It is known as eyelid lifting and according to the statistics of year 2009, this is the 3rd most common procedure in plastic surgery in the world. Thanks to this surgery for it enable to recover that freshness, youth and self-confidence of an individual without changing the expression of the eyes, where no doubt will improve the appearance of the eyelids.
Blepharoplasty can also be performed in Asian patients who lack the fold at the level of the upper eyelid and who wish to change their features to western features. This technique being best known as “double eyelid surgery or Asian blepharoplasty”, however, he or she must be aware that surgery will not remove evidence of ethnic or racial heritage.
It is important that our patient knows that the surgery will not eliminate the crow’s feet, does not correct the fall of the eyebrows and will not erase dark circles under the eyes, being necessary to complement the surgery with other procedures.
If you enjoy a good general health, regardless of age and sex, you have excess skin on the eyelids and / or bulging due to the protrusion of the fat bags, you can consider yourself a person with an indication to get you the blepharoplasty, and therefore you should contemplate it, always with real expectations in relation to the results, where you look for improvement and not an absolute perfection in your appearance.
Never pretend that by blepharoplasty, we look like another person, or that they treat us differently, so before deciding whether to perform the surgery on the eyelids think what you want to get and discuss it with Dr. Rosales.
Anesthesia and Surgical Times
On average, the duration of the surgery is 2 hours, and it is performed under local anesthesia and sedation carried out by an anesthesiologist.
The external incisions are made in such a way that they are very little visibility, making them at the level of the natural fold of the upper eyelid, while the lower one is incised just below the eyelashes or depending on the case and can even be approached from the inside which is called as Transconjunctival blepharoplasty, achieving this way not leaving any type of skin scars.
Through the different approaches it is sought to remodel the eyelids by eliminating and / or repositioning excess fat tissue, redundant skin resection, as well as strengthening the surrounding muscles and tendons.
It is a surgery that is usually managed on an outpatient basis, and can be discharged once the residual effects of anesthesia have passed, typically 3-6 hours later, very rarely and in special cases it is necessary to keep them for at least 24 hours in hospitalization.
The person should plan to stay in bed with the head elevated during the first day and then to rest relative, always trying to remain in semi-fowler’s position and always avoid lowering the head. Take the prescribed drugs as directed, eat normally according to tolerance and increase fluid intake.
Constant dressing of cold dressings on both eyes is recommended to reduce inflammation and bruising. Daily washing as it may become sticky the first few days or use of eye drops because of dry eye, burning or itching sensation. You may experience excessive tearing, blurred vision or double vision and a certain sensitivity to light, being recommended to wear sunglasses. In addition, avoid being exposed to the sun for about 6 weeks, and we always suggest the use of sunscreens for at least 3 months.
This period implies that the patient must maintain the first 24 hours a bandage that will keep both eyes covered, to be removed the following day and being able from that moment to open their eyes normally. Then will be re-evaluated between the 4th or 5th Day after surgery, at which time all sutures will be removed.
We can say that blepharoplasty has an average of 7 to 10 days recovery time, and our patient can return to their daily activities one week after the procedure, while the initial swelling and bruising take one or two weeks to recover.
Properly following both the instructions and indications on the part of the patient, the risks and complications are infrequent, and if they occur they are minor, but there is always a possibility that these occur.
Such cases are unpredictable and among some of the complications we can mention double vision or blurred for some days, post-operative bleeding, bruising, infection, tearing, dryness or irritation in the eye, scarring, difficulty opening and closing the eyelids, or even reaction to anesthesia.