Eyelid surgery

Why would someone need eyelid surgery?

As we age, excess skin forms in the eye area, the skin loses elasticity and fatty tissue accumulates under the skin. Because of these aging processes the eyes will look older, appear tired, wrinkled, and puffy. Genetic factors and body chemistry can cause these aging effects in younger people. Plastic surgery may restore a youthful and refreshed appearance to your eyes and your face. In many cases eyelid surgery will be combined with face lifting surgery.

What do we need to know about eyelid surgery?

Eyelid surgery is for removing excess skin, fat, or muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. It improves baggy skin under the eyes, sinking upper eyelids, or drooping eye lashes that impair vision. Eyelid surgery doesn’t treat drooping eyebrows or wrinkles. It is often performed with another cosmetic surgery such as a brow-lift or facelift to improve droopy eyebrows, crow's feet, and facial sagging.

Instructions before surgery

• Do not eat or drink anything six hours before the surgery.
• Do not take aspirin or any medicine containing aspirin for two weeks before the surgery.
• The surgery of women must be performed outside the menstrual period.
• Inform your surgeon and anesthesiologist about your medical problems: hypertension, vascular problems, heart failure, diabetes, lung problems, bleeding problems, epilepsy, neurological problems, allergies to certain drugs, etc.
• Tell your surgeon if you’re wearing dental prosthesis or contact lenses.
• For smokers, please stop smoking for two weeks before the surgery and avoid smoking for at least two weeks after the surgery;
• Avoid extra exposure to sun before and after the surgery.
• Do not keep a strict diet before the surgery because it may delay the healing procedure.
• Should you catch a cold or have any kind infection, the surgery must be postponed.

The procedure

The surgery is often performed under local anesthesia (while you are awake) combined with light sedation in an outpatient surgery center. General anesthesia, while you are asleep, may be used, also.
Incisions are made along the line creases of the upper eyelid and possibly along the outer lower rim of the eye's skin. When removing fatty tissue, but not skin, the surgeon may perform an incision inside the lower rim of the eye's skin. These incisions often reach the outer corners of the eyes. The surgeon then divides the fatty tissue and muscle from the skin so that excess skin, fat, or muscle can be removed.

Afterwards the cut will be stitched with a thin thread inside the skin. Stitches are removed about a week after the surgery. No visible scar remains after the operation. The healing is also very fast, only two to three days.
Time in surgery can last up to two hours depending upon the extent of the procedure, and patients return home typically within hours after the surgery. After the operation, chilling of the surgery area is recommended.

Recovery after surgery

After eyelid surgery, eyes will be lubricated and covered with bandages, and sometimes a day of hospitalization under medical supervision may be necessary. Pain and discomfort can be managed with oral medications and ice bags are applied. Unmanageable pain should be reported to your doctor immediately. The patient will get antibiotics to prevent infection, and he/she will also receive a list of instructions to follow for a number of days, including the proper way to clean your eyes, use of cold compresses, use of lubricating eye drops, head elevation, no makeup, no alcohol, no television, and no contact lenses.
Bruising and swelling will continue to decrease after the stitches are removed. Sunglasses are required for several weeks. Normal activities can be resumed after about ten days. Strenuous activities such as lifting, bending, or exercise can be resumed after about three weeks.

Complications

Following the surgery, patients may experience tearing, itchy, burning eyes, dry eyes, light sensitivity, and blurred or double vision for several days. These complications can be relieved with lubricating eye drops. There will also be some swelling around the eyes. Scarring is another possible complication. Sometimes patients will have difficulty closing their eyes when asleep: although very uncommon, this complication can be permanent. There also may be some asymmetry to the eyes.