Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery
Blepharoplasty, or an eye lift, improves the eyelids by removing excess skin from the top, bottom or both eyelids. This process reduces bagginess from the upper eyelids and remedy situations where upper lid sagging has begun impairing eyesight. The eyes are the first facial feature to be noticed, but puffiness and sagging skin can give the eyes an aged, tired look. Cosmetic eyelid surgery can restore a youthful look and improve your vision if sagging eyelids have become a problem in your life.
As you age, your skin's elasticity weakens, and the natural course of gravity can cause upper eyelid sagging and under eye wrinkles and bulges. Cosmetic eyelid surgery can alleviate skin droops that are impairing vision, or reduce sagging to enhance your appearance. Good candidates for cosmetic eyelid surgery are people genetically predisposed to eyelid sagging and puffiness. If you’d like to improve the appearance of your eyes and restore their youthfulness, set realistic goals and discuss options with a trained surgeon.
You may want to consider cosmetic eyelid surgery if any of the following apply to you:
- Excess skin is covering the natural fold of your upper eyelids.
- Excess skin drooping from the upper lids cover your eyelashes.
- Puffiness in the upper or lower eyelids is giving you a tired or aged appearance.
- Loose skin in the upper eyelids is obscuring your vision.
- You have a desire to restore a youthful appearance to your eyes
Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery Preparation and Recovery
If you’ve talked to a trained surgeon and decided that cosmetic eyelid surgery is right for you, these are some of the things you can do to prepare for your upcoming surgery.
Preparation
- Do not smoke
- Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs or herbal supplements as they can increase bruising and bleeding
- Contact a friend or family member to drive you home from your operation
Recovery Care
For the first 48 hours after your cosmetic eyelid surgery bruising and swelling will be at its peak, but a cold compress will help reduce this quickly. Bandaged over the incision can be removed a few days after surgery, stitching may remain in the skin for around a week, and may dissolve on their own or be removed by your doctor. Recovery time for cosmetic eyelid surgery is relatively short, with most of the bruising and swelling subsiding by two weeks post operation. Light walking as exercise and help speed up the healing process, and most patients resume normal activities seven to ten days post operation.
Cosmetic eyelid surgery carries the normal risks associated with surgery. If you experience any of these symptoms after your operation call your doctor immediately:
- Infection
- Persistent bleeding
- Difficulty closing your eyes
- Noticeable scarring
- Skin discoloration
- Blurred vision
- Double vision
- Vision loss
If you have concerns about what insurance can cover, contact your insurance. If your considering cosmetic eyelid surgery and have had an eye exam confirming a medical need to remove excess sagging skin to improve your impaired vision, your insurance may cover some of the cost.