Lower eyelid
surgery or lower blepharoplasty
Initial
consultation
During consultation, surgeon will
begin with a complete medical history assessment and
examine the skin, fat around your eyes and also your
eyesight, vision and tear ducts. You should inform all
medical problems if you have such as hypertension, heart
disease, diabetes or any serious medical condition.
The changes of appearance, the
different options available, the operation itself and
its risks and limitation should be discussed.
Your surgeon will also explain the
kind of anesthesia required, surgical facility and cost.
Indication of
good candidate for lower eyelid surgery or lower
blepharoplasty
-
loose skin hanging down like a bags under the
eyes
-
A puffy appearance, make the eyes look tired
-
Excess skin and fine wrinkles of the lower
eyelids
-
Lower eyelid drooping
Operation
An incision is made along the
lash line. Excess fat, muscle and skin are removed. Fine
sutures are used to close the incision and will be
removed 5 – 7 days after the operation.
If you
have a pocket of fat beneath your lower eyelids, but do
not need to have any loose skin removed, your surgeon
may recommend a transconjunctival blepharoplasty. In
this procedure the incision is made inside your lower
eyelid and closed with self-dissolving sutures or they
will heal naturally without sutures, leaving no visible
scar. It is usually performed on younger patients with
fatty lower eyelids. Transconjunctival blepharoplasty
does not tighten the skin, reduces the puffiness in the
lower eyelid region.
Lower eyelid blepharoplasty generally
takes about one to three hours to complete, depending on
the technique used and the extent of the repair
Post
operation care and recovery time
At first the incisions will probably
be red and somewhat bumpy. Please avoid cleaning the
wound yourself and do not touch with any kind of water.
Your surgeon may instruct you to apply cold compresses
to your eyelids. Remember, you must not take aspirin or
certain anti-inflammatory medications. Initially, you
may feel a "tight" sensation around the eyes and some
mild discomfort that can be controlled with oral
medication. During the first 48 hours following surgery,
patients experience varying degrees of swelling and
bruising. Some patients find that mild swelling persist
for several weeks, while others may see swelling resolve
in as little as one week. Bruising typically disappears
within seven to ten days. Within the first week or so,
you will be permitted to use makeup, if desired, to
conceal any discoloration.
For the first week, you’ll need to
avoid activities that dry the eyes, including reading,
watching television, wearing contacts, and using a
computer. Also avoid excessive blinking, which leads to
increased swelling. You should also wear dark sunglasses
for a couple of weeks to protect your eyes from wind and
sun irritation. The eyes may tire easily for several
weeks; frequent naps are helpful.
For the first
three or four weeks, you should avoid any activity that
increases blood flow to the eyes, including bending,
lifting, crying and sports. Your surgeon will let you
know when you are ready for exercise. Also avoid
drinking alcohol, which can lead to fluid retention and
delay recovery.
Results of
lower eyelid surgery or lower blepharoplasty
-
Lower eyelid surgery or lower blepharoplasty has
effect of making you look more rested, refreshed and
alert. The results are usually long-lasting but they may
affected by heredity and life style factors. Removal of
fat from eyelids, which is usually caused of puffiness
and bags, is permanent and generally will not recur. The
skin continues to age, however, and skin laxity along
with the fine wrinkling of the eyelid area may, at some
point, return.
-
You should expect to wait at least several weeks
to get a final results
-
Eventhough the aging process continues, some
patients find that they want to make additional
improvements at a later time. If continued loss of skin
tone in the forehead later causes sagging of the
eyebrows, a forehead lift or second eyelid procedure may
be performed.
Risk
Significant
complications from aesthetic eyelid surgery are
infrequent. As with any surgical procedure, however,
there is always a possibility of infection, or reaction
to the anesthesia.
Other potential
complications include:
-
Retrobulbar hematoma - (bleeding behind the eye)
- rare, but can be serious. Symptoms include loss of
vision, blurred vision
-
temporary problems with excessive tearing
-
decreased sensation in the eyelid
-
dry eyes - dryness, burning, stinging, gritty
sensation in your eye(s)
-
prominence or firmness of the scars
-
asymmetry in healing or scarring
-
milia or whiteheads where the sutures emanate
from the skin.
-
difficulty closing eyes completely; in rare
cases, this condition may be permanent.
-
ectropion, or a pulling down of the lower lids.
Lower Eyelid Surgery |