Cosmetic surgery has advanced significantly over the years, offering more advanced solutions and improvements to your most common aesthetic qualms.
Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery, is a cosmetic procedure that removes excess fat and skin from your eyelids, restoring your youthful look. It improves drooping eyelids or eye bags primarily caused by aging and other factors. While blepharoplasty is generally a cosmetic procedure, an eye specialist may recommend it to improve your vision if your heavy eyelids obstruct your vision.
Why People Go for Eyelid Surgery
If your eyes are no longer perfectly aligned, you may need to enhance your appearance at some point in life. Misalignment may also interfere with your confidence affecting your daily life. Generally, age is the leading reason why people ask for eyelid surgery. As you age, your eyes make you look older and tired, even after sleeping. Removing the excess skin on your eyelids can significantly improve your appearance.
Effects of Aging on Your Eyelids
Aging causes a gradual loss of skin elasticity, leading to wrinkling. This loss, combined with other factors, such as stress, certain medications, effects of smoking, gravitational pull, and other agents, causes excessive skin to form around your eyes.
This skin leads to bulges and wrinkles and, in many cases, obstructs your vision. Since it’s uncomfortable, eyelid surgery is the best solution.
Who Qualifies for Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery)?
If you are usually 30 years or older, in good health, and have no other eye conditions, you are a perfect candidate for this cosmetic surgery. Your surgeon will also consider your age and talk to you about the process to determine if you are ready and okay.
However, if you have any of the conditions below, let your surgeon know.
- Diabetes
- Eye diseases like glaucoma
- Cardiovascular disease
- High blood pressure and other circulatory disorders
- Thyroid disorders
With such conditions, your doctor will verify if the procedure is safe for you and determine possible complications during the eyelid surgery recovery process.
What You Should Expect From Eyelid Surgery
Successful eyelid surgery takes up to two hours for both eyelids. Since it involves some small incisions, expect some stitches to remain mainly on your eyelid (upper and lower) for about a week. It is also common to have bruising and swelling on your eyelids, but you will look good within a week or two. Also, expect to stay at home for several days with limited activities to allow proper healing.
Are There Potential Complications After Blepharoplasty?
Every surgical process carries some degree of risk. But with eyelid surgery, complications are rare.
In rare cases, bleeding, dry eyes, infection, inability to fully close the eyes, and others may occur. However rare as they are, it’s important to be aware of these complications before making a final decision.
Your surgeon will carefully guide you on what to do for a successful eyelid surgery recovery process and outcome. With the best and licensed experts, almost all patients report successful and satisfactory results after blepharoplasty.