A blepharoplasty is an eyelid surgery procedure to beautify the eyes by removing disgraces in the eyelids (wrinkles, pockets, dark circles) or to embellish the eyes by changing the initial shape of the eyelid (congenital cornea, Asian or Eurasian eyelid).
Principle of a blepharoplasty procedure
A blepharoplasty is a plastic surgery procedure for anyone who is embarrassed by the appearance of their eyelids. The embarrassment can be caused by presence of puffiness or dark circles, sagging skin, marked wrinkles or absence of eyelid fold (Asian-shaped eyelid).
For which kind of patients?
The intervention is usually performed after 40 year old. However, a blepharoplasty can be performed earlier when the disgrace is less related to age than to hereditary factors (constitutional disgrace of the eyelid). These include the presence of "fat pockets", "congenital" rings or a particular shape of eyelids.
Eyelid rejuvenation
A "rejuvenation" blepharoplasty is a plastic surgery procedure that aims to reduce or eliminate an aesthetic disgrace on the eyelids. This procedure may involve only the upper or lower eyelids, or the four eyelids at the same time.
The principle of the intervention is to remove skin in excess, muscle in excess or any protrusions fat.
Restore the harmony of the eyes and the face
An eyelid surgery can be combined in the same operating time with other facial surgery procedures, including a face lift.
In some special cases (Asian eyelid, Eurasian ...), blepharoplasty may justify more specific complementary procedures: creation of upper palpebral sulcus, canthopexy, canthoplastie ...
Scars are usually imperceptible very quickly as they are usually hidden by the folds of the eyelids.
Different types of blepharoplasty
There are three types of blepharoplasty with different objectives.
Dark circles treatment
The dark circles are diminished by the repositioning of the suborbital fat or the malar pocket or by a lifting effect of the eyelid.
An injection of fillers (hyaluronic acid most often) or an injection of fat (lipofilling) also makes it possible to treat dark circles.
Treating wrinkles of the crow's feet
The small wrinkles on the outer corner of the eye are due to contractions of the orbicularis muscle. Lateral resection of the muscle during a blepharoplasty (technique not performed systematically and therefore to be discussed in consultation) can permanently mitigate these wrinkles.
The type of procedure can be seen as a definitive "Botox" treatment without functional impact on the muscle. An injection of botulinum toxin ("Botox") every 4 to 6 months can treat these wrinkles temporarily.
Treatment of lower eyelid lines associated with puffiness
If the sagging skin is moderate and the skin of good quality, it is possible to remove the pockets through the inside of the lower eyelids (conjunctival way). Wrinkles can be more attenuated by performing an "outside smoothing" with one to two sessions of laser. Finally, wrinkles can be lifted during lower blepharoplasty by resetting the relaxed skin and muscle.
Procudures that can be associated:
A blepharoplasty may be associated with another facial cosmetic procedure:
- Brow or forehead lift
- Temporal brow lift
- Facelift LVPA
- Rhinoplasty
- ...
Depending on the intervention, the initial anatomy and the desire of the patient, the associated procedures can be performed during the same procedure or at a later date.
Follow-up after an eyelid surgery
Anesthesia
In the majority of cases, a blepharoplasty is performed under local anesthesia performed by the surgeon himself. It can sometimes be performed under local anesthesia assisted by anesthetist (NLA or neuroleptanalgesia). In some cases, usually exceptional, blepharoplasty is performed under general anesthesia.
The procedure is mostly performed with a day only hospitalization. When blepharoplasty is associated with other surgical procedures (such as a face lift ...), hospitalization of one night following the procedure may be necessary.
Pains
A blepharoplasty does not cause real pain but, possibly, some discomfort: feeling of tension of the eyelids, slight eye irritation. The first three days, you must rest and avoid any major effort. The threads are removed between the 3 to 6 days after the procedure.
Postoperative effects
Most common postoperative effects of an eyelid surgery are the appearance of edema (swelling) and the appearance bruising whose importance and duration vary according to the patients, the technique used by the surgeon.
The stigma of the intervention gradually diminishes, allowing a return to a normal daily life after a few days (5 to 15 days depending on the individual and the associated surgical procedures). The scars can remain a little pink during the first weeks but eyelid makeup is quickly possible (usually from the 7th day). A slight induration of the detached areas may persist for a few months but it is not perceptible by the entourage.
During the first days, it is sometimes impossible to completely close the eyelids or to slightly detach the outer corner of the eye, which no longer applies perfectly to the globe (for some lower blepharoplasty). These signs disappareas quickly most of the time.
Resuming daily life activities
Dr. Kron implements all the pre-, per- and post-operative approach so as to allow a return to social life in less than a week. He uses whenever possible the conjunctival approach for the lower eyelid procedure, which leaves no visible scar and greatly limits the side effects described above. But he may have to carry out all the possible gestures of the palpebral or occulopal-vertebral surgery according to the objectives to be reached and the possible initial complexity (previous surgeries, "ethnic" variations). Dr. Kron informs the patient beforehand about possible alternatives, whether there medical or surgical procedures.
Smoking increases the risk of surgical complications of any surgery. Stopping smoking 6-8 weeks before the procedure eliminates this additional risk. If you smoke, talk to your doctor, surgeon, and anesthesiologist, or call Tobacco-Info-Service at 3989 to help reduce risk and put the odds on your side.
Before & After: Result of a blepharoplasty
> See more before & after photos of blepharoplasty - eyelid cosmetic surgery
