Don’t Let Sagging Eyelids Get You Down
Age affects your skin in the worst way possible. Not only do you get wrinkles, your eyelids may start to sag. Sometimes our genes may also make it more likely for us to develop eyelid sagging at an early age.
This can give you a constantly tired look and can take away from the aesthetic appeal of the rest of your face. You may feel less attractive and suffer from low self-confidence as a result.
To address sagging, wrinkled, and puffy eyelids, many patients come in for blepharoplasty surgery. A blepharoplasty can help to restore more youthful-looking eyelids.
Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty comes in two types: cosmetic and functional. Cosmetic blepharoplasty is performed to address the aesthetic issues that come along with the aging process, while functional blepharoplasty is done to address drooping eyelids that affect the field of vision.
During blepharoplasty, excess fat, drooping skin, and sometimes sagging muscle tissue are removed from the upper eyelids, the lower eyelids, or both. Your vision may also be improved if your sagging eyelids were obstructing your field of vision.
A surgery such as this can help restore a more youthful look for as long as ten years, depending on factors like your general health and your age at the time of surgery.
Before Your Procedure
Before setting a date for the surgery, you will meet with your plastic surgeon for a consultation. They will evaluate your general health condition and ensure that you are a good candidate. The two of you will discuss your health history and your expectations from the surgery.
Certain medications that you have been using might get limited or temporary replaced by your doctor. If you have conditions such as dry eye, thyroid, or diabetes, you will be given a further medical evaluation to test for suitability for the procedure.
The Blepharoplasty Procedure
Depending on your needs, you will get either local anesthesia with IV sedation or general anesthesia. For the upper eyelids, the incisions are made along the natural crease of the eyelid. For the lower lids, they will either be made at the lash line or inside the eyelid.
Taking into account the presence of extra fat and your bone structure, your plastic surgeon will remove as much extra fat as required and will reposition the rest for a more even look. Excess skin and muscle tissue will be trimmed away. The incisions will then be sealed with tiny sutures.
Recovery After Blepharoplasty
You will be given topical antibiotics. For the first two days, you will have to apply cold compresses, followed by warm compresses after the 48-hour period is over. The cold compresses will decrease the swelling, and the warm compresses promote healing.
It may take a few weeks before you see the final results of the surgery, since bruising and swelling will be there for a time. Anything out of the ordinary like double vision or vision loss should be reported to your doctor immediately.
Restoring Your Eyelids
If sagging eyelids are getting you down, blepharoplasty can help you look younger and more alert again. Doctors Roger Friedman, Douglas Forman, and Kathy Huang are board-certified plastic surgeons and will be happy to help you reach your aesthetic goals. Contact our office for a consultation.
