Blepharoplasty Surgery

Introduction to Blepharoplasty, its Risks and Complications

Blepharoplasty is otherwise known as eyelid lift surgery. The eyelid lift surgery helps repair drooping eyelids. It is caused due to advancing age, diseases such as myasthenia gravis or could also be congenital.

Eyelid lift surgery is usually done under local anesthesia, after the doctor gives his patient a pain-numbing injection near the eye. Besides this, the patient would also be given anxiety-relieving medication.

Process: Blepharoplasty procedure consists of the surgeon making tiny incisions in the natural folds of the eyelids, removing any loose skin and surplus fat that form drooping eyelids. This done, the eyelid muscles become taut and the surgeon sutures the area. This reconstructive surgery demands only a day’s stay in hospital and can easily be done in the surgeon’s office or in the outpatient operating rooms of a medical center.

Once the surgery is done, your doctor will bandage your eyes. As the anesthesia wears off, there pain around the eyes can increase. This can be alleviated with painkillers. Your scars, however, could remain pinkish for the next six months and finally give you a permanent young look.

Your doctor would advise you to keep your head elevated for the next few days. To reduce the swelling and bruising, place cold packs over your eyes, while the itching or burning sensation in your eyes can be alleviated with eye drops.

Generally, two days after Blepharoplasty surgery, you would be able to see normally. At this time, you should not wear contact lenses for the next two weeks. Also, avoid rigorous sports or lifting heavy objects for the next three weeks.

In normal circumstances, the doctor would remove the sutures after two weeks time period. After this, the bruises and problem of dry eyes generally disappear, but the increased sensitivity to wind and light still remains. You can also expect blurring or double vision for the next few weeks.

Risks: Blepharoplasty can either be done when eyelids droop so much that it interferes with one’s vision or to enhance one’s appearance. However, Blepharoplasty is not without its own risks, such as blurred or double vision, difficulty in closing the eyes while sleeping, whiteheads after suture removal, swollen eyelids, slow and uneven healing.

Avoid: Do not consider Blepharoplasty if you suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, dry eye or insufficient tear production, hypothyroidism or graves’ disease

Eyelid lift surgery may give you a permanent youthful look, but it is better to seek proper advice before undergoing it.