Blepharoplasty - How To Prepare For It?

The surgical procedure to correct the appearance of eyelids is called blepharoplasty. The correction is done by removing extra skin, fat and muscle that makes the eyelids droop.

Uses-

Eyelids start drooping when the muscles supporting your eyelids weaken as you grow older. Excess fat accumulates below and above your eyelids as a result, which leads to eye bags and droopy eyelids.

Besides making you look older than your age, droopy eyelids can also affect your vision. Blepharoplasty can improve your vision and give your eyes a polished look at the same time. Some other benefits include:

• Excess deposits of fat that make eyelids look puffy are removed with the help of blepharoplasty.

• Eye bags are reduced.

• Drooping eyelids which end up revealing the sclera (the white part in your eyeballs) are fixed.

• Fine wrinkles and excess skin around lower eyelids are corrected.

Blepharoplasty is usually combined with procedures such as skin resurfacing, face-lift or brow-lift.

Risks-

Blepharoplasty, like every other surgical procedure, has certain risks, which include—

1. Bleeding and infection

2. Irritated, dry eyes

3. Trouble closing eyes and other associated problems

4. Prominent scarring

5. Eye muscle injury

6. Skin discolouration

7. Follow-up surgery is needed

8. Short-term blurry vision, or in unusual cases, loss of vision

9. General risks associated with surgery such as blood clots, anaesthetic reactions, cardiac and other coronary problems.

Preparation-

Before the surgery can be scheduled, a surgeon and ophthalmologist will be consulted to record your medical history and discuss your expectations about the surgery. Then, before the procedure can begin, the following steps will be followed:

1. First, you will be examined physically; your doctor will test your tear ducts and take measurements of your eyelids.

2. Second, your eyes will be examined and your vision will be tested.

3. Lastly, your doctor will take photographs of your eyes which will facilitate and guide him/her through the course of the surgery.

Results-

The effects of blepharoplasty are long-lasting and the corrections are permanent. Durable sun protection of the eyes helps in maintaining the corrections made.

Although, you can get excellent results from one surgery, sometimes you may need multiple procedures to achieve the desired look.