Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of excess skin, excess fat bags and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids.

This type of circumstances makes us look older and tired looking and in some cases can make it difficult to see and read. It is important to clarify that this type of surgery does not eliminate the “crow’s feet” and in this case it may be necessary to combine blepharoplasty with other types of treatments such as vistabel ® or frontal lift to raise the eyebrows.

As a general rule, this surgery is performed after the age of 35, although in the case of family history of excess fat pads, the surgery is performed before this age.

The surgery is performed in the operating room under local anesthesia and sedation. The patient stays a few hours in the hospital, not being necessary to stay overnight. The procedure lasts between 1 and 2 hours depending on whether the blepharoplasty is of the upper eyelid, lower eyelid or both. The incisions are usually imperceptible since they are made in the crease of the upper eyelid and just below the eyelashes and are closed with very fine threads.

If the patient does not need skin resection in the lower eyelids, blepharoplasty can be performed transconjunctivally. With this technique the incisions are located inside the lower eyelid and are not visible.

There is another technique that consists of repositioning the fat pads to restore the eyelids to their youthful appearance lost over the years.

During the postoperative period, the patient will have swelling and bruising of the eyelid area. Generally, the swelling resolves in 2-4 days and the bruising in a week. It is important to sleep with the head elevated and the application of cold compresses during the first days and to avoid any kind of effort. During this period you should have an adequate ocular hygiene and apply the eye drops that we will indicate.

During the first weeks it is common to notice excessive tearing, blurred vision, even double vision and that light bothers you more than usual. It is also common that during the first days it is difficult to close the upper eyelid, which resolves as soon as the orbicularis oculi muscle that surrounds the eyes regains tone. The stitches will be removed in the office between 5-7 days. At first the scars will have a somewhat pinkish appearance which, under normal circumstances, resolves in about two months.