Eyelid surgery removes excess muscle, fat, and skin from the lower or upper eyelids. Doctors may recommend this procedure to patients with vision difficulties, whereas some individuals undergo blepharoplasty for cosmetic reasons.
Types of Blepharoplasty
The main types of eyelid surgery include upper and lower blepharoplasty. Most surgeons may opt to perform the procedures together to allow patients to return to their normal day-to-day activities quickly. A lower blepharoplasty is usually performed on regions below the eye. A plastic surgeon cuts the lower eyelash to tighten the skin that’s located below the eye. An upper blepharoplasty allows a cosmetic surgeon to alter the muscle and skin above the eye. The plastic surgeon makes a cut at the ideal position of the new eyelid crease.
Reasons Why Patients Get Blepharoplasty
There are two primary reasons why people choose blepharoplasty.
Cosmetic Preference
A patient may undergo eyelid surgery to alter the appearance of the skin surrounding the eyes or the appearance of the eyelids. Our skin loses the ability to support and produce collagen in the upper eyes and eyelids as the skin ages. Fibers connecting muscles that control our eyes detach with aging and cause our eyelids to droop. Fat can also relocate to the eyelid tissues, causing a droopy or puffy appearance. Eyelid surgery helps eradicate excess fat and skin and secure loosened muscles, resulting in a more youthful appearance.
Enhancing Vision
Excess skin around our eyes may sometimes obscure our vision. The skin may hang unnaturally in the eye contours, minimizing normal vision, especially from the eye’s peripheral. Patients suffering from this condition can obtain a blepharoplasty to eradicate excess skin to improve their overall vision.
What to Expect From an Eyelid Surgery
Before the surgery, a patient goes through numerous consultation appointments with Joel Aronowitz, MD. The plastic surgeon and the patient discuss the possible results of the procedure beforehand to identify risks associated with the process. If the patient and the surgeon agree on the plan, a date for the surgery is arranged. The procedure takes up to two hours, and the patient goes home the same day. A healthcare professional inserts an intravenous (IV) line into the patient’s arm to provide fluids, medications, and sedatives during the operation. The procedure involves an upper blepharoplasty, lower blepharoplasty, or both.
Recovery
After the surgery, a plastic surgeon takes the patient to the recovery room, where they gradually recover from the anesthetic. Most patients experience nausea and feel sleepy during this period. The patient may initially develop vision difficulties, and family members or friends may visit the patient. A healthcare professional may prescribe medication to the recovering person to help with pain management. They may utilize ice packs by positioning them on the patient’s eyes to minimize swelling and bruising. The individual who undergoes surgery may not be able to drive home, and a family member or friend must be present to ensure the patient gets home safely.
Things to Consider Before Eyelid Surgery
The most important thing a patient should consider before any surgery is the motive behind the operation. It would help if you thought about this decision thoroughly to minimize impulsive decisions. A person should consider this for a few months before the initial consultation appointment. Patients should also account for the costs involved. Insurance only caters to eyelid surgery for people who have affected vision. Avoid making your decisions based on advertising, and take adequate time to research the procedure.
Eyelid surgery involves the upper, lower, or both eyelids. A plastic surgeon performs this procedure to alter drooping and sagging eyelids or correct vision obstructions
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