Description

Blepharoplasty is the name of the operation which is performed to correct the appearance and/or function of eyelids.

Brief anatomy

The aesthetic appearance and vision of the eyes can be affected by environmental and genetic factors and aging. The skin of the eyelid has the thinnest skin in the body and is the least resistant to aging. The thin skin of the eyelid and the thin muscle layer underneath cannot prevent the adipose tissues from sagging outward and downward. Loosening around the eyelid skin and muscles is caused by wrinkles and fat bags which give the patient a tired appearance.

General information about the procedure

Eyelid surgery is the process of removing excess skin and fat bags from the lower and upper eyelids and fixing the sagging tissues in the correct positions. With the eyelid surgery, the sagged upper eyelid can be lifted and the swelled under-eye bags can be reduced. Ultimately, eyelid surgery strikingly corrects the tired and old appearance and sagging and gives a younger appearance around the eye. It allows patients to have a sharper and more impressive look as they were when they were young. In addition to cosmetic results, this operation can be performed in order to prevent decreased visual field especially due to sagging of the upper eyelid or to prevent eye dryness and infections, red-eye caused by sagging of the lower eyelid. This procedure can be performed alone or in combination with other facial plastic surgeries in order to obtain more effective results, for example with operations such as eyebrow lift and facelift.

Pre-operative preparation

Your surgeon will determine your expectations during the interviews and give detailed information about the surgical techniques and results. Additional facial procedures may be recommended depending on your expectations and your surgeon's ideas. Your surgeon will thoroughly examine your medical history to determine if your health condition is adequate for the surgery and ask questions about your general health, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, bleeding disorders, and wound healing features. You will also be asked questions about your visual field, your tear problems, your contact lens use and your expectations from surgery. It is important that you inform your doctor about the operations you have previously experienced, as this may increase the risk of complications. It is important to stop smoking and drinking alcohol in the weeks before blepharoplasty. In the weeks before the surgery; aspirin, aspirin-like drugs, ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, gingko biloba, herbal medicines, and vitamin E supplements should be avoided. Finally, daily medication should be continued as long as the surgeon considers it appropriate. Unless indicated otherwise, you should not eat or drink anything at midnight before the operation. Have a shower before the operation and wash your eyebrows with shampoo. Do not apply makeup. False eyelashes, contact lenses, jewellery, and other unnecessary accessories should be left at home.

Operation

Blepharoplasty surgery may be performed under local anaesthesia or under general anaesthesia with mild sedation or without sedation. This procedure can be done in the clinic or hospital as an outpatient service. Although the procedure is painless, there may be slight discomfort during the procedure. If your surgeon chooses general anaesthesia for you, you will sleep during the procedure. The whole process lasts for about two hours, depending on whether the four eyelids or the upper or lower eyelids are operated. The surgeon often makes the skin incision along the natural wrinkle line for the upper eyelid and under the eyelashes for the lower eyelid. This incision can be made with a conventional scalpel or laser. The upper eyelid incision extends from the upper inner corner of your eyelid to the wrinkles on the outside of your eyes. The surgeon will remove excess skin, muscle and fat tissue, which is necessary to achieve the desired result. The incision is closed with small, absorbable and dissolvable stitches. If the lower eyelid is operated, some surgeons prefer transconjunctival blepharoplasty since the removal of excess skin is not necessary.  In this procedure, fat bags on the lower eyelid are removed by making a small incision on the inner part of lower eyelid without causing a scar on the skin.

Post-op instructions

Patients may need to stay in the hospital after the eyelid surgery or not. The best environment for recovery will be determined by the surgeon and the patient's preferences. Recovery varies from patient to patient, and recommendations should be given for the first few weeks after the operation in order to facilitate the recovery period. Redness and swelling develop around the incision line in the first days after the procedure. Usually, within the first ten days, redness fades and swelling decreases. A cold compress should be made to reduce the swelling on the first day following surgery.  and bruises can be reduced by keeping the head at an upright position. After surgery, the surgeon will probably moisturize your eyes and suture sites with ointment. During the first day of recovery, eye drops are dripped to prevent the eye dryness and the incisions are moistened with ointment. Stitches are removed after 3 -7 days. Activities such as reading books, using computers and watching TV may be avoided in the first week after the operation. Generally, patients feel good enough to perform normal activities on the 10th day of recovery. Heavy activities should be avoided for three weeks.