Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty may be performed to the upper or the lower eyelids. Many patients decide to undergo this surgery because of excess "hanging" skin on the upper eyelid or because of excess skin and fat protrusion of the lower eyelid.
1. Overview
Following surgery scars are well-concealed in the natural upper eyelid crease and just below the lower lash line.
The typical candidate for blepharoplasty is a patient with extra upper eyelid skin or bulging fat in the lower eyelid.
Patients that are not candidates for this type of surgery include:
Patients that smoke
Patients with a history of Graves Disease
Patients with a history of dry eye syndrome
Patients with a bleeding disorder
Patients with a history of Pemphigus
2. Preoperative Considerations
The length of surgery is 1.5 hours for upper blepharoplasty and 2.5 hours for lower blepharoplasty. Patients are typically able to return home on the same day as surgery.
3. Surgical Considerations
Patients are asked to refrain from heavy lifting and exercise for 4 weeks. There will be bruising and swelling. Patients are instructed to use eye drops and cold facial compresses after surgery. Most patients return to work after 10 days - 2 weeks.
4. Postoperative Considerations
Hypertrophic scar (1%)
Scar visible outside of crease (1-5%)
Chronic dry eye (1-5%)
Wound healing delay (<1%)
Hematoma (1%)
Blindness (<1%)
Asymmetry (1%)
Scleral show (1%)
Infection (1%)
DVT (<3%)
PE (<1%)
5. Possible Complications
For upper blepharoplasty the upper eyelid skin is removed and the scar is placed in the natural eyelid crease. For lower blepharoplasty the scar resides just underneath the lash line. Excess fat may be removed or redraped to decrease the appearance of "bulging".