What's involved with an Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty?
The upper eyelids often develop hooding and redundant skin as we get older. This can give a tired appearance to the upper eyelids and many times the forehead muscles have to do extra work to keep raising the eyebrows in order to compensate for the extra upper eyelid skin that creates a heaviness to the upper lids. This has the side effect of increasing wrinkles in the forehead. Removing the excess upper eyelid skin helps to rejuvenate the eyelids and provide a brighter more youthful appearance without the tired, droopy, and heavy eyelids that are a telltale sign of aging. The procedure to correct the upper eyelids is typically done under local anesthetic as a minor surgery procedure with the incisions placed in the eyelid crease that make them well-concealed. Many times your close friends and relatives often cannot tell that you have had something done, but will notice that you somehow look brighter, refreshed, and more youthful.
Dr. Sharma will sit down with you to discuss your goals and review the procedure along with the risks and benefits with you in detail. Most patients are interested in a refreshed but natural appearance to their eyelids and we strive to get you the look that you deserve.
What's involved with a Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty?
The lower eyelids can sometimes have a combination of excess skin as well as bulging of the lower eyelid fat pads which creates a puffy lower eyelid with a deep crease. Correction of the lower eyelid involves removing some of the excess skin and redraping the bulging fat to soften the lower eyelid crease and create a smoother transition between the lower eyelid and the upper cheek. This provides a softer more youthful appearance to the lower eyelids with the incisions placed in well-concealed locations. This procedure can be done either under local anesthetic or with sedation or general anesthesia depending on what is required to correct and your comfort level. The lower eyelid blepharoplasty can be done either alone or in conjunction with the upper eyelid procedure. Dr. Sharma will discuss all of your options with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Am I a Good Candidate?
Good candidates for these procedures are men or women who:
- are self-conscious about the excess upper or lower eyelid skin
- find that their eyelids look tired, heavy, or droopy
- do not have significant problems with dry eyes, ectropion (drifting of the eyelid away from the eyeball), or other significant eye problems
- may want to correct some eyelid asymmetry
- have realistic expectations
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What happens on the day of surgery?
Surgery takes place in the procedure room with you awake with local anesthetic or under a general anesthetic, and can take 1-2 hours. Markings are first made with you upright to plan out the amount of excess skin to safely remove, and the locations of the incisions. The stitches will stay in place for about 1 week and all post-operative instructions and prescriptions will be given to you before going home. You will be able to go home the same day of surgery with a responsible adult.
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What happens after surgery?
Recovery is a gradual process. You are encouraged to take it easy without strenuous physical activity. The first 1-2 days you may need some of the prescribed pain medications, and there will b some swelling and bruising of the eyelids. Most patients are needing only Tylenol or Advil after that. You will be able to shower the next day and apply a light layer of polysporin ointment. Generally it is a good idea to take 1 week off work, depending on what type of work you do. At 2-3 weeks from surgery you will typically feel fully recovered with most of the bruising and swelling resolved. You will have to avoid heavy lifting and vigorous exercise up until about 4 weeks from surgery. The final results can take up to 3 months to ultimately see.
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