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Blepharoplasty, or aesthetic eyelid surgery, is a procedure to correct drooping upper eyelids and puffy bags below the eyes. It can eliminate conditions that give an individual a tired appearance, such as wrinkled folds of skin on upper eyelids, bags under the eyes and sagging eyebrows. This involve removing excess skin, fat, and muscle.
Upper or lower eyelids will take between 1-1 ½ hours. Upper and lower eyelids when done together will take between 2-3 hours.
Blepharoplasty is done usually under local anesthesia with sedation, as an office out-patient surgery. Patients can go home immediately after surgery, or after half hour of rest.
A consultation with us is the first step an individual should take if considering blepharoplasty. Here you can discuss candidly your expectations about looking and feeling better after surgery, while keeping in mind that the desired result is improvement, not perfection. Likewise, we can explain what services we can provide to meet your expectations.
During consultation, the patient is also evaluated of his/her medical status to qualify to undergo surgery safely. In few instances where patients have prior history of cardiac, hypertension, pulmonary, endocrine conditions, clearance from an internist/ cardiologist may be sought as may deemed necessary.
Tolerance to pain is an individual matter. Some experience it as an ache, while others experience greater discomfort. Most eyelid surgery patients have minimal discomfort post-operatively.
You will be prescribed the appropriate pain medications which will help minimize the discomfort. Frequently, mild analgesics, like acetaminophen/paracetamol (Tylenol), is sufficient to relieve the discomfort.
Swelling is expected after surgery and comes to maximum about the 2nd or 3rd day after surgery.
There will be temporary discomfort, tightness of the eyelids, swelling and bruising. There can be excessive tearing and sensitivity to light for the first few weeks. As the wound begins to dry up, you may experience temporary dryness or itchiness of the eyelids especially around the incision sites.
You will be instructed on steps that can minimize the degree of swelling, like ice compresses, head elevation, use of an eye ointment or eye drops, etc.
Reading and focusing is usually difficult during the first 2-3 days. You may return to work between 7-10 days. If you wear contact lenses, you may have to wait for 2 weeks or more before you would use them.
Strenuous activities like gym, swimming, jogging can be resumed after 4-6 weeks.
This pertains particularly in the tropics where the UV light, specifically between 9am-3pm, enhances the swelling of post-operative facial wounds. Prolonged and direct exposure to the sun during the first 3-4 weeks should be avoided.
Swelling is down to a minimum at about 2 to 3 months after surgery. It is
only then that you will begin to see the final result.