The eyelid surgery, technically known as blepharoplasty, is a procedure to remove fat and excess skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. Eyelid surgery can correct drooping upper lids and puffy bags of inferior characteristics that make us look older and more tired than we are and that in some cases may interfere with vision. However, blepharoplasty does not eliminate the "crow's feet" or other wrinkles or drooping eyebrows.
It can be done alone or with other cosmetic surgery of the face, such as cervicofacial lift or forehead lift.
If you are considering undergoing blepharoplasty, you get basic information about the surgery, when indicated, how it's performed, and what results can be expected. However, it is impossible for all your questions remain unanswered, since they largely depend on personal factors and preferences of the plastic surgeon. If you do not understand something, ask your plastic surgeon.
¿WHO IS THE IDEAL CANDIDATE?
The ideal candidates to undergo blepharoplasty are those seeking improvement, and not an absolute perfection in appearance. If you have a general state of good health, are psychologically stable, and realistic in your expectations, it will be a good candidate. Patients usually have 35 years or more, but in some cases with family tendency to have bags, patients are younger. Before deciding whether to perform a blepharoplasty think about what you want to achieve and discuss with your plastic surgeon.
PLANNING SURGERY
Good communication between you and your plastic surgeon is essential. In the first consultation vision and tear production, and their overall health will be assessed. You must tell your surgeon if you take any medication, if you smoke and if you are allergic to any medicine. Also say if you wear glasses or contact lenses and provide, if possible, their last eye exam. The ability to operate all four eyelids, lower or higher will be discussed and if necessary to associate another procedure. It will explain the techniques and the type of anesthesia to be used, where the surgery is performed, the risks and the cost of the intervention. Do not hesitate to ask your surgeon any questions you may have, especially those regarding your expectations and results. Your plastic surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on food and fluid intake, snuff or taking or removal of medicines and vitamins and face wash. It is important to stop smoking at least one or two weeks before surgery. Careful compliance surgery will be performed in better conditions. Also make sure that a family member or companion can get you home when you are discharged and, if necessary, can help a few days.
SURGERY
Blepharoplasty is performed in the operating room, within a clinic or hospital. Normally, you need not stay in the clinic only a few hours after surgery.
Usually performed under local anesthesia and sedation, or less frequently, under general anesthesia, depending on the preferences of your surgeon. If done under local anesthesia and sedation, the patient feels relaxed and eyelids are insensitive to pain; general anesthesia the patient is asleep during the operation.
The procedure usually between one and three hours, or more when combined with other interventions. If you are going to do all four eyelids, it usually begins by superiors. Most of the time the incisions are placed in the natural creases of the upper lids and just below the lashes in the lower; in some cases they may extend into the crow's feet. Through these incisions fat skin and underlying muscle is separated, removing excess fat and sometimes excess skin and muscle. The incisions are closed with very fine sutures.
In other cases, in young patients in whom there is only excess fat, you can perform a transconjunctival blepharoplasty of the lower eyelids; the incision is placed inside the lower eyelid, leaving no visible scar.
BACK TO REALITY
After surgery, you will apply an ointment in the eye to oil them, and in some cases, a soft bandage. You may have discomfort on the eyelids; if any, is easily relieved with medication prescribed by your surgeon (if it presented severe or persistent pain should tell your surgeon). You should keep your head elevated for several days after surgery and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling and bruising. You will be taught how to wash his eyes and tells you if ophthalmic eye drops should be applied to keep the eyes hydrated. During the first few weeks you may notice excessive tearing, sensitivity to light, and temporary changes in visual acuity, such as blurred or double vision. During the first two weeks your plastic surgeon will detail its evolution. The stitches are removed between 2 days and week. The swelling and bruising will gradually diminish and disappear completely, and begin to look and feel much better. Most patients who undergo blepharoplasty begin to read or watch TV in 2 or 3 days. However, you cannot put contact lenses, if present, until 2 weeks and still may feel uncomfortable for a while. They usually return to work or a week or 10 days; then, you can apply makeup to hide the bruises. It may be necessary to wear sunglasses for a few weeks and apply sunscreen on the eyelids. Must maintain a relative rest for 3-5 days and avoid strenuous activity three weeks.
¿RISKS? ¿GUARANTEES?
When this procedure is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and minor. However, there are always chances of complications, such as infection or anesthetic reactions. You can minimize risks carefully follow the instructions of your plastic surgeon, both before and after surgery. Minor complications that can occur after blepharoplasty include double or blurred vision for a few days, temporary eyelid edema and slight asymmetry in healing. After surgery it may appear difficult to completely close the eyelids during sleep; only in rare cases this complication is permanent. Another rare complication is ectropion, which may require surgical correction.
THE RESULTS
Scars may look pink in the early months. Progressively will disappear into a clear almost invisible line. The results of blepharoplasty, younger and awake look, years remain; in many cases, the results are permanent.
EYELID SURGERY: SUMMARY
The aesthetic blepharoplasty is the operation to correct the signs manifest eyelids facial aging: sagging skin of the upper eyelids and "bags" in the lower eyelids and the inner portion of the upper.
The procedure is performed as an isolated procedure or as part of another operation, generally a facElift (lifting). Depending on this, the procedure will be performed under local or general anesthesia.
The operation starts making incisions in the skin of the eyelids to release and remove the excess skin and orbicularis muscle. Then the fat is removed in the right amount to remove eyelid bags. Finally, piel.Tras sutured intervention, which usually lasts an hour and a half, an ophthalmic ointment and dressings with a very cold saline to reduce discomfort and swelling applied. However, it is normal during the first week persist swelling and bruises of the lids. Most patients can join his normal life in about 10-12 days.
Initially the scars may be visible as reddened fine lines in the crease of the upper eyelid and below the lashes in the lower eyelid, extending a few millimeters to the temple on one of the lines of "crow's feet".
Sometimes after blepharoplasty, some difficulty to the accommodation of the eye, which disappears within 2-3 weeks after surgery is presented. It may also appear conjunctivitis and subconjunctival hematoma sagging quickly with proper treatment. In the early days it can happen that during sleep the eyelids do not close completely; this is normal, and when the orbicularis muscle recovers its tone (possibly aided by appropriate exercises) will be corrected.
The result of the operation is very favorable and durable and, in general, eyelid bags usually do not recur.
The information contained on this website in no case, nor intended, to replace the information provided individually by your plastic surgeon. If in doubt, your plastic surgeon will provide appropriate clarifications.
