Blepharoplasty

How Blepharoplasty is Done:

Blepharoplasty (BLEF-uh-roe-plas-tee) is a type of
surgery that repairs droopy eyelids and may involve
removing excess skin, muscle, and fat. As you age,
your eyelids stretch, and the muscles supporting
them weaken. As a result, excess fat may gather
above and below your eyelids, causing sagging
eyebrows, droopy upper lids and bags under your
eyes.
Besides making you look older, severely sagging skin around your eyes can reduce
your side vision (peripheral vision), especially the upper and outer parts of your field of
vision. Blepharoplasty can reduce or eliminate these vision problems and make your
eyes appear younger and more alert.
To help decide if blepharoplasty is right for you, find out what you can realistically
expect and explore the benefits and risks of blepharoplasty.
Why it’s Done
You might consider blepharoplasty if droopy or sagging eyelids keep your eyes from
opening completely or pull down your lower eyelids. Removing excess tissue from your
upper eyelids can improve your vision. Upper and lower lid blepharoplasty can make
your eyes appear younger and more alert.
Blepharoplasty may be an option if you have:
Baggy or droopy upper eyelids
Excess skin of the upper eyelids that interferes with your peripheral vision
Excess skin on the lower eyelids
Bags under your eyes

You may undergo blepharoplasty at the same time as another procedure, such as a
brow lift, face-lift or skin resurfacing.
Insurance coverage may depend on whether the surgery repairs a condition that impairs
vision. If you have the surgery only to improve your appearance, the cost probably won't
be covered by insurance. Lower lid blepharoplasty is almost always done just for
cosmetic reasons.
Risks
Possible risks of eyelid surgery include:

Infection and bleeding
Dry, irritated eyes
Difficulty closing your eyes or other eyelid problems
Noticeable scarring
Injury to eye muscles
Skin discoloration
The need for a follow-up surgery
Temporarily blurred vision or, rarely, loss of eyesight
Risks associated with surgery in general, including reaction to anesthesia
and blood clots

Talk to your doctor about how surgical risks apply to you. Understanding what’s involved
in blepharoplasty and weighing the benefits and risks can help you decide if this
procedure is a good option.
How you Prepare
Before scheduling blepharoplasty, you will meet with a plastic surgeon and an eye
specialist (ophthalmologist) or a plastic surgeon who specializes in eye surgeries
(oculoplastic surgeon) to discuss:

Your medical history. Your surgeon will ask questions about previous
surgeries and past or current conditions, such as dry eyes, glaucoma,
allergies, circulatory problems, thyroid problems and diabetes.
Your expectations. An honest discussion of your hopes and motivation for
surgery will help set the stage for a satisfactory outcome. Your surgeon will
discuss with you whether the procedure is likely to work well for you.

Before your eyelid surgery, you’ll undergo a series of tests:

A physical examination
A vision examination
Eyelid photography

And you’ll be asked to:

Stop taking warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin
IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve, others), naproxen (Naprosyn), and any
other medication or herbal supplement associated with increased bleeding.
Quit smoking several weeks before your surgery. Smoking can reduce your
ability to heal after surgery.
Arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery if you’re having
outpatient surgery.

Results
Many people express satisfaction with the results of blepharoplasty, such as a more
rested and youthful appearance and more self-confidence. For some people, results of
surgery may last a lifetime. For others, droopy eyelids may recur.
Bruising and swelling generally subside in 10 to 14 days, which may be when you feel
comfortable going out in public again. Scars from the surgical cuts may take months to
fade. Take care to protect your delicate eyelid skin from too much sun exposure.