Blepharoplasty - Say Goodbye to Droopy Eyes

Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery as it is commonly referred to, is a surgical procedure that helps repair drooping eyelids and muscle sagging around the eyes. Eyelid surgery may be performed to aesthetically enhance the eyes and make an individual appear more lively and vivid. In addition, surgical correction of abnormally drooping eyelids may minimize eye strain and help restore maximal peripheral vision.

Good Candidates for Surgery
Blepharoplasty is a technique that is commonly used to treat droopy eyelids, a condition termed dermatochalasis where individuals have excess skin on the eyelids. While a reasonable amount excessive eyelid tissue can be just a cosmetic concern, some people have eyelids that droops right down to the eyes tarsal margin blocking vision to an extent. This can happen in individuals whose eyelid margin in itself begins much lower than the normal level, a condition termed ptosis. Children born with this defect are said to have congenital ptosis and must undergo appropriate treatment to avoid vision loss. More commonly though most patients have normal eyelid margin at birth, and droopiness is acquired owing to natural causes including aging, neuromuscular problems, muscle dystrophy and the like.

Asian Eyelid Surgery
Cosmetic eyelid surgery may also help correct monolids also termed ‘single eyelids’ typically seen in Asians. More than half of all Asians are born with no fold in their upper eyelid that makes the eyes seem droopy and half closed. To correct single eyelids and restore the ‘crease’ in their eyes, a type of blepharoplasty is performed where any fat pads and excess skin over the eyelid are removed. Immediately after surgery patients may notice that the crease seems located high on the eyelid, but in a month or so once the lids are better healed the crease falls into a more natural position.

Since Asian eyelids have a structure distinct from individuals with a normal crease, it is important that the chosen surgeon brings enough experience to make incisions in the right spot and remove just enough tissue to precisely create the crease. Individuals looking to undergo this procedure may want to first consult a professional plastic surgeon who has a good understanding of Asian eye structure and is proficient in appropriate correction techniques.

Surgical Outcomes
Blepharoplasty is once of the more straightforward cosmetic surgeries that is often performed as an outpatient procedure. Eyelid surgery involves the removal of excess tissue around the eyes and patients can expect sagging to be significantly curtailed. In addition because some skin is trimmed off the underlying muscles are tightened and the muscle function improved. While droopy eyelids are effectively eliminated, patients may not see visible reduction in wrinkles or crow feet around the eyes.

Prognosis after surgery is routine and healing may is relatively speedy usually within a few weeks post surgery, during which time eye drops can help manage irritation while any pain or discomfort can be controlled with painkillers.

Blepharoplasty is opted for usually as a cosmetic procedure or as elective surgery to surgically truncate baggy lids and improve vision. Aesthetic eyelid surgery can also be performed in conjunction with an eyelid lift as well as a brow lift if cosmetic enhancement of complementing facial features is desired.