The eyes, commonly referred to as the windows of the soul, say a great deal about a person. We evaluate people's moods or attitudes by the light in their eyes or its absence. The loose skin over your eyes and the fat bags under them make you look more tired and older than you feel inside.
Contrary to the perception that you have to be a certain age before you need to have your eyes done, young adults may also benefit from removing bags under the eyes or lifting heavy lids. The average person as early as age 25 may have enough laxity in the upper eyelid that they can obtain significant improvement and at age approximately 25-30 for the lower eyelid.
Operations on the eyelids are not only among the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedures but also the ones that give you a high degree of improvement, and satisfaction. It may be performed alone or in conjunction with other facial surgery procedures such as a facelift or a brow lift.
THE PROCEDURE
The goal of eyelid surgery is to rejuvenate the face by restoring the shape of the eye. Blepharoplasty is usually performed under local anesthesia and sedation. Fine incisions are placed in the crease above each eye to correct problems of the upper eyelids. Then a thin crescent of excess skin and muscle is removed.
Excess fatty tissue from the middle most portion of the eyelid is also removed. Sometimes there is also excess fatty tissue at the region over the eyebrow that can be removed in the same procedure. The incisions are closed with very fine sutures. The lower eyelid has two surgical approaches. The one we use the most is through a transconjuntival approach which is an incision where the scar is hidden inside the eyelid and is performed in patients that have only excess fatty tissue.
When excess skin and muscle needs to be removed, there is an incision placed in the natural simple crease below the lash line. Skin and muscle are repositioned and excess skin is removed. Neither incision requires any contact with the eyeball itself. When the surgery is finished a lubricating ointment is frequently placed on the eyeball. The whole procedure takes usually between one and a half to two hours.
POSTOPERATORY
During the first 24 hours, cold compresses are applied to the eyelids to reduce swelling and bruising. This surgery is done as an outpatient procedure, so if the operation is performed in the morning, you will be discharged in the afternoon after resting in your suite and feel comfortable to go.
This is as close to pain free plastic surgery as you can get. You may be given prescription pain medication, but it is unlikely that you would need to use it for more than a day, if at all. Sutures are removed usually at 48-72 hours. You will be allowed to return to work in three to four days, but most people would wait a week to allow bruising to resolve.
