Blepharoplasty
What is blepharoplasty?Blepharoplasty, popularly known as cosmetic surgery of the eyelids, is a surgical procedure that allows the correction of defects such as drooping upper eyelids, fat bags and dark shadows, which make the eyes look tired and the face older, sometimes interfering with the vision.The cosmetic surgery of the eyelids consists in removing the excess skin and fat inside the upper and lower eyelids and in repositioning the drooping eyebrow. Through blepharoplasty it is also possible to modify the shape of the eyes by lifting and/or repositioning the lateral corner of the eye (the so-called canthoplasty and canthopexy). Who is this kind of intervention indicated for?The best candidates for this surgery are men and women whose skin shows the first signs of weakness but has still good elasticity.Are there age limits to undergo this surgery?There are no age limits to undergo this kind of surgery. Most patients who resort to blepharoplasty are aged between 40 and 60, but the cosmetic surgery of the eyelids is also performed successfully on people aged between 70 and 80.What surgical interventions can be performed together with blepharoplasty?Blepharoplasty can be performed alone or in association with other surgical techniques such as or eyebrow-lift, additive mastoplasty, liposuction or other jobs.What are the risks and the complications of this kind of operation?The cosmetic surgery of the eyelids is a rather simple surgical procedure. When blepharoplasty is performed by a specialist in plastic surgery, the results are usually highly satisfactory.However, it is a real surgical procedure whose complications (bleeding, infection) are rare but may occur and can be easily resolved only if the intervention is performed by a specialist in plastic surgery and within duly qualified facilities. In order to reduce the risks of complications, it is anyhow essential to follow the advice and the instructions given by the surgeon carefully before and after the operation. Smokers should reduce the use of cigarettes because smoking may increase the risk of complications and slow down the recovery. What does the preoperative examination consists in?Blepharoplasty is a very customized kind of surgery that, as such, needs a meticulous specialist examination.During the first examination, the surgeon will assess the bone structure of your face, the quality of your skin and periocular muscles, verify if there are physical and/or functional defects, and show you the target and the cosmetic results you can achieve. The surgeon will also assess your physical condition in order to exclude the presence of troubles (such as high blood pressure, clotting or healing disorders) which might affect the final result of the operation. Before the operation you will receive specific information about the preoperative and postoperative diet and the use of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. At the end of the examination, the surgeon, in tune with you, will choose the surgical procedure most suitable for your situation. What kind of anaesthetic is given?Blepharoplasty is normally performed under local anaesthesia with sedation (which means that you will be awake but relaxed and insensitive to pain) and in outpatient care.Where are the incisions made?In the most common surgical procedure, which consists in contouring the orbital muscle and the fat bags and in removing the excess skin, the incisions are made in the folds of the upper and lower eyelids and they are practically invisible.If there are only fat bags in the lower eyelid and it is not necessary to remove the excess skin, the surgeon can perform the so-called transconjunctival blepharoplasty, without making external skin incisions.
How long is the operation?The blepharoplasty operation lasts 1-2 hours, it is completely painless and ends with the application of ice on the eyes.What happens during the post-operative period?During 48 hours following blepharoplasty surgery, you will have to rest up, keeping your head slightly raised.Starting from the third day, you will be able to resume your normal life, avoiding, nevertheless, tiring activities, saunas, sweat-baths and sunbathing. During the first two days, swelling and ecchymoses may occur around the treated area and they will persist for about 1-2 weeks. Very seldom may infections, haematomas or keloidal scars appear. After 7-10 days, you will be able to resume work, provided that it is not excessively tiring. Starting from the third week, you will gradually resume all your normal activities, including the sports activity. The result, already observable after the first three weeks, will be definitive about six months after the operation. What kind of result can be achieved?The result of blepharoplasty is usually very good and long-lasting, but it cannot be described as permanent, in that it will be always influenced by your lifestyle and by the inevitable effects of gravity and ageing.If you wish to take this subject further, we advise you to visit the blepharoplasty FAQ page, where you will find the answers to the most frequent questions asked by the patients. |
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Chirurgia-plastica-estetica.it Prof. Mario Dini Chairman and Director of Plastic Surgery Dept. - University of Florence |
