Eyelid Surgery
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), also known as an eye lift, is a procedure that revitalises the eyes by removing excess skin and fat from the upper and lower eyelids. Eyelid surgery can restore radiance and youthfulness to the eye area and correct vision obstruction caused by drooping eyelids.
Based on a pre-operative evaluation of factors such as your underlying facial muscle structure, bone structure, and the symmetry of your eyebrows, Dr. Date will decide how much skin, muscle, and/or fat to remove. There are two major techniques for eyelid surgery:
Upper eyelid surgery: Your surgeon will mark the natural lines and creases of your lids and keep your scars as hidden as possible along these natural folds. Fine sutures will be used to close the incisions, thereby minimizing scar visibility.
Lower eyelid surgery: In traditional blepharoplasty, your surgeon will make the incision in an inconspicuous site along the lash line and smile creases of the lower lid. In a transconjunctival approach, your surgeon corrects eyelid puffiness caused by excess fat by making an incision inside the lower eyelid. This technique requires no external incision, but it cannot be used to remove excess skin.
The type of procedure you undergo will be based on your facial features and aesthetic preferences. Dr. Date will recommend an approach based on your goals and facial characteristics, including the shape of your face. The goal of this procedure is to help you achieve the most beautiful and natural-looking results.
Immediately after eyelid surgery
There may be small dressing and padding done around the eye.
You may have some pain (generally mild) after the surgery for which painkillers may be required.
You may experience excessive tearing, light sensitivity, and double vision just after the surgery.
There will be bruising and redness over the lid and around the eye. This generally disappears in a week or two.
Your incisions will be red and visible at first, and your eyelids may be puffy and feel numb for several days.
Applying ice packs or cold compresses to your eyes to help reduce swelling.
Recovery :
Although full bed rest may not be required after the first day or two, you are advised to sleep with your head raised higher than your chest.
Expect to treat the incisions with ointment to keep them lubricated. You will be advised to use eye drops to keep the eyes from drying.
For the first two weeks after your surgery, wear dark sunglasses to protect the eyes from irritation caused by the sun and wind.
Avoid straining, heavy lifting, swimming, and strenuous activities, such as aerobics and jogging, for ten to fourteen days.
Avoid activities that may dry the eyes, including reading, watching television, wearing contacts, and using a computer. Eyes may tire easily in the first month or so.
The stitches may be removed between five and seven days after your eyelid surgery.
Seek medical attention immediately if you experience severe eye pain, shortness of breath, chest pains, an unusual heart rate, new pain, bleeding, or visual disturbance.
Your eyelid surgery results should be long-lasting.
As ageing continues, your brow can drop or descend, causing excess skin to reappear on the upper eyelid, but in this case, the solution is a brow lift, not a second upper blepharoplasty.
Lower blepharoplasty is usually performed to remove eye bags and puffiness around the eyes, and it too should only need to be performed once.
Every procedure involves inherent risks. Although serious complications are extremely rare, Dr. Date educates every patient about potential risks.
Those risks can include scarring, the opening of the wound, discomfort for several days, bruising around the surgical sites, infection, bleeding, skin necrosis and general anaesthesia-related issues.