Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty is a surgical modification of the eyelid. Excess tissue such as skin and fat is removed or repositioned and surrounding muscles and tendons can be strengthened. It can be both functional and cosmetic surgical procedure.
Blepharoplasty is often performed as an elective surgery for cosmetic reasons. Lower eyelid surgeries are almost always performed for cosmetic reasons, to improve lower eyelid “swelling” and reduce skin folds.Asian blepharoplasty, or double blepharoplasty, is a special type of blepharoplasty that creates a crease in the upper eyelid. This "supratarsal fold" is common in many races, but is absent in about half of Asians. Surgery can artificially create this crease and make patient look like a "double lidded." It is the most popular form of plastic surgery among East and Southeast Asians population.
Procedure
Blepharoplasty usually involves making external incisions along the natural lines of the eyelid skin, such as in the folds of the upper lids and under the lashes of the lower lids.Incisions can be made from the inside of the lower eyelid (transconjunctival blepharoplasty); This will help remove fat from the lower eyelid without leaving visible scars, but will not remove excess skin. At the same time, an external skin renewal with a chemical peeling or a dioxide laser can be carried out. This allows for a faster recovery process.
The operation usually takes one to three hours. The initial swelling and bruising will go away in a week or two, but it will take at least several months for the final result to stabilize. The best way to assess the effects of blepharoplasty is to compare photos of patients before and after the procedure.
Recovery
The recovery process after blepharoplasty can take several weeks. Patients are given home care instructions in most cases, painkillers are given to relieve the pain of incisions.
In the first two days after the operation, the patient receives an ointment to lubricate the stitch line. Ice packs over your eyes to reduce bruising and swelling.Eye drops may also be prescribed as they can help relieve pain and prevent infection.
Patients undergoing blepharoplasty can watch TV and read two to three days after the operation. Patients can start work as early as a week or ten days after the operation.
Non-surgical alternatives
Non-surgical alternatives have shown improvement in patients with early signs of facial aging. Lasers, chemical peels, botulinum toxin, and dermal fillers are used to some extent in the treatment of periorbital tissue. While these procedures are effective, they are not technically "blepharoplasty," and yet some doctors refer to any procedure that affects the eyes as one; often preceded by "laser," "non-surgical," or "lunch." It should be noted that botulinum toxin is used to relax the muscles in the forehead and between the eyes and therefore does not solve most of the problems that a patient seeking blepharoplasty would like to solve. So-called "non-surgical" blepharoplasty involves the local application of acids and/or the use of lasers to tighten and reduce the volume of the skin on the upper and lower eyelids. Injectable dermal fillers are also used to temporarily increase volume in the nasojugal area. These techniques are effective but do not replace surgery and should not be confused with blepharoplasty.