Blepharoplasty: Otherwise known as eyelid surgery
Eyelid surgery is a procedure to remove fat along with extra muscle and skin from the upper and lower eyelids. Eyelid surgery can correct drooping upper lids and puffy bags below your eyes. Both are features that usually tend to make you look more tired and older than you feel. This surgery won’t remove crow’s feet or other wrinkles, eliminate dark circles under your eyes or lift sagging eyebrows. Blepharoplasty can be done alone, or in conjunction with other facial surgery procedures such as a facelift or a browlift.
The Best Candidates for Eyelid Surgery
Blepharoplasty can improve your appearance and self-confidence. The best candidates for eyelid surgery are men and women who are physically healthy, psychologically stable and realistic in their expectations. A few medical conditions make Blepharoplasty more risky. They include but aren’t limited to the following:
- Hypothyroidism
- Dry eyes
- Grave’s Disease
- High blood pressure
- Certain circulatory disorders
- Diabetes
- Certain cardiovascular conditions
Your Surgical Planning
The initial consultation with Kole Plastic Surgery is very important. Dr. Kole always needs your complete medical history. Inform him if you have any allergies, if you’re taking any vitamins, medications (prescription or over-the-counter), other drugs and if you smoke. You and your surgeon should carefully discuss your goals and expectations. You will need to discuss whether to do all four eyelids or just the upper or lower ones, if skin as well as fat will be removed and if any additional procedures are appropriate. Dr. Kole will explain the techniques, anesthesia to be used, facility where surgery will occur, costs involved and risks. Dr. Kole will give you specific pre-operative instructions for surgery. Blepharoplasty is usually performed on an outpatient basis at a surgical center.
Anesthesia and Surgery
Eyelid surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia with or without intravenous sedation. You’ll be awake during the surgery, but relaxed and insensitive to pain. There are some plastic surgeons that prefer to use general anesthesia which allows patients to sleep throughout the entire procedure. Dr. Kole feels it’s not worth the additional risk of anesthesia unless you are having other procedures done with your eyelid surgery. Blepharoplasty usually takes one to two hours, depending on the extent of the surgery. In a typical procedure, incisions are made along the natural lines of your eyelids and follow to the corners. Incisions sometimes may extend into the laugh lines or crow’s feet. Skin is separated from fatty tissue and muscle while excess fat is removed and then often additional sagging skin is trimmed.
Healing from Surgery
After surgery, Dr. Kole will lubricate your eyes with ointment apply a cool moist gauze compress and an ice pack. Your eyelids may feel tight and sore when anesthesia wears off but any discomfort can be treated with pain medication. There are additional factors and instructions that help with healing.
- Several days of head elevation
- Use of cold compresses
- Keeping eyes clean of any crusting
- Eye drops for dryness, burning or itching sensations
- Removal of sutures in about one week
- Do not wear contact lenses for at least two weeks post-op
- Keep from participating in rigorous sports, strenuous activities, bending and lifting for about two weeks
Healing is gradual and different for everyone. Eyelid surgery is now a very common cosmetic surgical procedure for men. Results are usually positive and patients love their more youthful look that lasts for years. For some people results last throughout their lifetime.
Please contact The Kole Plastic Surgery Center Center at 215-315-7655 to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Edward Kole. Our office and Licensed Ambulatory Surgical Center is conveniently located at: [primary_address] Southampton, PA, [primary_state] [primary_postal]
