eyelid surgery

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Sometimes called ìeyelid liftî or ìeyelid tuckî, eyelid surgery is technically called Blepharoplasty. Upper eyelids often develop an excessively full or droopy appearance, and lower lids may develop puffy fat pads and loose skin. In these cases, blepharoplasty can produce a more refreshed and rejuvenated appearance. This can be done to the upper and/or lower eyelids, to improve appearance by removing excess fat pads or skin.
The surgeons at Edina Plastic Surgery are Board-Certified in Plastic Surgery and specialize in cosmetic procedures. During the initial consultation, they will assess whether a blepharoplasty may be beneficial for you. At Edina Plastic Surgery, we also have a full medical skin-care Salon as well as an accredited surgery center. This provides access to state-of-the-art skin care and minimally-invasive procedures, including injectable fillers, Botox®, chemical peels and laser treatments, as well as larger surgical procedures. Your doctor may recommend these less invasive treatments, possibly in place of surgery, if they feel this would be more appropriate for your individual situation. Other procedures, such as a facelift or browlift, can also be done in conjunction with eyelid surgery to obtain optimal improvements.

The Procedure

Eyelid surgery can be performed under local anesthesia with sedation or under a light general anesthesia, in which you are completely asleep during the procedure. These options can be discussed with your surgeon. For an upper lid blepharoplasty, the surgeon will make an incision along the natural skin crease of the upper eyelid. Excess skin is removed and some fatty tissue may be resected. For the lower lids, an incision is made just beneath the lash line, extending to the crows feet region of the eye. Excess skin and fat can then be removed. The lower lid can also be approached using a "transconjunctival blepharoplasty". In this technique, an incision is made along the inner lining of the lower lid where it will not be visible. This technique allows treatment of the fat pads, although no skin can be removed. This technique is useful on people who have younger, elastic skin but have prominent fat pads.

In the modern techniques of blepharoplasty, we often remove little, if any, fat from the eyelids. Instead, the fat is repositioned into areas that appear more sunken. This is very helpful in the area of the "tear trough" just below the lower lid, at the lid-cheek junction. In addition, the muscle of the lower lid is often lifted to help smooth the contour of the upper cheek and lid.

Risks

Swelling and bruising of the eyelids after surgery are normal, and gradually resolve over 1-2 weeks. Swelling that persists longer may occur. Your eyes will often feel dry after surgery, and lubricating drops are routinely used for at least the first 1-2 weeks after surgery. Scars are usually imperceptible once they mature, but suboptimal scarring is a potential risk. Revisions are sometimes needed to optimize results. Long-term problems such as dry eyes, vision problems, or ectropion, in which the lower lid develops a pulled-down appearance, are very rare complications.

After Your Surgery

Eyelid surgery is performed on an outpatient basis in our fully accredited on-site Surgery Center. Ice packs (bags of frozen peas work great) are recommended for the first 24-48 hours. You should keep your head elevated for the first few days to minimize swelling. You should not have any strenuous activities for the first 2 weeks. Swelling and bruising are normal, and persist for the first 1-2 weeks. Most people feel ready to go out in public and return to work after 7-10 days, although mild swelling and bruising may still be visible. It generally takes at least 6-8 weeks to obtain the full result from the surgery, and gradual improvements may continue for another 6 months.

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