During your consultation, your doctor and medical staff may take pictures, measurements, and use computer simulated facial morphing technology to help you see possible outcomes and benefits of your Brow Lift. In addition, your surgeon may also discuss other procedures to perform in conjunction with a Brow Lift to provide the best aesthetic facial rejuvenation results.
In some cases, your doctor may recommend an Endoscopic Brow Lift. This is a minimally invasive version of the classic Brow Lift which also removes excess tissue, alters forehead muscles and tightens forehead skin.
What can Eyelid Surgery do for you?
A Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery), has the ability to improve the appearance of the upper and lower eyelids by improving the appearance of puffiness around the upper eyelids, under eye "bags" and droopiness of the lower eyelids. Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) can also help restore youthfulness to the eye area by diminishing excess skin and fine wrinkles around the lower eyelids and is performed medically to correct abnormalities or dysfunction of the eyelid such as Ptosis.
If you are looking to improve the appearance of your eyes and have them appear well rested, more alert and refreshed for a more youthful look, Eyelid Surgery or Blepharoplasty may be the right procedure for you.
What to discuss with your surgeon
When considering Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty), it is important to have realistic expectations and to discuss any questions or concerns with your doctor. You should discuss why you would like to have Eyelid Surgery and your medical history, including any history of eye disease such as glaucoma, dry eye or detached retina, diabetes, thyroid disorders, high blood pressure, cardiovascular, or any circulatory disorders.
It is also important to discuss any previous surgeries and the use of medications, supplements, vitamins, alcohol, tobacco or drugs, as these can all affect your Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty), your healing, and ultimately the cosmetic results.
To help achieve the best results, your plastic surgeon may discuss other procedures to perform in conjunction with Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty). These procedures may include: Fillers or Injectables to help improve the fullness of the face, a Browlift or Facelift to help rejuvenate the face and neck areas, and sometimes laser skin resurfacing to reduce sun damage.
During the consultation, your doctor and medical staff may take pictures and measurements, and use computer simulated facial morphing technology to help you see the potential outcomes and benefits of Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty).
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What happens after you meet your surgeon?
After you've discussed Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) with your surgeon, and your questions and concerns have been addressed, you may meet with the patient care or surgical coordinator to review a quote for the procedure and decide on a day and time for your Eyelid Surgery.
You should leave your doctor’s office with a solid understanding of your Blepharoplasty procedure, step by step instructions on what to do the night before and morning of Eyelid Surgery, post-operative care instructions, and consents to sign and return regarding anesthesia and surgery. Before surgery you should arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you following Blepharoplasty surgery, for at least the first night. Sometimes there are post-op care facilities focused on plastic and cosmetic surgery patients.
Once you book your Blepharoplasty you may be asked to get certain lab work performed, receive a medical evaluation from your internist or surgeon and stop smoking prior to Eyelid Surgery.
Many practices will perform Eyelid Surgery either within a nearby hospital or an ambulatory surgery center outside of the office. A Blepharoplasty procedure normally takes 1-3 hours to perform and is typically done under local or general anesthesia depending on the recommendations of your surgeon.
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What to expect after surgery
Following a Blepharoplasty procedure, your plastic surgeon or nurse will lubricate your eyes, apply ointment to the incisions and gently place cold compresses on the eye area. The eye area may also be bandaged with gauze to loosely cover the eyes following Eyelid Surgery. During Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) incisions made are normally done in the creases or edges of the eyelids to minimize visible scarring. You will most likely be prescribed oral medications to help manage any pain or discomfort and an antibiotic to help prevent infection following a Blepharoplasty. Patients typically return home within hours of having Eyelid Surgery.
Recovery Time
It normally takes several weeks to recover from Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty). I general, your stitches may be removed about a week after the procedure and you can generally resume normal activities or return to work in approximately 10 days. Strenuous activity, exercise regimens or actions that increase blood flow to the eyes such as lifting, bending or crying cannot be resumed until at least three to four weeks following a Blepharoplasty.
Following Eyelid Surgery, you will be given post-op instructions for caring for your eyes. This should include detailed instructions for properly cleaning and dressing your eyes. Your surgeon may recommend that you wear dark sunglasses to help address any light sensitivity and to reduce irritation caused by the sun and wind for the first few weeks of recovery.
Your eyes may tire easily for the first several weeks following a Blepharoplasty. It's important to stay well rested and to avoid wearing contact lenses, reading, watching television or using a computer following surgery. There will be some swelling and bruising around the eyes following Eyelid Surgery. Swelling and bruising can be minimized by keeping your head elevated and applying cold compresses to the eyes. The incision sites will need to be lubricated with ointment and eye drops may be necessary to alleviate discomfort and dryness of the eyes. Bruising, redness and swelling occurring after Eyelid Surgery will fade as recovery continues.
It is important to follow your doctor’s post-operative instructions. This helps to ensure proper healing, to reduce possibility of infection, and to achieve the best aesthetic results.
The results of Eyelid Surgery are typically long-lasting and the final results are normally seen after several months to a year after the Blepharoplasty is performed.
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Side-Effects, Risks and Complications
Eyelid Surgery often requires minimal invasiveness to achieve the desired aesthetic results, but Blepharoplasty is still a surgical procedure which carries a risk of complications. Anyone undergoing Eyelid Surgery where they are totally or partially sedated could experience adverse reactions to anesthesia.
After Eyelid Surgery, you may experience bruising, redness and irritation surrounding the eyes, excessive tearing, itching, burning eyes, dry eyes, light sensitivity and blurred or double vision. These side-effects are more common and can sometimes persist for several days. You may be asked to avoid using make-up for a short time, but make-up can normally be used to camouflage any visible bruising or redness resulting from Eyelid Surgery.
While rare, serious complications of Blepharoplasty can include hematoma (an accumulation of blood under the skin), ectropian (a drooping effect of the lower eyelid) and injury to the eye in the form of retinal detachment (a correctable separation of the retina from the outer layers of the eye). Some patients may have difficulty keeping their eyes closed while sleeping. This is usually temporary, but in rare cases it can become a permanent side-effect.
Despite best efforts, unwanted scarring at the incision sites or an asymmetrical appearance of the eyes is a possible complication of Eyelid Surgery.
After recovery, it is important to take steps to maintain your new youthful look. Minimizing sun exposure and using sun protection can go a long way in helping to maintain your rejuvenated appearance.
Deciding to renew your appearance is a big decision. And finding the right doctor to perform the procedure is important. Your doctor should explain the procedure, the benefits, the potential risks and complications, and answer all your questions, so you can decide if a procedure is right for you.