All questions about Eyelid Surgery | Questions & Answers

1. Eyelid surgery is popular.
2. Eyelid surgery can make you look younger.
3. You’ll still look like you.
4. Eyelid surgery offers long-lasting results.
5. Eyelid surgery has risks
6. Recovery takes a few weeks.
7. Insurance may not cover costs.
8. There are nonsurgical alternatives.

Your eyelids will probably look puffy after surgery. The incisions will probably look red, too. The swelling and bruising involved with blepharoplasty recovery tend to resemble a black eye. That is all normal.

An eyelift usually takes about 2 hours if both upper and lower eyelids are done together. Your doctor will most likely use local anesthesia (a painkiller injected around the eye) with oral sedation.

More serious risks include asymmetry, dry eyes, scarring, or pulling down of the lower eyelids. However, the more qualified and experienced your doctor is in eyelid surgery, the lower that risk. Permanent blindness and double vision are exceedingly uncommon and rarely do they happen in experienced hands.

You can work eyelid muscles by raising your eyebrows, placing a finger underneath and holding them up for several seconds at a time while trying to close them. This creates resistance similar to weight lifting. Quick, forcible blinks and eye rolls also work eyelid muscles.

Eyelid surgery is among the least painful cosmetic procedures. Aside from minimal discomfort on the day, you’ll have a quick recovery and see the results swiftly. So the procedure isn’t very painful, but you may have other questions.

The surgery is worth it for people who want to look younger and better rested in and around the eyes. The results are subtle but dramatic, and recovery is minor with little pain reported.

If you’re aiming to remove these extra folds to restore a more natural eyelid appearance, you are likely an ideal candidate for an eyelid lift. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the vast majority — roughly 91% — of eyelid surgery patients are over 40, and more than half of that 91% is over 55.

The botulinum toxin injections (also known as Botox) can help lift your brow without surgery. Simply put, Botox injections block the signals in your brain that pulls the muscles in your eyebrows down. This will help smooth the skin around the forehead and could give your eyes an elevated arch.

Does the skin above your eyes sag?
Do your eyelids always look “puffy”?
Do you constantly have bags under your eyes?
Do your lower eyelids sag down so much that you can see the white of your eye?
Does the appearance of your eyes affect your confidence in public settings?

In an Awake Blepharoplasty, patients are completely conscious during the procedure. The local anesthesia is usually paired with a soothing sedative to help the patient stay calm and relaxed.

To keep you comfortable during your procedure, you will be given local or general anesthesia. Local anesthesia numbs the eyelid and surrounding area, while keeping you sedated but awake during surgery. General anesthesia keeps you asleep throughout the entire procedure.

Cosmetic eyelid surgery is generally not covered by insurance and will need to be paid for privately.

Upper eyelid surgery prices can vary significantly from patient to patient. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of the procedure was $3,163 in 2018 nationwide. However, some procedures can cost as low as $2,000 and go upwards of $7,000 or more.

Conclusions: According to this study, blindness after blepharoplasty is a rare event. However, every step should be taken to prevent it. Prevention should begin in the preoperative period and should continue intraoperatively and postoperatively.

An eyelid lift can produce significant results by tightening the skin around the eyes, removing wrinkles or puffiness, and providing a younger appearance.

Do not drive until you have stopped taking pain medication and no longer have blurry vision. Make sure that you can safely and comfortably drive a car. This is usually about 5 to 10 days after surgery. It’s important to get quiet, peaceful rest during the first 3 to 4 days after your surgery.

The results of blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) are generally long lasting. It’s not uncommon for the longevity of results to vary slightly between patients, but you can expect the results of upper eyelid surgery to last about 5 to 7 years, and lower eyelid surgery results are essentially permanent.

Your doctor must indicate that blepharoplasty is medically necessary, documenting any of the following issues:
1. Blepharochalasis
2. Conjunctival (membrane the covers the white part of the eye) inflammation
3. Dermatochalasis
4. Edema (swelling)
5. Eyelid and/or eyebrow ptosis
6. Hypertrophy (enlargement) of the orbicularis oculi (muscles that work the eyelids)
7. Keratitis (cornea inflammation)
8. Lagophthalmos (poor eyelid closure)
9. Malar festoons (bags)
10. Protrusion of orbital fat
11. Visual field defects

Patients who have undergone upper lid surgery will usually be able to go back after 7-10 days. The recovery time is a little longer for lower lid surgery, with time off work increasing to 10-14 days.

Patients who have upper blepharoplasty often complain of blurred vision postoperatively. The symptom is frequently attributed to dry eye and is usually temporary.

It is important for facial plastic surgeons to properly advise patients, especially those with combined procedures, that upper eyelid repositioning procedures may induce long-term vision changes.

In answer to your question, there is no a definitive upper limit to how many times you can have an upper eyelid lift. One key to a successful result is to be sure you have a skilled Facial Plastic Surgeon who specializes in upper eyelid surgery and understands the nuances.

Possible risks of eyelid surgery include: Infection and bleeding. Dry, irritated eyes. Difficulty closing your eyes or other eyelid problems.

Your eyelid surgery will be performed in a hospital or outpatient surgery clinic. Your surgeon will make incisions on the upper eyelids or on the lower eyelids just below the lower eyelash line.

While many patients return to work 1 to 2 weeks after blepharoplasty, it may take several weeks for your swelling to subside completely. You should be able to see your final results from cosmetic eyelid surgery in about 4 to 6 weeks following your surgery.

Possible risks of eyelid surgery include: Infection and bleeding. Dry, irritated eyes. Difficulty closing your eyes or other eyelid problems.

The majority of patients report tightness after eyelid surgery to last for about two weeks, though numbness or a change in eyelid sensation may last longer. Dr. Contoura will evaluate your healing and recovery process during your follow-up appointments to ensure everything is progressing appropriately.

Usually, you’ll want to wait a bit longer after the surgery before you start wearing real eye makeup, such as mascara or eyeshadow. Your situation may be different, but it’s often recommended that you wait about two weeks before putting on eye makeup after your surgery.

Normally no intervention is required and these scars respond well to routine scar treatment like moisturising creams and silicone gel. A small dose of cortisone injected into the scar may be used occasionally to help break up these small, hard lumps.

Avoid activities that raise your blood pressure, including bending, lifting and rigorous sports. Keep activities to a minimum for 3-5 days; avoid strenuous activities for 2-3 weeks. Read or watch television after 2-3 days.