Lifting the Lid on Blepharoplasty

Monday, April 04, 2016

Our eyes take in an incredible and almost continuous amount of data and also reveal our thoughts and feelings to those around us. With so much going on, no wonder they, and the skin around them can become a bit tired over time.

Lax skin can creep up at any age, from as early as our twenties to further afield in our forties and there are a number of factors that can contribute to sagging skin around the eyes; a look at older family members with similar skin may reveal that genetics are behind it, but our lifestyle can also play a big role. If you smoke excessively, have an unhealthy diet, or are exposed to the sun for long periods of time without proper protection, it may have taken its toll, giving you what seems like a permanent ‘tired’ look.

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin, or ‘hooding’ from the upper eyelids but can also be used to tighten the skin on the lower eyelids. Patients often opt for this cosmetic surgery to restore youth to their face by creating a more ‘awake’ look.

As we get older, the skin on the upper eyelid has a tendency to droop down onto the eyelashes. Besides the aging effect it may create, it can be quite annoying as the weight of the skin can make the simple task of blinking a bit more tiring and can also restrict vision.

There are a few factors for me to consider to determine if a patient is suitable for blepharoplasty; ethnicity, surgical and medical history, the quality of the patient’s skin, condition of the eye and socket shape. In rare cases where the brow is very close to the upper eyelid, blepharoplasty may not give the desired result and the patient may not benefit from the surgery.

If you are considering this type of surgery, then do book an appointment at our Sydney clinics and we can talk through your individual needs and whether eyelid surgery is indeed an option for you.

Most patients prefer to have the procedure under a general anaesthetic but it can also be performed as an in-office procedure and typically takes an hour for upper eyelids and an hour for lower eyelids. Some patients have both performed at the same time to ensure a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing result.

For the surgery, the excess skin around the eye is measured meticulously, the site is prepared and a local anaesthetic injection is administered even if the patients are having a general anaesthetic.  This is primarily to assist with post-op pain relief.

Once that has taken effect, the excess skin is removed and the incision is sewn up. Perhaps surprisingly, scarring is all but invisible on the upper and lower eyelids, which is another reason why it’s popular with celebrities… the ‘tell-tale signs of surgery’ are not visible.  Recovery is not difficult, bruising is common and pain is rare.  Initially, patients have the sutures out between 7 and 10 days and are back to work about the same time.

As with any type of surgery, there are risks involved and these should always be considered but on the whole, we have found blepharoplasty to be a simple and safe procedure that produces excellent results for our patients.

To book a consultation call (02) 8897 00797