What is a blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty is the operation performed to reshape upper and lower eyelids.
Who is a good candidate for surgery?
People with extra bags or folds of skin around the eyes may look older or more tired than they feel. Most people in good general health can undergo the procedure, although certain eye conditions call for greater caution. Your doctor will also need to check for laxity of your lower lids and postion of the eyebrows to determine which type of procedure would be right for you.
How is blepharoplasty performed?
Typically, the surgery consists of removing extra folds of muscle, skin and fat around the eyelids. Sometimes the extra fat will be repositioned, while in other cases the lower eyelid will be tightened at the corner. In most cases eyelid incisions heal in a very inconspicuous manner. Sometimes the work done on the lower eyelid can be performed through an incision along the inside of the lid. Eyelid operations can be performed under general anesthesia in the operating room or under local anesthetic with sedation. Blepharoplasty is typically a day surgery procedure. The typical operation usually lasts for a couple of hours. |
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What is the recovery from surgery like?
Recovery from blepharoplasty involves several phases. If general anesthesia is used, you may experience some nausea for the first 24 hours, and you should avoid eating substantial amounts of food. Slight oozing may occur around the incisions. Most people get bruising and swelling around the eyes. Limiting strenuous activity and keeping the head elevated will cut down on much of this oozing. The bruising resolves in about 7-9 days. Placing a cool pad over the eyes for the first 48 hours will help with the bruising. Most of the swelling is gone by two weeks. You can wear soft contact lenses after 72 hours and hard contacts after a week.
When should I come back to the doctor?
Most patients need to come in a week or two for a check up. Since dissolving sutures are used, it is not necessary to have stitches taken out.
When can I go back to work?
Workers that perform heavy tasks should avoid work for 10 days. After 2 weeks, patients may resume their normal exercise routines. Some office-type workers are able to return to work after 4-5 days to read mail, make phone calls and do some work with the computer.
Will my insurance pay for this?
Most insurance companies consider blepharoplasty a cosmetic procedure and do not cover the costs. There are some exceptions, and these are judged on a case by case basis.
