Blepharoplasty (Surgery for Removal of Baggy Eyelids)

As people age, the eyelid skin stretches, muscles weaken, and fat accumulates around the eyes, causing "bags" above and below the eyelashes. Blepharoplasty is a procedure to remove this fat usually along with excess skin and muscle.

It can correct drooping upper lids and puffy bags below the eyes - features that make a person look older and tired. Blepharoplasty can be done alone, or in conjunction with other facial surgery procedures such as a facelift or eye brow lift

Best Candidate for Facial Implants :

The best candidates for eyelid surgery are men and women who are physically healthy, and psychologically stable.

First consultation :

Eyelid surgery will be performed in a hospital. It's usually done on an outpatient basis; rarely does it require an inpatient stay.

Eyelid surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia--which numbs the area around your eyes along with sedatives. You'll be awake during the surgery, but relaxed and insensitive to pain.

In a typical procedure, the surgeon makes incisions following the natural lines of your eyelids; in the creases of your upper lids, and just below the lashes in the lower lids. Working through these incisions, the surgeon separates the skin from underlying fatty tissue and muscle, removes excess fat, and often trims sagging skin and muscle. The incisions are then closed with very fine sutures.

After Surgery :

Your surgeon will instruct you to keep your head elevated for several days, and to use cold compresses to reduce swelling and bruising. We recommend eyedrops, since your eyelids may feel dry at first and your eyes may burn or itch. For the first few weeks you may also experience excessive tearing, sensitivity to light, and temporary changes in your eyesight, such as blurring or double vision.

Your surgeon will follow your progress very closely for the first week or two. The stitches will be removed two days to a week after surgery. Once they're out, the swelling and discoloration around your eyes will gradually subside, and you'll start to look and feel much better.

Complications :

When eyelid surgery is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor. They include double or blurred vision for a few days; temporary swelling at the corner of the eyelids; and a slight asymmetry in healing or scarring.

Following surgery, some patients may have difficulty closing their eyes when they sleep; in rare cases this condition may be permanent. Another very rare complication is ectropion, a pulling down of the lower lids. In this case, further surgery may be required

Getting back to normal :

You should be able to read or watch television after two or three days. However, you won't be able to wear contact lenses for about two weeks, and even then they may feel uncomfortable for a while.

Most people feel ready to go out in public in a weeks time.

You should keep your activities to a minimum for three to five days, and to avoid more strenuous activities for about three weeks. It's especially important to avoid strenuous activities like rigorous sports. You must also avoid alcohol, since it causes fluid retention.

Your new look :

The results of your eyelid surgery-the more alert and youthful look-will last for years and is more or less permanent.