Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

 

The skin loses its elasticity and our muscles slacken with age. For the eyelids this results in an accumulation of loose skin which collects as folds in the upper lids and forms deepening creases in the lower lids. At the same time there is slackening of the muscle beneath the skin allowing the fat, which cushions the eyes in their sockets, to protrude forward to give the appearance of bagginess. In some families there is an inherited tendency for bags to develop during early adulthood before any skin changes.

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What is blepharoplasty surgery?

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Blepharoplasty surgery, commonly known as an eyelid reduction, is an operation to reshape the eyelids. An upper-eyelid reduction can improve your vision and make you look younger. A lower-eyelid reduction can help to reduce wrinkles and puffiness.

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Why have an eyelid reduction?

 

With age, our muscles slacken and the skin loses its elasticity. For the eyelids, this results in folds in the upper lids and deepening creases in the lower lids. Also, the slackening of muscle beneath the skin allows the fat which cushions the eyes in their sockets to bulge forwards to give the appearance of bagginess. In some families there is an inherited tendency for bags to develop during early adulthood.

Folds, creases and bagginess often seem worse in the morning, particularly after periods of stress and lack of sleep. This is because fluid that is normally distributed throughout the body when it is upright tends to settle in areas where the skin is loose, such as the eyelids, when a person is lying down.

The ageing process can also cause drooping of the eyelids, and folds of skin to gather in the upper eyelids. Sometimes there is so much skin that the upper lids hang over the eyelashes.

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Seeing the results

 

At first your eye skin may seem too tight and swollen, and you will have some bruising, which can be disguised with make-up and dark glasses. It can take a few weeks for the swelling to settle, and many months for the final result to appear.
The scars will be pink for a few months, but eventually they become almost invisible. The scars may also become tight after a few weeks, but this normally settles after four to six months. Most patients are pleased with the final result, but some find their new shape difficult to get used to. This may happen to you.