Blepharoplasty Surgery

Eyes are the most beautiful part of one’s face and the beauty is enhanced by beautifully shaped eyelids with long and thick eyelashes. Sometimes, the eyelids could be distorted at child birth, or following accidental injuries and trauma. Blepharoplasty is the plastic surgery operation for correcting defects, deformities, and disfigurations of the eyelids; and for aesthetically modifying the eye region of the face. The blepharoplasty procedure resolves functional and cosmetic problems of the eye sockets (also known as periorbital) which are the area from the eyebrow to the upper portion of the cheek. The operative goals of a blepharoplastic procedure are the restoration of the correct functioning to the affected eyelid(s), and the restoration of the aesthetics of the eye-region of the face, which are achieved by eliminating excess skin from the eyelid(s), smoothing the underlying eye muscles, tightening the supporting structures, and resecting and re-draping the excess fat of the retroseptal area of the eye, in order to produce a smooth anatomic transition from the lower eyelid to the cheek. This procedure requires 1–3 hours to complete. Post-operatively, the initial swelling and bruising subsides and resolves with 1–2 weeks; however, the final correction is apparent only after several months.

Many people assume that plastic surgery is a magical procedure that gives excellent blepharoplasty results straight after one gets up from a surgery table. However, this assumption is wrong and hence such people may be disappointed when they realize that they would have to wait for the results to show up. Since healing is a gradual process, you will have to go through all the stages until you can enjoy your beautiful new looks.

Steps taken

Two types of blepharoplasty exist: transconjunctival (involving incision from the inside of the eyelid) and transcutaneous (with incision going through the outer skin).

Transconjunctival approach is most commonly used to remove from under the eyes fatty tissue that forms bulging puffy "bags". No skin is removed in this case. The surgeon pulls away the lower eyelid from the eyeball, makes an incision from the inside of the eyelid with a scalpel or laser, and removes or rearranges the fat. The incision may be closed with one or more dissolving sutures, although this is not always necessary. Transconjunctival blepharoplasty usually works well in people with thicker, more elastic skin, which is usually found in younger people.

Surgeons perform transcutaneous blepharoplasty by cutting through the eyelids from the outside, usually in the creases of the upper lids and under the lashes of lower eyelids, where scars would be less prominent. When sagging and/or drooping is significant, the incisions may extend out towards the temples where they would be camouflaged by crow's feet. Then the surgeon would separate skin from muscle and fatty tissue, removing excess fat and trimming loose skin and muscle. Unlike transconjunctival blepharoplasty, the transcutaneous kind requires sutures to cover the incision.

Surgeons can perform blepharoplasty of both kinds with laser as well as scalpel. Laser surgery offers the benefits of smaller incisions and cauterization of blood vessels, which reduces bleeding during the procedure.

The surgery usually lasts between one and three hours, under either local or general anaesthesia. The patient can generally return home on the day of the surgery.

Advantages

Blepharoplasty surgeries are treatment options for sagging eyelids affecting vision in patients and corrections following accidental injuries; It is also an elective surgery for cosmetic and aesthetic purposes

Precautions

Blepharoplasty is performed in the immediate vicinity of the eyes, which can make it a riskier procedure than some other types of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Patients should avoid taking inflammatory medications (including over-the-counter drugs), some supplements and herbs for about two weeks before the surgery because they increase the risk of bleeding. Patients should refrain from alcohol and some medications (including aspirin) for approximately a week. Discoloration around the eyes and some swelling is normal after blepharoplasty, and patients should avoid strenuous activity at this time. In most cases, people can go back to their usual activities seven to ten days after blepharoplasty.

FAQs

Who performed blepharoplasty procedures?

Cosmetic surgeons with specialised training perform such procedures.

Do blepharoplasty procedures correct vision?

No; blepharoplasty procedures correct deformities, defects of eyelids; they do not correct vision defects.

Is blepharoplasty surgeries out-patient procedures?

No; this is not an out-patient procedure; it needs hospitalisation and complete health check-up before the surgery.