Eyelid Surgery Might be Right for You

Surgically modifying your eyelids is often done for cosmetic reasons, but there are very practical needs that can be addressed through such a procedure as well. If you’re looking to do anything from simply removing wrinkles and excess skin around your eyes to improving your peripheral vision, it may be for you.

Eyelid surgery is not one of the most popular cosmetic procedures, but it is certainly more common than you may think

Known officially as a blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery involves removing excess skin and fat from the eyelids and fortifying the muscles and tendons that surround them. This can be done for cosmetic reasons to reduce sagging skin or the presence of wrinkles, but it can also improve functionality of the eyes for the patient.

The procedure itself usually takes between one and three hours to complete. It involves the surgeon making incisions along the natural creases of the outside of the eyelids, or in some cases on the inside surface of the lower lid where they are more capable of being hidden. From there he or she extracts unwanted fat cells and trims away excess tissue before closing the wound. In the case of the incision being made on the inside of the lid, excess skin is not able to be trimmed due to the placement of the incision.

The resulting effect are often hidden by bruising and swelling for several weeks following the procedure, and it is often not until several months later that the final results are evident. Even then the results can be difficult to notice to the naked eye but are easily noticeable when comparing before and after pictures, which is beneficial in the fact that it makes the presence of cosmetic work more discreet.

Cosmetic reasons for considering eyelid surgery revolve around the presence of puffiness, swelling or “bags” under the eyes or the appearance of aging and wrinkles. Additionally, patients of Asian descent make up a large portion of those who seek the procedure, as it is capable of artificially creating the “supratarsal fold,” or the crease in the upper lid that is common in most races but is often absent in individuals of Asian descent.

Functional reasons are largely centered around an enlarged upper lid that can actually get in the way of the eye and block peripheral vision. This excess tissue usually blocks the upper corners of the visual field and can affect driving and other everyday tasks. To alleviate this, excess skin can be trimmed from the upper lid to create a visual field free of obstruction.

The difference between these reasons for seeking the procedure is reflected in its potential cost as well. Eyelid surgery can be covered by insurance if it is done for functional purposes, but must typically be paid out of pocket for other purposes.

Eyelid surgery, like any other medical work, is a significant undertaking that should be discussed with and planned out by a doctor in advance. From there, it is up to the individual to decide if it is the right course of action for their personal needs.