Blepharoplasty

Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty

An upper eyelid blepharoplasty is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic operations. It is performed to treat dermatochalasis, or excess skin of the upper eyelids. Excess upper eyelid skin can cause hooding of the eyelids and this in turn can make the eyelids feel heavy, can obstruct the field of vision especially on the sides of one’s vision and could make the eyes feel tired and look aged.

Upper eyelid blepharoplasty is most often performed under a local anaesthetic as a day procedure, not requiring an overnight hospital stay. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to do and one would expect to spend 6-7 hours in the hospital.

Post operatively I encourage patients to apply cold compresses to the eyelids for a couple of days. Stitches are removed in 5-7 days and one would expect some bruising for about 2-3 weeks. Most of the bruising and swelling settles by around 6 weeks, when one can start using make up once again. The full effect of the operation can be expected by 3 months after the surgery.

Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty

Lower eyelid blepharoplasty is performed for bags under the eyelids. There are several ways in which lower eyelid blepharoplasty is performed depending on what the main problem is, whether there is excess skin, fat prolapse from the orbit, deepening of the tear trough or a combination of the these. Lower eyelid blepharoplasty is also performed under local anaesthesia, but sometimes sedation or a general anaesthetic is needed, especially if all four eyelids are being operated on.

Being a specialist in eyes, I have an excellent understanding of the eyelid anatomy and the structures in and around the eye and so am well placed to make the smallest of adjustments be it to the lid height or brow position when dealing with the excess skin and fat of the eyelids.

There are risks in any surgical intervention ranging from infection, bleeding and scaring to more specific risks of taking too much skin out of the eyelids leading to inability to close the eyelids well and the inherent consequences, asymmetry of the eyelids and the result not entirely matching the patients expectations, but these risks are extremely rare and almost all patients are very satisfied with the outcome following surgery.

Please do bring an old closeup photograph of you in your youth, to help me understand what your facial and peri-ocular structure was like and to help us plan your surgery.