Eyelid Surgery - Blepharoplasty

About

Eyelid surgery is one of the first cosmetic procedures to consider to reverse the effects of aging as the eyes are the first feature we judge. Recovery is straight forward and doesn’t involve much down time. I have more than 1000 of these operations. Upper eyelid hoods make you look older and lower eyelid bags make you look tired. Correcting these features will change the perception of others and the way they treat you. You will look younger and more approachable. A detailed assessment is required and a precise understanding of what needs to be done. This surgery is delicate. The priority is to leave no visible signs. You want to look good without anyone knowing why.

Consultation

Together we look at photographs of your eyes taken from various angles which show the ‘hood’ on the upper lid and the location of any puffy fat in the lower eyelids. Pulling on the skin will show the excess on the upper lid where it will be removed and the position of the fine scar line. Some features cannot be improved and your expectation must be realistic. Photos of previous patients with similar problems will show you what result to expect. Safety also demands assessment of your eyesight and medical problems, as well as eyelid and tear duct function.

Operation

The surgery is done under general anaesthetic which is safer and easier for both patient and surgeon. It’s important to do just the right amount to make you look better but never too much.

On the upper eyelid, lines are drawn to show the excess skin of the hood. Local anaesthetic containing adrenalin is injected to reduce bleeding and to prevent pain when you wake up. The skin of the hood is removed and also any fat deeper down. The edges are then closed creating a smooth contour and a new crease where the stitch line is hidden. 

On the lower eyelid the technique is quite different. The fat is removed through an incision inside the eyelid, not at the front. There are no stitches and no visible scar. The lower eyelid skin conforms to the new contour. It’s a mistake to assume there is excess skin here. The problem is almost always fat pushing forwards causing bags.

Recovery

You must lie still after surgery to prevent bruising. Your head will be propped up on a few pillows . There will be a moist pad on your eyes. To control swelling I use anti-inflammatory ointment on the eyelids. This is reapplied every few hours. You must rest at home for a week after which the stitch in the upper eyelid is removed. Any bruising will subside in the second week. The follow up appointment is at 8 weeks. The scar line in the upper eyelid crease starts to fade about at 2 months. The results after blepharoplasty surgery are usually quite dramatic but it is quite normal for friends only to comment on how well you look.

Gallery

See photographs of typical results for this procedure