Blepharoplasty is an eye surgery that removes excess skin around the eye. Most people get this due to them having droopy eyelids or bags. This is done by removing and tightening eyelid skin which results in a more youthful and alert appearance. If you have obstructed vision, then it can help to improve your vision as it will remove the skin blocking your view. The eye surgery to remove excess skin aims to remove skin, muscle and fat from the eyelids or bags. Some people may need both eyelids and bags, but some just get the upper eyelid done.
There are two sorts of eye surgery to remove excess skin, the first is the one we have been speaking about which is blepharoplasty which is also known as an eyelift. The other is a ptosis surgery which aims to raise the upper eyelid position by tightening the muscle and tendon that allows the eyelid to elevate it. In this article, we will go through some key pieces of information to consider when having eye surgery to remove excess skin so you have all the information to hand before going into your consultation.
What Is A Blepharoplasty?
Cosmetic blepharoplasty is eye surgery to remove excess skin which isn’t medically necessary as it is completely for improving your appearance. When a person starts to age, it is normal to have baggy or droopy eyelids along with their eyebrows. The eyelid skin stretches and the muscles weaken which allows fat pockets to become more visible.
Why Do People Have Eye Surgery To Remove Excess Skin?
People have eye surgery to remove excess skin for a range of different reasons including droopy or sagging eyelids which prevent you from opening your eyelids or pulling down on the lower eyelids. By removing the excess tissue from the upper eyelid, it takes the weight from the eye which will improve your vision.
Who Is Best Suited To Have Eye Surgery To Remove Excess Skin?
People who have:
- Baggy or Droopy Eyelids
- Excess Skin Of The Upper Eyelids That Interferes With Your Peripheral Vision
- Excess Skin On The Lower Eyelids
- Bags Under Your Eyes
Risks Of Blepharoplasty
There are a range of different risks to eye surgery to remove excess skin as this is a small and delicate area, however these are rare and will be discussed in more detail at your consultation if they apply to you. These can include:
- Infection and bleeding
- Dry, irritated eyes
- Difficulty closing your eyes or other eyelid problems
- Noticeable scarring
- Injury to eye muscles
- Skin discolouration
- The need for a follow-up surgery
- Temporarily blurred vision or, rarely, loss of eyesight
How Do You Prepare For A Blepharoplasty?
When you are going for your consultation for eye surgery to remove excess skin it is best to understand whether you are going to be under local or general anaesthesia. If you are going under local anaesthesia, then you will be conscious for the procedure but you will be numbed around the area. If you are under general anaesthesia, then you will be sedated so you will not experience anything. This is usually the case if the surgery is complicated or you are having more than one treatment. During the consultation, the surgeon will discuss:
Your Medical History: Before getting eye surgery to remove excess skin, your surgeon will ask if you have ever had any other previous surgeries and whether you have any previous or current conditions. These conditions include dry eyes, glaucoma, allergies, circulatory problems, thyroid problems and diabetes. They will also ask whether you take medication, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, drugs or if you smoke.
Your Expectations: It is important to discuss your expectations of eye surgery to remove excess skin and why you are wanting to get this surgery done as this can help to guide the surgeon on what you are after. This is great as the surgeon can then give you a run-through of what they can do for you.
What Will Happen Before I Have A Blepharoplasty?
A Physical Examination: The surgeon will conduct a physical examination which will include tear duct testing as they will want to see whether you can produce tears. They will also measure your eyelids.
A Vision Examination: You will have a visual examination that will check your peripheral vision and your actual vision so that it can support insurance claims.
Eyelid Photography: the eyes will have a range of different pictures taken from different angles. This helps with surgery planning and assessing long term effects.
You will be asked to:
- Stop Taking All Medication That Increases Bleeding (Aspirin, Ibuprofen)
- Stop Smoking – This Can Reduce Healing Abilities
- Arrange For Someone To Drive You To And From Surgery
What Is The Recovery From Blepharoplasty?
When recovering from eye surgery to remove excess skin such as an eye lift, medication will be applied to the wound. The good news is that an eye patch won’t usually be necessary!
On the first day, you will want to be applying cold packs to the wound every hour for around 15 – 20 minutes at a time. This will help to reduce the swelling and bruising down to a minimum. This can be reduced to every couple of hours on the second day. After 48 hours, a warm compress should be applied as this will help to promote the healing process. The great part of having this treatment is that the painkillers used are usually over the counter rather than stronger medications.
After the treatment, you should expect mild discomfort with a pretty speedy recovery but if things start to feel worse, consult your surgeon as soon as possible.
Your eye will be red, bruised and you are likely to experience swollen eyes for the first couple of days when getting eye surgery to remove excess skin. The white of the eyes will obviously be red and bloodshot too which will last for a couple of weeks. If you wear makeup, this should not be worn until fully recovered. If you wear glasses, you can wear them straight away, but leave contact lenses out until fully recovered. The stitches are also dissolvable so you will not need to go get them taken out.
If you would like any more information on eye surgery to remove excess skin, then you can contact us on 0161 401 4064. Alternatively, you can fill in our contact form and we will be in touch as soon as possible. If you would like to see some of our previous work then you can check it here.
