Eye Lid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

Improve the appearance of your eye lids.  Give yourself a rejuvenated, more rested and alert look.

What is Blepharoplasty, or Eye lid surgery?

Blepharoplasty, or eye lid surgery, is a popular cosmetic surgery procedure.  It can help improve the appearance of the eye lids to give the immediate eye area a rejuvenated and altogether more rested and alert look.

The surgery can be performed on the upper or lower lids or both, and is often carried out in conjunction with other facial procedures, such as a face lift, skin resurfacing or a brow lift. It achieves results by removing fatty deposits, often along with excess skin and muscle, in the eye lid. 

Why you might consider eye lid surgery

As we age, our eye lid skin and muscles slacken often causing drooping or puffiness.  Our eyes are also affected and ‘aged’ by other factors such as exposure to sun and pollution and by our genetic make up.

The main reasons to opt for eye lid surgery are therefore aesthetic and psychological.  Some people may also undergo the procedure if they have Ptosis, the condition causing drooping eye lids that partially obscuring a person’s vision.   

You may wish to undergo eye lid surgery for any or all these.  If you have:

• Excess skin drooping over the natural fold of your upper eye lids
• Excess skin drooping from the upper eyelids and impairing your vision
• A puffy appearance to your upper eye lids, giving the impression that you are tired
• Excess skin on the lower eye lids
• Bags under the eyes
• Drooping lower eye lids

What you can expect from eye lid surgery

As with all cosmetic surgery you need to have realistic expectations and to discuss the likely results in detail with your surgeon.  For most people, eye lid surgery is a successful procedure requiring usually just an overnight stay in hospital. The eye area is sensitive however and you should allow time - even several weeks – before you judge the results fully. 

You can expect the procedure to have lasting and desired results: the fat responsible for puffiness and bags will not return.  Eye lid surgery does not however reduce crows’ feet, dark circles under your eyes or drooping eye brows.  You may be able to have these corrected through other surgery at the same time as your eye lid surgery.

Over time, you may find lines and wrinkles appear as your skin continues to slacken and age, but for the most part this natural ageing does not detract from the benefits of the eye lid surgery. 
Occasionally, people undergo minor corrective surgery later on or opt to have other cosmetic facial procedures that can have a positive effect on the appearance of the eye area.    

Is Blepharoplasty for me?

Certainly, eye lid surgery can give you a more refreshed, alert and rejuvenated overall facial appearance.  But you need to have realistic expectations of its effects and be patient, as it may take several weeks to see its full effect. 

Eye lid surgery is generally performed on people over 35, though it can be carried out on younger people for genetic reasons such as Ptosis.  You may find you are unable to have eye lid surgery if you suffer from any of these conditions – some of which relate to the eye and others which are general medical conditions:

• High blood pressure
• Cardiovascular disease
• Dry eyes
• Detached retina
• Glaucoma
• Diabetes
• Hyper-active thyroid
• Hypertension
• Graves’ disease

If you have any opthamological or circulatory conditions, or any of the above, you will need to discuss your eye lid surgery in detail with a specialist consultant.

The Consultation

The more candid you are at this stage, the better your surgeon will be able to assess the surgery required and its likely outcome. 

Be clear about what you expect the surgery to achieve.  If you wish, provide photos of how you expect your eye area to look after surgery.  Your surgeon will assess your expectations and advise you if they are attainable. 

The surgeon will examine your brow, skin quality (fatty deposits, laxity and so on) to determine which surgery technique will give you the best results. If you have any of the conditions listed above, your surgeon may recommend you see an ophthalmologist to ensure you informed of any likely surgical complications.

What to expect from the surgeon

• Be prepared to supply information on and/or discuss:
• Your expectations of the surgery
• Any medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments
• Use of current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drugs
• Any previous surgery
• Any family history of Ptosis, eye lid bags or drooping
• During the consultation, your surgeon is likely to:
• Assess your general health
• Evaluate any health conditions
• Examine your entire face, assessing brows, skin laxity and so on
• Ask you about any use of lenses and glasses, and about tear production
• Discuss the likely results of your surgery
• Discuss the value and complications of combining eye lid surgery with other cosmetic surgery procedures
• Take photographs for medical records
• Talk about the type of anesthetic used and its effects

You may be asked in preparation for surgery to:

• See an opthamologist
• Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
• Stop smoking in advance of surgery
• Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding

Questions you should ask

It is important in eye lid surgery that you are fully informed of the after care, any possible complications and the likely results of your surgery.  You will also need to know how the procedure is carried out, in particular where incisions are made and where any scarring is likely.  Below is a checklist of some key questions to ask:

• What type of eye lid surgery is best for me and why?
• How do I best prepare for the operation
• Do I need assistance in post-operative care?
• What results can I expect?
• What side effects or complications may occur? 
• What discomfort will I have? 
• How will my eye area/face look post op?
• Are there any activities or environments I should avoid while I recover?
• How lasting can I expect the results to be? 
• What other cosmetic procedures can I consider in conjunction with eye surgery?
• Are there instructions for me to follow after the operation?