Blepharoplasty

Eyelid Surgery

Do you have droopy eyelids or unsightly bags beneath your eyes? Are they making you look older than you are? These unwanted features can give the illusion that you are older more tired than you actually feel, and in some cases even interfere with your vision. Now you can refresh your look, and your face, with a Blepharoplasty, or Eyelid Surgery. Eyelid surgery (technical term blepharoplasty) is a procedure to remove redundant fat, skin, and sometimes muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. Eyelid surgery can correct drooping upper lids and puffy bags below your eyes.

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Who Is An Eyelid Surgery Candidate?

  • If you have excessive, sagging or wrinkled upper or lower eyelid skin. If you have excess upper eyelid skin that interferes with vision.
  • If you have lost your natural upper eyelid crease.
  • If you have puffy pouches of fat in the upper or lower lids that create a tired or aged appearance.

Eyelid Surgery Intended Results

  • A more youthful and rested appearance of the eyes.
  • Widening of visual fields if excessive upper lid skin has partially blocked vision.
  • It will not remove or erase all wrinkle lines.
  • It will soften wrinkle lines.
  • Eyelid Surgery Procedure

The operation is done on an outpatient basis under sedation and local or general anesthesia. The incisions are made where the natural crease should be in the upper lids and below the lash line in the lower lids. Excess fat and skin are removed. If only excess fat is present in the lower lids, it may be removed through an incision inside the lower lids with no external incision or scar (transconjunctival blepharoplasty).

What You Can Expect - Image

Eyelid Surgery Recuperation and Healing

  • All sutures are usually removed within 7-10 days.
  • Initial mild discomfort is easily controlled with oral medication.
  • Bruising and sensitivity to light last at least a week or two.
  • Swelling progressively disappears over several weeks.
  • Eye makeup can be used shortly after sutures are removed.
  • Contact lenses can be worn when comfortable — usually within 3-7 days.
  • Eyelid Surgery Other Options

Additional procedures that would enhance the result are: Forehead Lift, Face Lift, Chemical Peel or Laser Skin Resurfacing.

Eyelid Surgery Insurance Guidelines

  • Occasionally, if surgery is being done to improve the field of vision, insurance may cover upper lid surgery.
  • Otherwise, these procedures are considered cosmetic and the patient is responsible for payment.
  • Special attentions are placed during your postoperative period. Dr. Vu’s goal is to make sure that you are comfortable after you leave the surgery center, and have proper instructions how to take care of yourself in order for you to have a pleasant surgical experience.
after-care

A. Ice - Ice packs or iced sponges help tremendously after eyelid surgery. A bowl of ice cubes and several sponges at the bedside can soothe sore areas during the first day or so. It is more important to sleep than to have ice on your eyelids, so don’t “stay up” in order to ice. When you do awaken, apply some ice for a few minutes before going back to
sleep.

B. Bleeding and clotted blood - Keeping the head elevated will help reduce swelling. If you bleed from one of the suture lines, apply pressure with a sponge for 10-20
minutes, and it will almost certainly stop. If dried or clotted blood is stuck in the sutures or along the suture line, we advise gentle cleansing with peroxide or soap and water.

C. Sutures - Dr. Vu will remove the steristrips or bandages 2-4 days after surgery. Any sutures may be removed 4-6 days after surgery, and will place adhesive strips (steri-strips) over the part of the incisions that extends outward from your eyelids. These remain in place for several days.

D. Sunscreen and Makeup - After the sutures have been removed, use a sunscreen with a skin-protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 on your eyelids when outside, and continue to do so for at least 6 months after surgery. You may apply makeup in addition to sunscreen on your eyelids the day after the sutures are removed.

E. Activities - Most people feel nearly normal within a day or two after eyelid surgery (except for the eyelid itself). You can return to work as desired, provided your job does not involve any heavy lifting or straining. Do not do aerobic or heavy exercise for at least 3 weeks after surgery in order to avoid excessive swelling or bleeding.

F. Dryness - After surgery you may notice that your eyes feel dryer than normal. This usually subsides in a matter of days to weeks. Until then, use artificial tears to comfort and protect the eye surface.

G. Sensitivity and vision - Your eyes may feel sensitive to light for several days, and your vision may blur for a week to 10 days. These are common occurrences and should not alarm you.

H. Swelling - All swelling will not disappear for several months. During this period, the eyelids will feel heavier and thicker than normal.

I. Scars - The scars usually along the upper eyelid crease and/or along the lower lid margin, which may not be visible. However, any visible scars will become almost invisible when they turn white. This usually happens 4-12 months after surgery.

 

Learn More at The Vu Center!

If you are interested in learning more about a breast augmentation, or you want to find out if this cosmetic procedure is right for you, our board-certified surgeons at The Vu Center are here to help! We offer a variety of plastic and cosmetic surgery options to help you love the body you’re in. Explore our website to learn more and contact our Portland plastic surgery clinic to schedule a consultation.

We look forward to helping you!

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