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Eyelid
Surgery
| Eyelid Surgery
at a glance |
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1. Surgery:
Corrects drooping lids, puffy bags, muscle, and excessive fat
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| 2. Time: One-half
to one and one-half hours |
| 3. Anesthesia:
Local at times, general |
| 4. Recovery:
A week to ten days |
| 5. Side Effects:
Rare tightness of lids,bruising swelling, burning |
| 6. Risks: Blurring
or double vision, infecion, swelling in corners of lids |
| 7. Degree of Permanence:
Often a lifetime |
Eyelids
The
eyelids are frequently the first areas to show signs of aging,
resulting in a tired, sad appearance. This causes patients concern
because the eyes are usually the first features that we notice
in a person's face. The problem tends to be excess skin in the
upper and lower eyelids. Or it could be an accumulation of fat,
causing "baggy" eyelids. Many times this tendency may be hereditary
and can be seen at an early age. It can also be seen in people
with allergies and those who suffer from fluid retention. Initially,
the bags may only be noticeable when first getting up in the morning.
As the problem becomes more severe, this puffy look may persist
throughout the day. An additional cause may be the attachment
of the skin to the upper eyelid muscle. With aging their may be
significant disruption of this attachment, causing a lax, tired
look. Eyelid surgery does not remove the small creases around
the eyes. Procedure
Surgery
on the upper eyelids involves an incision made in the fold of
the lid. On the lower eyelid, the incision is made in a natural
crease directly below the eyelashes if skin has to be removed,
more recently, where bags need to be removed, an incision is made
on the inside of the lid to prevent any visible scars. Some bruising
and swelling occur in the upper and lower eyelids. This will persist
for seven to ten days. No bandages are needed. Convalescence
After
a week the patient can use makeup to camouflage most of the residual
bruising. Strenuous activities are restricted for a short time
after surgery. The patient is not able to wear contact lenses
for several days after surgery due to eyelid swelling. Risks
The
risks are minimal. There have been rare cases of asymmetry of
the eyelids (each eye not exactly the same). This condition also
exists with those who have not had eyelid surgery. A rare drooping
of the eyelid can happen. When the muscle tone in the much older
patient is especially weak or the lid has been stretched out,
additional surgical techniques are available to correct this problem.
As with any surgery, infection or bleeding can occur. These problems
are very rare. The removal of too much skin (a rare occurrence)
can result in over correction, requiring additional surgery. However,
in the majority of patients, eyelid surgery is very successful
and provides removal of excess skin and fat resulting in a rested
and more youthful appearance. In those cases where the hanging
upper eyelid skin is partially Cosmetic Surgery obstructing your
field of vision, the operation can actually improve you ability
to see.
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