Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery: What do you know about the details of blepharoplasty?

Eyelids are an important part of every person’s face. Loose skin on the forehead and eyebrows is one of the reasons for drooping eyelids. Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery is a surgical procedure to improve the appearance of the eyelids.

Introduction of eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty

This type of surgery may be done on the upper eyelids or lower eyelids or both. This procedure is usually done for people who have functional problems in their eyelids. Also for people who the appearance of the eyelids is important to them.

Younger appearance with blepharoplasty

One of the most important reasons why many people go for eyelid surgery is drooping eyelids. With this surgery, the extra skin on the eyelids is removed. Blepharoplasty gives you a younger and more alert appearance.

The steps that can be done with the help of eyelid surgery are:

• Removal of excess skin, fat, and muscle in the upper or lower eyelids.

• Raising the position of the upper eyelid with tightening of the tendon and surrounding muscles by performing upper eyelid blepharoplasty or eyelift.

• Elevation of the upper eyelid margin in case of increased skin weight in the upper eyelids drooping eyelids with the help of blepharoplasty

Cosmetic blepharoplasty

Cosmetic blepharoplasty is one of the medically unnecessary procedures and only improves the appearance of your face. The upper and lower eyelids may droop or dilate as you age. Eyebrows may be hung overage.

The skin of the eyelid is stretched and the eye muscles become weak. Fat bags become more prominent bumps. You may have this problem from the beginning and inherited. Such cases reduce the attractiveness of your eyes. This problem may make your eyes look tired or older. Cosmetic blepharoplasty is performed by a variety of surgeons.

These operations are usually performed by ophthalmologists and ophthalmic surgeons. But general plastic surgeons perform operations such as maxillofacial surgery, ENT surgeons as well as eyelid cosmetic surgery.

When do you need eyelid surgery?

Blepharoplasty, other than cosmetic surgery, is usually performed for medical reasons. In most cases, if the skin around the eyes is sagging, an eye lift is recommended. Loose and excess skin around the eyes causes wrinkles.

This extra skin even disturbs the normal distance between the upper eyelids. This extra skin can sometimes cause vision problems. Blepharoplasty solves the problem if your vision is impaired for driving or other visual tasks. Having trouble wearing glasses or contact lenses is sometimes associated with eyelid problems.

In addition to the above, the following medical conditions may require eyelid surgery:

• Bags under the eyes
• Drooping lower eyelids
• Extra skin and wrinkles under the lower eyelids
• Discomfort is caused by excess wrinkles rubbing against the eyelid skin.
• Forehead discomfort Excessive use of muscles that cause pressure on the sagging skin in the eyelid area.
• Like cosmetic blepharoplasty, functional blepharoplasty is usually performed by ophthalmologists and eye-plastic surgeons.

Who is it more suitable for?

To find out, it is best to make an appointment with your ophthalmologist. Your ophthalmologist should examine your eyes medically and the condition of your eyelids. If you do not have a medical reason for this surgery, you can share your interest in eyelid cosmetic surgery with your doctor.

If you have excessive sagging skin around your eyes, you can have a blepharoplasty in consultation with your doctor. Sagging skin is often due to aging. This problem may be exacerbated by other conditions such as puffy eyes due to eye allergies or inflammation.

For whom is it not suitable?

Blepharoplasty is not recommended for the following people:

• People who have acute medical conditions and are not in perfect health.
• Smokers
• People with limited eye disease
• People who do not have a specific purpose for doing so

Sometimes stretching of the upper eyelid muscles can cause drooping eyelids. In this case, a different surgery is performed and this condition is called eyelid ptosis.

A Plastic surgeon evaluates the anatomy of your face before doing work, chooses the more appropriate method.

Ptosis and eyelid surgery

Ptosis is a medical term for upper eyelid drooping. The disease may affect one eye or both eyes. Ptosis may be present from birth and is called congenital ptosis.
But sometimes this problem is not congenital. In these cases, drooping eyelids occur when the edge of the upper eyelid, or the edge of the eyelid becomes abnormal.

The upper part of the vision may be blocked by lowering the edge of the eyelids and covering part of the pupil. Often, drooping eyelids are due to aging skin and eye fatigue. In some cases, stroke and trauma may weaken the muscles that keep the eye open. So, stroke and trauma can also cause ptosis.

After cataract surgery or other eye surgeries, a person may experience drooping upper eyelids. Manipulating the eyelids during this procedure may weaken the muscle that keeps the eyes open.

Essentials to Know Before Blepharoplasty

• As the aging process continues, like any other cosmetic surgery, improving your beauty with an eye lift does not last indefinitely. And in the future, you need to repeat this surgical procedure. Blepharoplasty can usually last up to 10 years, depending on health conditions and other factors.
• Before surgery, your eye doctor should check your condition for potential risks such as ocular thyroid, diabetes, and dry eye problems.
• The severity and number of health problems may prevent you from having a blepharoplasty and may be harmful to you.
• Complications of surgery may increase in smokers. Because these people recover less quickly after surgery. For this reason, doctors advise smokers to quit smoking several weeks before surgery.
• Blepharoplasty is more difficult for people of the Asian race because of their eyelid structure. For this reason, this operation may have more complications and risks for these people.

Necessary preparations and preparations for eyelid surgery

Talk to your surgeon about anesthesia before surgery. You may be under general anesthesia or local anesthesia may be used for eyelid surgery. Each of these methods depends on your physical condition and the complexity or simplicity of your operation. Each of these two is determined by the surgeon.

Local anesthesia

• With local anesthesia, you are awake during the operation. The areas around the eyes will be anesthetized with the injection.
• After the operation, with help of Systematic oral sedatives or Intravenous, local anesthesia is increased.

General anesthesia

• General anesthesia is given by intravenous injection. This injection will anesthetize you for 20 minutes to 2 hours. It takes time depending on the complexity of the surgery and whether only the upper or lower eyelid or both are needed.
• General anesthesia is done if a more complicated blepharoplasty is performed on you.
• You may need general anesthesia if several cosmetic procedures are performed on you at the same time.

Necessary measures before general anesthesia in blepharoplasty

Before the operation, and especially if you are under general anesthesia, your surgeon may recommend the following:

• Stop taking blood thinners and prevention of normal blood clots. These medications usually include pain relievers such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
• It is best to stop taking these medications a week or two before surgery to reduce the chance of excessive bleeding during surgery.
• Eat a light meal such as soup the night before surgery.
• Avoid eating and drinking after midnight.
• On the morning of surgery, take only your essential medications such as blood pressure with a little water.
• Do not use any makeup on the day of surgery.
• Make sure that the escort accompanies you home and takes care of you for a few hours after the surgery.

The necessary measures will be taken after the operation in the clinic or doctor’s office and you will not need to stay in the hospital overnight. Unless you need several complex cosmetic procedures that day.

How is eyelid surgery performed?

Blepharoplasty may be performed on the upper eyelids or lower eyelids, or both. To do this, incisions must be made in the natural folds of the eyelid. These incisions are made either in the upper crease and just below the lashes with the back of the lower eyelid. These incisions are made either in the upper crease and just below the lashes with the back of the lower eyelid. For this reason, the incisions are not visible or visible after healing.

The steps and tips during eyelid surgery are as follows:

• You should lie down and the surgeon should pinpoint the exact location of excess skin and fat. It may also need to remove some of the underlying muscles.
• To remove these tissues, surgical instruments such as surgical scissors, cutting devices equipped with radio frequencies, and cutting lasers are used. To re-adjust and smooth the areas around the eyebrows and eyelids, stitches and tissue adhesives should be used precisely in the appropriate place.
• During surgery, the surgeon must be completely sure of the amount of skin, fat, or muscle he or she needs to remove. It should be based on pre-surgery assessments. These assessments are made on the muscle structure around the eyes, the bone structure, and the symmetry of the eyebrows.
• For patients with dry eye, less tissue should be removed.
• Because the eyes of these people should be less exposed to the air so that the symptoms of dry eyes do not get worse.
• During surgery, a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser is usually used to improve the surface of the skin and smooth out the rest of the wrinkles around the eyelids and eyebrows.
• For people who also have drooping eyebrows, the eyebrow lift method is used to raise the eyebrows. In this method, incisions are made in the scalp and the scalp is tightened and stretched around the eyebrows to raise the eyebrows.

Risks and side effects after eyelid surgery

Talk to your doctor about the risks and side effects before surgery.
After blepharoplasty, you may not be able to close your eyelids completely temporarily. As a result, your eyes may become abnormally dry. But do not worry, this problem will be fixed in a few weeks or months. But do not worry, this problem will be fixed in a few weeks or months. During this time, you can use eye drops, moisturizers, or the method of sticking the eyes at night.
Some surgeons have to massage your eyelids for two weeks after removing the stitches to soften your skin and close the eyelids more easily. But if this problem lasts for more than 2 or 3 months, another operation will be performed on your eyes. In this re-operation, the skin is added to the eyelid as needed to completely close your eyes.

The most common possible risks of this type of surgery are:
• Postoperative bleeding
• The appearance of cysts in the areas where the skin is sewn together
• Drooping of the upper eyelid
• Excessive muscle removal
• Necrosis or death of adipose tissue under the eyes
• The occurrence of infection at the site of wounds
• Numb
• Skin discoloration
• Decreased vision
• Wounds that may heal too late.

Necessary measures for recovery after eyelid surgery

• After an eye lift, it is best to use topical antibiotic ointments as prescribed by your surgeon. On the first day after waking up, it is best to use cold packs for 10 to 15 minutes. Ice helps reduce swelling and bruising.
• After 48 hours, you can speed up the healing process by applying a warm compress. Your ophthalmologist will usually advise you on which sedative is best for you. Over-the-counter sedatives are usually sufficient for most people and do not require stronger painkillers.
• Immediate recovery is usually accompanied by mild discomfort. But in case of severe pain, see a surgeon immediately. During recovery, especially during the first few days, your eye area becomes swollen, bruised, and red. The whites of the eyes or sclera may also be red and bloody. It may take weeks to fully recover. You should not make up your eyes during this time.
• You can use contact lenses after the eyelid swelling subsides. If you wear glasses, you can carefully place them in front of your eyes whenever you want after surgery.
• Most stitches used for surgery absorb spontaneously within 4 to 7 days and do not need to be removed. If non-absorbable sutures are used, the sutures will be removed by the surgeon approximately one week after eyelid surgery.
• Most people who have blepharoplasty report their complete satisfaction and recovery to the surgeon. Also, people with vision problems caused by extra wrinkles are happy that their vision has improved.