Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery is a surgical method that removes excess skin from the upper eyelids and reduces the “pads” from the lower eyelids. Operation is most often performed for aesthetic reasons. It is also an effective way to repair vision for older people for whom upper eyelids are often hanging. Blepharoplasty cannot remove dark circles under eyes or wrinkles around the eyes. Often, this procedure is applied together with laser techniques, fillers or facial lifting. If the procedure is performed simultaneously on the upper and lower eyelids, the expected duration is about 2 hours. Surgical intervention on the upper eyelids may need to be repeated in 5-7 years, while the intervention on the lower eyelids is usually not necessary to be repeated. If after a certain period of time a similar problem with the eyelids is created again, it may be necessary to lift the forehead.

INDICATIONS / WHY IT IS DONE?

• During the aging process, skin loses elasticity. Loss of elasticity due to the influence of gravity causes the excess skin that accumulates on the upper and lower eyelids and leads to the formation of wrinkles and abrasions (“pads”). On the upper eyelids, excess skin can pass over the eyelashes and endanger vision. Fat tissue that surrounds the eyeball can also lead to the formation of a “pads” on the upper and lower eyelids, because the thin membrane that prevents the lowering of fat tissue fades over the years.

• The best candidates for this therapy are people of good general health who have realistic expectations of this operation. Most patients are 35 years of age or older than 35. If there is a frequent occurrence of eyelids or “pads” formed on the lower eyelids in your family, there may be a need to have surgery before. Sometimes the surgery cannot achieve the ideal or previous look of lenses, so you need to have realistic expectations of the operation and talk about it with your plastic surgeon.

HOW IT IS PERFORMED?

• The intervention is most commonly done in local anesthesia or analgosedation, which implies injecting anesthetics directly into the eye-opening area (administered orally or intravenously).

• If the upper and lower eyelids are done, the surgeon usually starts with the upper eyelids. The surgeon makes a cut-back line. Through these cuts, the surgeon removes the skin from the rest of the tissue and removes excess fat, skin and muscle. After that the surgeon closes the cuts with the help of small seams. The seams on the upper eyelids are usually 3-6 days worn.

POTENTIAL RISKS

• Complications and adverse reactions resulting from intervention are rare, but may occur. Complications include: bleeding, infection, dry eyes, change of eyelids color, which is different from the expected, the inability to completely close eyes, lowered eyelashes of the lower eyelids, potential loss of vision. If you have any of these complications, you should inform your doctor from Bel Medic.

• Less complications, which may occur during each intervention, can affect the final result of the surgical treatment to a greater or lesser extent.

PREPARATION

• If you are taking medicines to prevent blood clotting (Aspirin, Plavix, Sincum, Sintra, Xarelto, Pradaxa, Eliquis), consult a doctor for dose correction before intervention. Tell your doctor about all medicines and herbal remedies you are taking.

• It is recommended that you stop smoking for at least 30 days prior to intervention.

• Do not place creams or any other cosmetic preparations on the face 1 day before the intervention.

• Do not eat or drink 10-12 hours before the intervention, you can take medicines with some fluids.

• Plan to leave the job a few days after the intervention and to stay at home while the process of healing your eyelids continues. Some patients may have problems with dry eyes, but these problems usually disappear after 2 weeks. It is recommended that you have ice cubes at home (to reduce the swelling on the eyelids after an intervention), gauze pieces, artificial tears and pain medication (if needed).

RECOVERY

• This intervention is usually not painful. If you feel pain you can take pain medication (in consultation with a doctor). It is recommended to use cold gauzes several times a day in order to reduce the swelling. It is expected that 6-10 days after intervention you have swelling or spotting (ecchymosis) on the eyelids, because the tissues that make the eyelid are thin and fragile.

• The day after the intervention, you need to sleep with a head raised on the cushion.

• It is recommended to wear sunglasses to protect against light, wind or dust. After intervention, there may be increased sensitivity to light, increased tiredness or dryness of the eyes, itching, or a burning sensation.

• It is recommended that you do not watch TV on the first three days after the intervention and do not tune your eyes with reading.

• After 3-4 days you can return to business activities.

• After 7 to 10 days you can wear glasses and contact lenses. Make-up can be used in the first 7 days of the intervention.

• Only exposure to the sun after 30 days with the use of a cream with SPF.

• You are expected to see the correct result of the intervention after 3 months, because this is the optimal period needed for the tissue to adequately heal.