Blepharoplasty - Revive Your Eyes!

The eyes are one of the first places to show the effects of age. The eyelid skin is very thin, with less support, and fewer oil glands. Over the years, bags and wrinkles begin to form. Stress, fatigue, sun exposure, and heredity all play a part in this ageing process. The operation to correct premature ageing of the eyelids is known as Blepharoplasty. 

Eyelid problems are not limited to adults. Heredity is an important factor where young or middle-aged patients may exhibit changes that are usually associated with older age.  Surgery to correct drooping upper lids in children is usually done in the preschool years, and is not considered cosmetic surgery. It expands the child's vision, so he can stop tilting his head to see better.

Drooping skin is common around the upper and lower eyelids. If severe in the upper eyelids, vision may be partially obstructed. Loose eyebrows can cause the brow to drop over the upper eyelid area. Loose tendons can let the lower eyelid turn outward, causing tearing or eye dryness.

Exposure to sunlight, or ultraviolet rays, is also damaging to eyelids, both due to the direct effect of the rays and the effects of frequent squinting.  The normal ageing process involves the stretching of the eyelid skin, which results in excess folds and wrinkles, and the sagging of the fat around the eye itself, which appears as bulges in upper and lower lids.

It is important to realise that it is never possible to eradicate all eyelid creases through eyelid surgery, for to do so would invariably produce an over-correction, that is a staring appearance of the eye due to excess tension on the eyelids.  This operation will remove excess skin and bags to give the eyes a fresher look but will never remove the wrinkles or 'laughter lines' from the sides of the eyes (although they may be improved with other cosmetic procedures).

Blepharoplasty removes the excess skin and fat pads in the upper and lower eyelids. Incisions are made in the natural fold of the upper eyelid and under the eyelashes in the lower eyelid. The incision lines may be tight, firm, and red for about five weeks. Scar tissue turns white and softens in four to five months.

Eyelid surgery generally gives a brighter and happier appearance. Sometimes health insurance will cover this surgery, and other times it will not. Be sure to check with your insurance company before you schedule any elective procedure.

Blepharoplasty can be carried out both under general anaesthesia, or local anaesthesia with sedation, and usually involves a one-night stay in hospital. The incision for the upper eye is in the natural crease line, approximately 1cm above the eyelashes, and extends out into the 'crows-foot' area.  The excess skin is trimmed, any fat (usually present in the area adjacent to the sides of the nose) is removed and the lid is then sutured using one continuous stitch.

The incision for the lower eye is just below the eyelashes, again extending out into a natural 'laughter line'.  The tissues are elevated, hinged forward and the excess fat removed.  The skin is then lifted upwards and outwards, gently tensioning the area and the overlapping skin is removed, the area is then sutured with multiple small single stitches.  Following eyelid surgery you will be carefully observed for the first three to four hours to ensure that no bleeding occurs.

Eyelid surgery will help you recapture the expressiveness and openness of your eyes.

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