Eyelid surgery is sometimes combined with a forehead lift to correct sagging eyebrows or laser resurfacing to reduce crow’s feet and other wrinkles around the eyes. BOTOX® Cosmetic injections and chemical peels are also excellent adjuncts to eyelid surgery.
Blepharoplasty / Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid surgery usually takes one to two hours and is performed under local or general anesthesia. During blepharoplasty, the surgeon makes incisions that follow the natural contours of your eyelids, including the lower eyelid area and the creases of your upper eyelids. These discreetly placed incisions may also extend to the outer corners of your eyes, to treat laugh lines or crow’s feet. The blepharoplasty surgeon uses these incisions to remove excess muscle, fat, and skin tissue before closing the incisions with sutures.
After Blepharoplasty / Eyelid Surgery
After you visit our office in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina for blepharoplasty / eyelid surgery, your eyes will likely require ointment for lubrication. You may experience swelling or a tightening sensation as the anesthesia wears off, but most blepharoplasty patients are surprised at how little discomfort they feel.
You should keep your head elevated for a few days after eyelid surgery. Bruising or swelling after eyelid surgery is most pronounced during the first week of recovery. You can use a cold compress to reduce these conditions. The bruising and swelling generally fades the following week.
Stitches will be removed five to six days after you visit our Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina office for blepharoplasty / eyelid surgery. Once the stitches are removed, the discoloration and swelling around the eyes will gradually disappear. You may wear makeup 48 hours after stitches are removed.
Recovery
Most of the patients at our Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina office who undergo blepharoplasty / eyelid surgery begin to feel better after three or four days and can return to work in a week to 10 days. Normally, at this point, makeup can be used to hide any remaining bruising. Eye drops are administered for patients who experience dry or itchy eyes after eyelid surgery. You should wear sunglasses as much as possible to avoid various irritants and to protect your sensitive eyes from sunlight. In many cases, blepharoplasty patients won’t be able to wear contact lenses for roughly two weeks or longer following eyelid surgery.
You should avoid strenuous activity or activities that raise your blood pressure for two to three weeks after eyelid surgery. Post-surgical scars may remain pink for three to six months after eyelid surgery. These scars should fade eventually, becoming fine white lines that are barely visible.
Potential Risks
Complications from eyelid surgery are rare and usually minor. Nevertheless, as with any surgery, there is some degree of risk, including possible infection or a negative reaction to the anesthesia. Possible complications following blepharoplasty include temporary swelling, blurred vision, and slight asymmetry in healing or scarring. Additionally, small whiteheads may appear after your stitches have been removed, but these whiteheads can be easily dealt with. After blepharoplasty / eyelid surgery, some patients may find it difficult to close their eyes during sleep. In very rare cases this condition may become permanent. Another extremely rare post-surgical complication is called ectropion, which describes a pulling down of the lower eyelids. If this should occur, temporary taping of the corners of the eyes or further eyelid surgery may be required.
*Each patient is unique and individual results may vary*
To schedule a consultation at our cosmetic surgery office in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina for blepharoplasty / eyelid surgery, contact H/K/B today.
