Considering Blephoplasty...Here's What You Need to Know
Blepharoplasty also known as eye lid surgery is a surgical procedure carried out in patients to enhance the appearance of eye lids. It can be performed in the upper eye lid, the lower eye lid or both.
Why is blepharoplasty done?
Blepharoplasty is done for people who need to enhance the appearance of their eyelids. This is also done in people with functional problems such as drooping eye lids.
More specifically, this surgery can treat:
- Loose or sagging skin that interrupts the normal contour of the eye lids.
- Puffiness of the eye lids due to deposition of excess fat.
- Bags under your skin.
- Drooping eye lids.
What techniques of eye lid surgery are available?
Upper blepharoplasty
In this procedure, an incision is made along the creases of the upper eye lid. Skin and muscle is trimmed and a small amount of excessive fat is removed. Any loose muscle will also be tightened.
Lower blepharoplasty
This is performed through an incision which is made directly under the lower eye lid. Here the skin and muscle is either removed or repositioned. The fat is re draped to improve the contour of the lower eye lid.
Upper and lower blepharoplasty can be done separately, together or combined with other procedures such as face lift, brow lift, etc.
Trans conjunctival
This technique in lower eye lid surgery involves the removal of fat without making a skin incision. The fat is removed via an incision made inside of the eye lid. This is often done in combination with another technique called as the pinch excision technique. Here a relatively small area of the skin is excised while the muscle is kept intact.
Who is a candidate?
Physically healthy people without serious eye conditions or any other conditions which would cause impaired healing are all good candidates for blepharoplasty. Since this is a surgery involving your eyes, it is important that you do not have any infection or any serious condition of your eye.
How is blepharoplasty performed?
Blepharoplasty is usually done under general anesthesia. Once you have been anesthetized, the surgeon will make the incision in a manner that it is concealed within the natural structures of the eye lid. After making the incision, excess fat and skin will be removed and muscles will be tightened.
Once, the necessary steps in the procedure have been completed, the incision is closed with removable sutures, skin adhesives or surgical tapes.
You will be able to see the results of your surgery as soon as the swelling and bruising around your eye has resolved.
Recovery
Soon after the procedure, your eye will be covered with gauze to protect the eye from infection. You will also be give certain lubricating ointments and cool compressors to be applied on the eye lid. When you get discharged from the hospital, you will be given instructions regarding care for your eyes and medications that has to be taken.
Initial healing of your eye lid will include a bit of swelling, bruising, irritation and dryness of your eyes. All of these can be resolved with the help of lubricating ointments, medicine and cold compresses which will be prescribed on your discharge day.
Risks of eyelid surgery
There are several risks associated with eye lid surgery and some of them include:
- Swelling and bruising soon after the surgery
- The risks of anesthesia
- Dryness and irritation of your eyes
- Difficulty in closing your eyes
- Ectropion – The outward rolling of your eyes
- Infection
- Poor wound healing
- Temporary or permanent changes in vision and very rarely blindness may occur
All of these risks will be explained in detail to you by your surgeon before taking consent for the surgery. Address all your questions directly with your surgeon to clarify any doubts regarding the surgery.
Cost of eye lid surgery
The cost of the eye lid surgery will vary from hospital to hospital and surgeon to surgeon.
The average cost for an eye lid surgery will include the:
- Surgeon’s fee
- Hospital charges
- Medical tests
- Charges for medicine
- Anesthesia fees
