What is eyelid surgery?
Eyelid surgery improves the appearance of your eyelids for either cosmetic or functional reasons. During the procedure, your surgeon will make an incision on your upper or lower eyelids. Then they can reposition fat deposits, tighten muscles, or remove excess skin.
As you age, the muscles supporting your eyelids weaken–resulting in droopy upper lids and bags under your eyes. Having excess skin removed from your eyelids can combat the effects of aging. Eyelid surgery can also improve your peripheral vision and other parts of your visual field.
If you want to learn more about eyelid reshaping—or schedule a consultation with a blepharoplasty surgeon in the Lehigh Valley —then contact St. Luke’s Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.
Overview
Cosmetic eyelid surgery candidates include adults with the following characteristics:
- Puffy upper eyelids
- Sagging skin that impairs vision
- Loose skin that affects natural contours
- Fine wrinkles under lower eyelids
- Under eye bags
Eyelid surgery can improve your eyelids’ appearance or correct a functional problem.
Schedule a consultation with a St. Luke’s blepharoplasty surgeon in the Lehigh Valley to determine if eyelid surgery is right for you.
Getting eyelid surgery can positively impact your wellbeing and self-confidence. The following list includes some of the most commonly reported benefits:
- Looking more youthful and awake
- Correcting visual impairments
- Displaying more accurate facial expressions
Cosmetic eyelid surgery can dramatically improve your body image and give you a more balanced appearance.
As with all surgeries, eyelid surgery has risks. Some of them include the following:
- Dry or irritated eyes
- Difficulty closing your eyes
- Scarring
- Damage to your eye muscles
- Temporarily blurred vision
Your surgeon will review a complete list of risks before getting your consent.
Before the procedure
In the time leading up to your eyelid surgery at St. Luke’s Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, you can take steps to make your procedure as safe as possible. These include discussing the following topics at your surgical consultation:
- Goals and expectations
- Surgical options
- Results
- Recovery
As part of your consultation, your surgeon will also do a complete evaluation—which may include the following items:
- Ordering lab work
- Taking “before” photos for comparison
- Assessing medical conditions, allergies, and medical limitations
- Reviewing medications, supplements, alcohol, tobacco, or drug use
A week before the procedure, you can prepare at home in the following ways:
- Filling outstanding prescriptions
- Purchasing any medical supplies as needed
- Coordinating transportation and meals as needed
- Staying hydrated
You should arrive early on the day of your procedure to avoid travel delays.
During the procedure
Upper eyelid surgery
In upper eyelid surgery, your surgeon will target puffy skin or excess fat on your upper eyelids. This procedure is best if you have upper eyelids that are loose, wrinkled, or puffy. And if your eyelids droop in front of your eyes, upper eyelid surgery can even improve your vision.Lower eyelid surgery
In lower eyelid surgery, your surgeon will target puffy skin or excess fat on your lower eyelids. This procedure is best if you have lower eyelids that sag, wrinkle, or look like they have “bags” under them. Though under-eye bags can make you look tired, your bone structure may actually be the cause.Double eyelid surgery
In double eyelid surgery–also known as an eye lift and eye bag surgery–your surgeon will target puffy skin and excess fat on your entire eye area. This procedure is best if you’re unhappy with your upper and lower eyelids.After the procedure
Though eyelid surgery isn’t typically painful, you may experience swelling or bruising. As you heal and your eyelids settle, your results will become increasingly apparent. While some creasing may occur due to aging (aging skin becomes thinner and looser), the skin and tissue removed during your surgery won’t grow back.
After the procedure, you may be asked to stay in a recovery room for a few hours so your surgeon can monitor you. The typical recovery milestones include the following
- Day of surgery: Use ice packs on your eyes for ten minutes every hour. When you return home, your vision will be blurry–and your eyes may be covered in gauze–so make sure you have a friend or family member help you.
- One to five days after surgery: Use ice packs on your eyes four to five times a day to reduce swelling. You may experience numbness for several days, but this should subside. And if you’re in the sun, you should wear sunglasses.
- One to two weeks after surgery: Swelling will continue to go down, and you may return to regular daily activities. Do your best to avoid situations that dry out your eyes–including TV, computer, and smartphone usage. At approximately two weeks post-surgery, you can start wearing light makeup.
- Two weeks after surgery: You’ll have less swelling and should be able to see increasingly apparent results. If you wear contact lenses, you can start using them again. However, you should wear sunglasses outside to protect your eyes from the sun and wind.
- Six weeks after surgery: Your eyes will be completely healed, and you’ll see the final results of your surgery.