask you to avoid strenuous exercise for approx six weeks.
Will I have scarring?
Incisions will always leave some kind of scar, though the placement and type of surgery will depend on how severe that scarring is. Luckily, the eyelids are one of the easiest places to heal and therefore leave very little by way of scarring. Upper eyelid scars are carefully disguised by creases in the skin, especially when the eyes are open.
Typically, any scarring is small and will only be a few millimetres in length. They can, however, be a bit more noticeable in the crow’s feet area. On the whole though, scarring for blepharoplasty is not an issue and is one of the least noticeable forms of facial cosmetic surgery.
Will I need more surgery later?
The ageing process will still occur whether we like it or not and although the results of blepharoplasty last for many years, drooping and bulging of the eyelids will still take place as you age. This is not because the surgery has been unsuccessful. As with a lot of cosmetic procedures, more than one procedure may be necessary in order to reach your ‘ideal’ result.
How Can I help My Surgery Being Successful?
Be as healthy as possible. It is important to keep your weight steady with a good diet and regular exercise. Your GP can give you advice on this.
If you smoke, stopping at least six weeks before the operation will help to reduce the risk of complications.
Do not worry about removing hair near where cuts will be made, but do have a bath or shower during the 24 hours before your operation to make sure that the area is as clean as possible.
For more information please visit https://baaps.org.uk/patients/procedures/9/eyelid_surgery
