Rejuvenate Tired Looking Eyes With Blepharoplasty
Eyelid Surgery in Corpus Christi, Texas
The eyelids age at a much quicker rate than any other area on the face. The delicate and thin skin receives constant trauma in the way of blinking, squinting and other facial movements, all of which lead to the premature aging of the skin around the eyes. Your face may appear tired, sad, or even angry as excess skin and lax tissues interfere with your ability to convey your emotions accurately. For patients experiencing dissatisfaction or a loss of confidence due to puffy, sagging or tired-looking eyes, eyelid surgery can be the answer. Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty rejuvenates tired eyes, increases your field of vision, and restores your ability to represent your emotions.
Table of Contents
Is Eyelid Surgery Right for Me?
How Is Blepharoplasty Performed?
Upper Blepharoplasty
Lower Blepharoplasty
What Will My Eyelid Lift Recovery Look Like?
What Will My Blepharoplasty Results Be?
Frequently Asked Questions About Blepharoplasty
Is Eyelid Surgery Right for Me?
Patients who may qualify for eyelid surgery are in good health, non-smokers and have realistic expectations of their results. Candidates for eyelid surgery are dissatisfied with baggy or droopy eyelids or the presence of:
- Hooded upper eyelids
- Puffy lower eyelids
- Wrinkles and fine lines around the eyes
- Heavy and/or droopy eyelids that interfere with vision
Those who are considering eyelid surgery should desire a balanced facial appearance, enhanced self-confidence and a more youthful appearance.
How Is Blepharoplasty Performed?
Blepharoplasty is an outpatient procedure that is performed under local anesthesia. Depending on the extent of the surgery, you can expect the procedure to take anywhere from 45 minutes to a few hours. While you are not required to undergo blepharoplasty on both the upper and lower eyelids, many patients benefit from the combination of the two so that their eyes remain in harmony.
Upper Blepharoplasty
Upper eyelid surgery addresses excess skin on the upper lids. Incisions are discreetly made in the natural crease of the upper lid. Fat pockets are removed or repositioned, underlying muscles are tightened to allow for better opening of the eyes, and excess skin is trimmed away. Incisions are closed with fine sutures. This usually results in a brighter fresher appearance.
Lower Blepharoplasty
Lower eyelid surgery addresses puffy bags and dark circles beneath the eyes. The most common incision is made just below the lashes on the lower lid where excess tissue, fat and skin is removed. For patients who may not require skin removal, transconjunctival blepharoplasty is performed. With this technique, incisions are made inside the lower eyelid where fat is removed, and tissue is repositioned. This incision allows for no visible scarring. Incisions are closed with fine sutures.
What Will My Eyelid Lift Recovery Look Like?
Following your procedure, you can expect to be groggy. You must have a driver present to take you home and extra help around the house for 1 to 2 days would be very beneficial to your recovery. During this time, resting is your top priority. Your eyes will experience swelling and bruising of the eyelids, dryness, burning and itching of the eyes, as well as sensitivity to light, wind and other irritants. Don’t worry if you have double or blurred vision in the hours and days following your surgery. This will resolve on its own. Stitches are often removed after 3 to 4 days, at which point you can start to resume activities. Most patients return to work within a week and can resume more vigorous activity after 2 weeks. Contact lenses must not be worn for at least 2 weeks.
To better ease your recovery:
- Take pain medication as prescribed
- Increase fluid intake
- Don’t take aspirin, products containing aspirin, or anti-inflammatory drugs
- Don’t smoke, as this prolongs the healing process and causes complications
- Don’t drink alcohol for 3 weeks as alcohol causes fluid retention
- Increase your fruit and vegetable intake
- Start moving as soon as possible to reduce swelling
What Will My Blepharoplasty Results Be?
Blepharoplasty restores rejuvenation and natural youthfulness to the eyes. Your final results will become apparent as soon as the swelling and bruising subside. This typically occurs within a few weeks. Incision lines will remain red throughout the healing process and may take up to a year to heal completely. These lines will fade with time and can be concealed with makeup. To maintain your results, a healthy skin care regimen and proper sun protection are vital. Eyelid surgery will not halt the aging process, and your skin and tissues will continue to age naturally. However, with appropriate maintenance, eyelid rejuvenation improves your appearance for years to come.
Why Choose Dr. Vijay
Dr. Vijay is very unique in the sense of his great customer care, service and experience. He approaches each client as an individual and takes the time to thoroughly understand their needs and desired results.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blepharoplasty
-
Can eyelid surgery improve vision?
Blepharoplasty is not a replacement for corrective eye surgery. While it cannot improve your eyes’ strength, it can improve vision by opening sight lines that have been restricted by sagging skin and upper eyelid hooding. This can improve overall vision, especially peripheral vision, for certain patients.
-
Can I combine my eyelid lift with other surgical procedures?
Yes. An eyelid lift is commonly performed with brow lift surgery or facelift surgery. These procedures can work well together to create a more aesthetically pleasing facial appearance. Other facial enhancement procedures, such as neck lift surgery, neck liposuction treatments or nose surgery (rhinoplasty), may also work well together.
-
What are the risks of an eyelid lift?
As with any surgery, there are risks that Dr. Vijay cannot control. These may include:
- Allergic reaction to anesthesia
- Unfavorable scarring
- Infection
- Eye irritation
- Temporary vision impairment
- Skin discoloration
- Muscle or nerve damage
-
What can I do to make my eyelid recovery faster?
During recovery, patients should avoid stressing their eyes as much as possible. This means avoiding direct sunlight, not staring at screens for long periods and not focusing on details, especially in low-light environments. In other words, don’t try reading in the sun or darkness for a long time. This is especially important for the first three days of your recovery.
Rest and drinking plenty of fluids will also help.
-
Can I wash my face after blepharoplasty?
You can wash your face within 24 hours of your operation. However, you should be careful and use light pressure. Do not run your eyes under a showerhead for at least two days following your procedure. Dr. Vijay will provide you with additional postoperative instructions.