As a person ages, their eyelids may begin to droop and sag because of a natural decrease in collagen and elastin production in the skin. This condition can worsen due to sun damage, smoking, or obesity. Keep reading to learn more about blepharoplasty and find out if it could be right for you!
What is a Blepharoplasty?
The eyelids can be one of the first to show signs of aging because the skin is thinner than the rest of the face. When eyelids start drooping or bulging, it may make someone appear older or tired.
As someone gets older, they may feel self-conscious or insecure about their appearance. However, blepharoplasty can help.
Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that can improve the appearance of the eyelids by removing excess skin and fat and by tightening the eyelid tissue. The procedure can be done on both men and women to create a more youthful and healthier appearance.
Blepharoplasty is a common procedure that is safe with minimal recovery time. There are two kinds of blepharoplasty procedures.
The upper blepharoplasty can include excising drooping eyelid skin, removing excess fat, and repairing the muscle that opens the eyes. With lower blepharoplasty, you can correct undereye bags by removing fat and excess skin or through repositioning.
Sometimes sagging skin on the lower eyelids can result in your eyes showing an excess of white space. Not everyone needs both procedures. An experienced physician can help determine which procedure is best. People who have had blepharoplasty report feeling more confident and looking younger afterward.
Why Does a Person Get Blepharoplasty?
Besides the outward benefits of looking more youthful and feeling more confident, blepharoplasty has other advantages. Sometimes, the severely sagging skin around the eyes can impact a person’s peripheral vision, particularly in the upper and outer parts of the field of vision.
A successful blepharoplasty can improve the appearance of your eyes and eye health by eliminating vision problems and making it safer for a person to do everyday activities.
Who is a Good Candidate For Blepharoplasty?
For the best possible outcome, you should only have blepharoplasty if you are in good health, don’t have any serious eye conditions, and are a non-smoker. Blepharoplasty is a good fit if droopy eyelids impede the visual field, eyes appear puffy, and there are prominent bags under the eyes, or they aren’t satisfied with how their eyes look.
What is the Procedure Like?
You can have blepharoplasty performed under local anesthesia, but some patients prefer general anesthesia if the surgeon is working on both lower and upper lids. It generally takes between 45 minutes to two hours to complete the surgery.
Your surgeon creates an incision along the eyelid’s natural crease for upper blepharoplasty, so there is no noticeable scar. Then they remove excess skin and a small amount of fat to leave the eye looking smoother and younger.
During the procedure for the lower lid, the surgeon makes a small incision inside the eyelid to remove the fat. The lower lid can sometimes benefit from being tightened during this time. Then they close the small incisions with sutures.
What is the Recovery Like?
After the procedure, your eye doctor may tell you to apply cold compresses, lubricating ointment, and prescription eye drops to aid in recovery. Following these directions will also reduce side effects from the procedure like swelling, irritation, or dry eyes.
Your eye doctor will provide you with detailed post-surgery instructions that may include avoiding strenuous activities or exercise for about two weeks. Many patients go back to work once the bruising goes down.
Are you wondering if you could be a good candidate for blepharoplasty? Find out by scheduling a consultation at Chicago Cornea Consultants in Chicago, IL, now!
