As we age, the muscles around our eyelids get weaker, leading to sagging excess skin and fat around the upper and lower eyelid. The result is under-eye bags and smaller-looking eyes giving the face an aged, tired look. In addition to making our faces look aged, sagging eyelids also impair sight and can make it difficult to perform tasks that require good vision. Eyelids can be restored to a more youthful appearance by performing blepharoplasty to give them a lift and restore a youthful appearance as well as correct sight problems.
What is Blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty is an operation performed by a plastic surgeon to correct defects in the eyelids. It is also performed to aesthetically modify the eye region of the face and sometimes to help with sight complications. The procedure corrects typical signs of aging affecting the eyes and the skin around them. These signs of aging include drooping eyelids, fatty deposits that make eyes look puffy, sagging or bags, and wrinkles under the eyes. This type of surgery will tighten and lift the skin to make the eyes appear more open as well as reduce excess fat.
Patients can opt for upper eyelid surgery, lower eyelid surgery, or both.
Who Should Have a Blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty is a good solution for those who are uncomfortable with their drooping eyelids, bags under the eyes, and fat deposits that cause their faces to appear aged and tired. If you are interested in this surgery you should be in the good physical condition and not have any eyesight problems.
Blepharoplasty Techniques
There are many different blepharoplasty techniques. Your surgeon should be able to come up with a customized solution for your particular problem by selecting a technique that is suited to your individual needs.
Upper blepharoplasty, which is surgery of the upper eyelid, is done by incisions to remove excess skin and fat. A stitch is used to bring the skin together to create an eyelid crease.
For lower eyelid surgery, incisions are made in the lower eyelid and the surgeon removes excess skin and fat. The skin is then sewn back together to create a more refined, firmer look.
If you would like guidance in deciding on either upper blepharoplasty surgery in Richmond, VA, or lower blepharoplasty in Richmond, VA, contact us for more information or continue reading our guide.
How Do You Prepare For A Blepharoplasty?
Before scheduling blepharoplasty, you will meet with a healthcare provider at our Richmond plastic surgery clinic. This healthcare provider could be a plastic surgeon, an eye specialist, or a plastic surgeon specializing in surgery around the eye area. They will take your medical history and discuss your goals and expectations from the surgery. This information will help to decide your suitability for the procedure. When scheduling, staff will do a physical exam and eye tests to take measurements, check for injuries and test peripheral vision.
What To Expect During The Procedure
The first step is anesthesia. The surgeon will decide whether to put you on general anesthesia or intravenous sedation based on consultation data. An incision site is then chosen where the resulting scar can be hidden and blended into the natural eye contours. For upper eyelid blepharoplasty, the incision is made in the eyelid crease; for the lower eyelid, the incision is made in the lash line or inside the eyelid. Fat deposits are then repositioned, muscles tightened and the extra skin is removed. The third step is closing the incisions by stitching or skin glue.
What to Expect After The Procedure
Blepharoplasty is minimally invasive and is performed as an outpatient procedure. You will spend some time in the recovery room being monitored for complications. You will then continue healing at home. Expect swelling, bruising, discomfort, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light. Use the medications that your surgeon will provide for pain and ward off infections. A cool compress should help with the swelling.
Results are visible 7-14 days after your surgery. Bruising and swelling will lessen within two weeks and scars could take a few months to fade.
Contact Us
Are you considering upper and lower eyelid surgery in Richmond, VA? Contact us at our Kitto plastic surgery practice for a consultation.