Richmond Eyelid Surgery

Blepharoplasty – Dr. Burton M. Sundin, Virginia

Blepharoplasty, or more commonly known as cosmetic eyelid surgery, is an elective surgical procedure used to remove wrinkles and excess skin of the upper and/or lower eyelids. The procedure was developed because the eyes are such a focus of attention on one’s face; thus, to surgically restore and rejuvenate the eye area has the overall effect of making one look more rested and alert.

Eye surgery can:

  • Tighten loose or droopy skin that, with age, can become folded over the eyes, oftentimes impairing proper vision
  • Remove puffiness due to excess fatty tissues in the upper eyelids
  • Remove the proverbial ‘bags’ under the eyes
  • Restore the lower eyelids to their proper place just under the iris, as opposed to sagging so low that the whites of the eyes are seen
  • Remove delicate, fine wrinkles on the lower eyelids

Is it Right for Me?

Blepharoplasty can be performed on fully developed men and women who have healthy facial musculature and whose expectations of the surgery are realistic. As with any cosmetic enhancement surgery, you should first consider your motivations for surgery to be sure that you’re choosing surgery for yourself and not to fulfill someone else’s’ desires or expectations of you or your body. It is a very personal matter and any decision for surgery should come after careful consideration of all the facts and emotions involved.

Cosmetic Eye Surgery is Good for Those Who:

  • Are physically healthy and free from any life-threatening illness or disease
  • Don’t smoke
  • Have realistic expectations and motivations for surgery
  • Have healthy eyes

Medical conditions that require consideration before eyelid surgery:

  • Glaucoma, retinal detachment, dry eye
  • Thyroid conditions
  • Heart disease, diabetes, or cardiovascular complications

What To Expect During Your Consultation

In order to create the best possible results from your eyelid surgery is important that your surgeon consult with you to discuss your desires and expectations, as well as how the eyelid surgery will impact your health, lifestyle and general well-being. It is a good idea to prepare by considering the following before your consultation:

  • General medical history, including the results of laboratory work and past surgeries
  • A detailed account of current prescription medications, supplements (vitamins or others) that you take
  • Any use of tobacco or other drugs
  • What are your motivations for surgery? What are your expectations?

At the consultation, your surgeon will also:

  • Evaluate your current health
  • Evaluate the extent of corrective surgery needed to achieve the results desired
  • Photographically document the eye area
  • Based on the information gathered, your surgeon will discuss your surgical options and recommend a course of treatment
  • Disclose the risk of common complications associated with eyelid surgery and the use of anesthesia
  • Cover what to do the day of surgery
  • Cover post-operative care and recovery

Preparing for Surgery

In the weeks before surgery, your surgeon may request:

  • Further laboratory testing or medical evaluations
  • Adjusting current prescriptions
  • That you avoid the consumption of alcohol, drugs and abstain from smoking for a certain period surrounding surgery

Finally, your surgeon will go over the options you may have regarding the geographic location of your surgery. Typically, facelift procedures are performed in an accredited surgical center, outpatient ambulatory surgical center or a hospital.

What Happens During Eyelid Surgery?

Anesthesia

Depending on your individual circumstances, your doctor will suggest either intravenous or general anesthesia.

The Incision

As with any plastic surgery procedure, the idea is that scars left by incisions are as small and as inconspicuous as possible. Therefore, the eyelid incisions are made to fit inside the natural creases in the eye areas. Excess skin and fat from the upper eyelid area can be removed or redistributed with an incision just inside the crease of the upper eyelid. Undesired fat and skin can be removed from the lower eyelid with an incision that runs just under the lower eye lash, or it can be made inside the actual lower lid, hiding scars completely.

Closing the Incisions

There are three common methods of closing eyelid incisions. They can be used together, and they are:

  • Sutures that are either removed or absorbed by the body
  • Surgical tape
  • Suture clips

See the Results

Although the initial results of the surgery may be obscured by swelling and discoloration, after 3 to 6 months, the scars will begin to smooth and swelling will go down.

As with anyone, sun protection should be a regular part of your lifestyle, post eyelid surgery. A healthy lifestyle, including a healthy diet and exercise will also extend the results of your eyelid surgery, allowing the benefits to unfold for many years to come.

Important Facts About the Safety and Risks of Eyelid Surgery

Ultimately, the decision to undergo the eyelid procedure is yours alone. After careful consideration of both the risks and benefits of surgery, you’ll have to weigh the risks against the potential benefits to make an informed decision that you can live with. Your health care professional will go over all potential risks of surgery and will make themselves available to answer any and all of your questions.

Here is a listing of some of the risks associated with eyelid surgery:

  • Adverse scarring
  • Excessive bleeding (hematoma)
  • Infection
  • Complications associated with scar healing, including pain associated with surgery
  • Fluids aggregation
  • Skin loosening persists
  • Potential risks of anesthesia use
  • Blood clots
  • Facial nerve damage
  • Numbness
  • Asymmetry of eye structures
  • Vision problems that can be temporary or permanent
  • Dry eyes that won’t close completely
  • Downward rolling of the eyelid, known as ectropion
  • Potential necessity for revisioning surgery
  • Possibility of losing eyesight in one or both eyes

When You Go Home

After any surgery, it is important to closely monitor how you feel, especially directly after surgery. Varying degrees of pain are certainly to be expected, however, if you experience any kind of tightness in your chest or shortness of breath, pains deep in your chest or an irregular heart beat you should go to the doctor immediately. To avoid complications, it is of paramount importance that you strictly follow your doctor’s post-surgical instructions and be careful!

My Recovery

Immediately following your eyelid surgery, you may experience swelling, bruising, some bleeding and irritated or dry eyes. These conditions can be alleviated with medication and a lubricating ointment.

Oftentimes a bandage is wrapped around the eyes to prevent infection and help keep swelling to a minimum.

Here are some important questions to ask your doctor before surgery:

  • Where will I recover directly after surgery?
  • Will I be prescribed any post-surgery medications?
  • How often do my bandages need to be changed and when will they be removed permanently?
  • When will the stitches be removed?
  • How soon will I need to return for a follow-up visit?
  • How soon can I get back to exercise?