EYELID SURGERY (BLEPHAROPLASTY)

Aging and gravity cause loosening of the skin, excess skin and drooping of the eyebrows, upper and lower eyelids; especially the skin of lower eyelids may herniate and cause bagginess. This is a structural case. With a blepharoplasty surgery, the excess skin is removed, membrane in front of herniating fat tissue is reinforced and/or excess fat mass is extracted. In younger patients where no excess skin is visible, only fat herniation is corrected. This way, not only the appearance is improved, but also vision can be corrected. There will be a scar on the upper eyelid, however as it will be located in the eyelid fold, it is only visible when looked closely. On the lower eyelid, the scar is located immediately under the eyelashes, the continuation of the scar looks like a natural skin line on the side. The eyelids are the least scar producing area of the body.
The most suitable candidates for this operation are patients generally over 30, whose upper and lower eyelids have moderate drooping and bagging, with no other health issue.
A meticulous consultation with your doctor will be done before the surgery for optimal aesthetic results. In the event the upper eyelid looks drooping and heavy due to the sagging of forehead, the needed operation may be a forehead lift instead of a blepharoplasty. In cases where the eyebrows are low set, undergoing only an upper eyelid surgery will help with your vision, but will not make you look younger. You must choose a surgeon whose experience and aesthetic taste you can trust.

OPERATION

Blepharoplasty / eyelid surgery is done in hospital environment, in an operation room under the direction of an anesthesiologist. Local anesthesia and intravenous sedation (tranquilizer to be injected through the vein) method is preferred. Depending on the patient’s existing complaints, only the upper, or the lower eyelid, or both can be operated on simultaneously. The operation takes 1 – 1.5 hours on average and it is possible to leave the hospital the same day.

POST OPERATIVE PERIOD

Early post-operative stages are usually comfortable. The incisions will be covered by small, fine dressings, the eyes will be uncovered. Periodic cold compress application is suggested. Edema and contusions may occur around the eyes. Dryness, burning sensation in the eyes and vision troubles may be experienced. Tearing may increase, eyes may be sensitive to light for a certain time. Ability to completely close the eye may be limited during the first days. These are expected symptoms that disappear within a week. The sutures are not taken out.

The operation offers satisfactory results. Revision (additional surgical procedure) may rarely be required. The patient can go back to work 3 days later, wear contact lenses a week later. The new shape of eyelids will be affected by gravity, the effects of which are different in each person; therefore in some patients the effects will last 5 to 10 years and in others, for a lifetime.