Blepharoplasty is eyelid surgery in which excess eyelid skin is removed from the upper eyelid or the lower eyelid. The procedure is performed by an oculoplastic surgeon when excess eyelid skin weighs down the eyelid or there is moderate to severe wrinkling of the eyelid skin that contributes to premature aging.
Reasons for having blepharoplasty:
- Excessive eyelid skin causes hooding and a decrease in superior peripheral vision
- Excessive eyelid skin weighs the upper eyelid down
- Upper Lid skin wrinkling causes eyes to look tired and more aged
- Lower lid skin wrinkling causes eyes to look baggy or puffy
- Upper lid Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty is a safe office procedure that takes 30 minutes to complete in our Littleton office. First with the patient lying down, a drawing is made on the skin to mark the excess skin. This important step is performed carefully because it ensures that the correct amount of skin is removed. Following the drawing, a local anesthetic is injected in to the skin, microsurgery instruments are used to remove the excess skin and then the incision is closed with dissolvable sutures.
Lower Lid Blepharoplasty
Lower eyelid surgery is performed to address excessive wrinkled skin or fat that protrudes forward causing puffiness in the lower lids. Some patients have both excess skin and fat.
Skin only lower lid blepharoplasty is performed when lower lid wrinkles contributes to premature aging. This is done as an office procedure and takes 30 minutes. With the patient lying down, a drawing is made on the lower lid. A local anesthetic is injected into the lower lid and microsurgery instruments are used to remove the skin. The skin is then closed with dissolvable suture.
Fat removal from the lower lid is performed as outpatient surgery. A lower lid blepharoplasty with fat excision is done in an outpatient facility in which IV sedation can be given to the patient. The surgery is performed by making an incision on the inside of the lower eyelid and removing fat that is protruding forward. Careful attention is given to how much fat is removed to prevent against a hollowed out look. The lower eyelid procedure takes 45 min
Fat repositioning is using the excess lower lid fat and positioning it over the orbital rim to diminish the appearance of the tear trough, or dark circles around the eyes.
What to expect after eyelid surgery
- Bruising and swelling
- Mild pain
- Sutures
Back to normal activity in 1-2 weeks
Most patients will experience some level of bruising and swelling after eyelid surgery. Ice should be used for the first 48 hours and then warm compresses should be used. If sutures are placed they are usually dissolvable and will dissolve within one week. If sutures have to be removed from the eyelid, they are removed after 1 week.
Most patients have little or no pain following eyelid surgery. For more invasive procedures, oral pain medication will be prescribed.
Vision is usually not affected from eyelid surgery. Ointment given after surgery for the incisions can temporarily blur vision but the eye itself is not affected by lid surgery.
Dr. Patel Sitole will see patients within one week after surgery to ensure that healing is occurring as expected. Patients can expect to go back to normal activity with 1-2 weeks.
Can other cosmetic procedures be combined with surgery?
Upper and lower eyelid surgery can be performed at the same time. Frequently, patients who have an insurance covered procedure will opt to also have cosmetic surgery at the same time for cost effectiveness. Injectables are not usually given during the surgery however can be injected safely 1-2 weeks after surgery.
Will my surgery look natural?
This is a common concern amongst patients, and eyelids surgery has a natural appearance as long as only the excess skin and/or fat is removed. The incision is placed in the crease of the eyelid to effectively hide it when it when the eyes are open. The incision heals very well in the eyelid and will look like a faint white line for most patients.
Will I need a blepharoplasty again in the future?
Most patients will only have this procedure once. Once excess skin is removed, it doesn’t need to be removed again. Other reasons for droopy lids can occur like eyebrow ptosis: the eyebrow can droop and give the appearance of excess eyelid skin. Or eyelid ptosis: the eyelid itself can droop and obstruct the pupil.
If you are looking for blepharoplasty in Littleton and the Denver Metro area, give us a call for a consultation. We can discuss your specific situation and help you with your decision.
Call (303) 848-2848
