Eyelid Lift (Blepharoplasty) Overview

An eyelid lift, also known as blepharoplasty, is a cosmetic surgery procedure that removes excess skin, fat and loose muscles from the upper and lower eyelids. Eyelids have a very strong influence on a person’s face and particularly their expression. With an eyelid lift, you can enhance your expression and improve your overall appearance.

The signs of aging begin around the eyes. An eyelid lift targets drooping eyelids which are the result of years of hard work and stress. These factors can also contribute to the deeply hanging bags under the lower eyelid. The eyelid lift procedure corrects these unwanted testaments of age.

Blepharoplasty can also enhance your vision if your eyelids are drooping excessively. Your true age doesn’t have to be revealed from your eyes. Recovering from an eyelid lift will shield minimal discomfort if you follow the surgeon’s post-operative instructions carefully.

An eyelid lift can also be a medical solution to ptosis. Ptosis can be the result of abnormal muscle reactions, stroke, a brain tumor or diabetes. Eyelid lift surgery can correct drooping eyelids from such conditions. The cost of an eyelid lift might be covered partially or fully by your insurance company if it is for medical reasons.

An eyelid lift can be carried out in conjunction with other facial procedures such as facelift or nose surgery. Book yourself a consultation with a plastic surgeon so you can discuss if you are a good candidate for an eyelid lift. During this consultation he or she will also explain the eyelid lift risks and side effects so you are aware of them.

The old and tired appearance of your eyes does not need to be permanent. An eyelid lift can rejuvenate your face and make you feel great about the way you look.

A Good Candidate for Eyelid Lift (Blepharoplasty)

An eyelid lift is a solution for people wanting to get rid of visible stress and aging that begin to show around their eyes. Most people wanting to correct for drooping eyelids are good candidates for an eyelid lift but blepharoplasty is not for everyone.

Your plastic surgeon will talk to you about your reasons for surgery and your desired outcome as well as examine your natural facial features to determine if you are a good candidate for an eyelid lift.

Age is not a major factor when being considered for the eyelid lift procedure. However, most candidates are between 40 and 50 years of age. These patients have upper eyelids that may have begun to sag and lower eyelids that appear as bags under the eyes. Their hanging upper eyelids may make them look constantly tired or angry.

Drooping eyelids is a common sign of aging and an eyelid lift is mostly designed for older patients wanting to refresh their eye area. It can also be a solution for people in their 20s and 30s who suffer from hereditary drooping eyelids.

Regardless of the age, good candidates for eyelid lift surgery understand and accept the risks and side effects of an eyelid lift. While preparing for your eyelid lift you may realize that you are also a good candidate for other facial surgeries such as a facelift or nose surgery.

It is important for patients to communicate exactly what they wish to accomplish through their eyelid lift. For example, an eyelid lifts will not target wrinkles. It can help reduce the size and depth of wrinkles but a facelift or brow lift is better designed to combat deep wrinkles.

A good candidate for an eyelid lift needs to be emotionally and physically healthy. Patients will not be considered for surgery if certain diseases such as high blood pressure, hypothyroidism or glaucoma exist.

Eyelid Lift (Blepharoplasty) Procedure

An eyelid lift offers men and women the chance to eliminate unwanted signs of aging that have begun to appear around their eyes.

The eyelid lift procedure is usually performed under a local anesthesia but some surgeons may also supply sedatives to calm and relax patients. Belpharoplasty is rarely carried out under general anesthesia.

The surgeon makes incisions along the natural creases or folds of the eyelid so that the scar won’t be visible. Occasionally, the surgeon will make the incisions on the inside of the eyelid which results in no scarring. The surgeon removes excess fat through the incisions and cuts away excess skin.

Loose eyelid muscles will also be tightened during the eyelid lift procedure in order to help smooth the skin and decrease wrinkles. The eyes will be bandaged after surgery and you will be taken to a recovery room where to be monitored for a few hours. Eyelid lift surgery is normally an outpatient procedure so you will not have to stay overnight in hospital.

The most important thing to do now is focus on healing during your eyelid lift recovery!

Average Duration of Eyelid Lift Surgery: 1-3 three hours, depending on the amount of work involved. If you are having any other cosmetic procedures such as a facelift at the same time as your blepharoplasty, then the surgery time will be longer.

Risks and Side Effects of Eyelid Lift (Blepharoplasty)

While you are preparing for your eyelid lift, choose a fully qualified plastic surgeon that has extensive experience with this procedure. A surgeon with more experience is less likely to make any mistakes that will lead to eyelid lift risks and side effects.

Eyelid lift risks and side effects increase when surgery is performed on patients with particular conditions such as high blood pressure or diseases such as diabetes, thyroid problems and heart disease. You will not be deemed a good candidate for an eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) if you have any of these issues.

Short Term Eyelid Lift Risks and Side Effects

· Blurred vision

· Difficulty closing eyes when sleeping

· Swelling

· Dryness in the eyes

· Pain

· Excess tearing

Long Term Eyelid Lift Risks and Side Effects

· Uneven or unwanted scarring

· Reactions to the anesthesia

· Reactions to medications

· Excess bleeding

· Whiteheads around the incisions

· Cysts around the incisions

Recovery from Eyelid Lift (Blepharoplasty)

After your eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) your eyes will be bandaged and sore. Your doctor will provide you with medication that you can take to alleviate any pain you feel. The length of your eyelid lift recovery depends on the extent of your eyelid lift procedure and your body’s natural ability to heal.

Patients who undergo surgery on both eyelids will take longer to recovery than those who have surgery on only one eyelid.

The plastic surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to clean your eyes during your eyelid lift recovery. Be sure to have all the materials you need beforehand.

Stitches will be removed in 2-7 days after surgery. Most individuals can read and begin to watch television two days after surgery. Your eyelid lift recovering is a time for resting, relaxing and healing.

You will not be able to wear contacts for a few weeks after surgery. As the sensitivity of your eyes diminishes, you can start trying to wear them. If you rely on contacts for vision, be prepared to wear glasses for a while. Make sure you planned for this accordingly while you were preparing for your surgery.

Cost of Eyelid Lift (Blepharoplasty)

The cost of an eyelid lift depends largely on the extent of the procedure. Patients undergoing surgery on both eyelids will face higher costs than those having surgery on one. An eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) removes excess fat, skin and muscle from the eye area and these amounts vary from person to person.

The extent of the eyelid lift procedure is a determining factor in the cost of an eyelid lift.

An eyelid lift is significantly cheaper abroad. In the United States and the UK you can be expected to pay $3,000 to $6,000. This is because the main thing that determines the cost of an eyelid lift is the price charged by the individual surgeon. In western countries, surgeons often charge high fees.

In countries such as Costa Rica, Spain and Turkey, surgeons do not charge higher fees. The cost of an eyelid lift abroad ranges from $1,200 to $3,000.

The surgeon’s fee, facility fee and the anesthesia fee are the three main components that make up the total cost of an eyelid lift. If you combine your eyelid lift with other procedures such as a face lift then the cost will be higher.

Insurance companies do not usually cover the cost of eyelid surgery for cosmetic purposes however they do for medical purposes.

Ptosis

Ptosis is a droopy eyelid due to weak muscles. It happens naturally as people get older or as a result of trauma. The trauma can be damage to the eyelid muscle or damage to the nerve controlling the muscle.

Sometimes people are simply born with ptosis in one or both of their eyes. If a child born with ptosis does not later develop amblyopia (“lazy eye”), the child will need to have an eyelid lift (blepharoplasty).

An individual with ptosis is a good candidate for an eyelid lift. If their concerns are more medical, a plastic surgeon specializing in ptosis may be required to carry out the eyelid lift procedure. Otherwise, a board certified plastic surgeon can execute the eyelid lift for cosmetic purposes.

As a person gets older, they develop loose skin and wrinkles around their eyes and this can cause their eyelids to droop. Puffy bags under their eyes may make them look tired all the time. Blepharoplasty can correct these signs of aging.

Ptosis may interfere with a person’s vision. People who have this issue should have an eyelid lift. Of course, they need to make sure that the plastic surgeon they choose has extensive experience in this treatment so that they eyelid lift risks and side effects are minimized.