Eyelid Surgery – Blepharoplasty

In order to be considered a good candidate for eyelid surgery, you must be in good overall health and have realistic expectations for the outcome of your procedure. In addition, this procedure is generally an excellent option for men and women who are interested in correcting one or more of the following:

• Lost upper eyelid crease
• Hollows under the eyes which result in the development of dark bags
• Drooping in the upper eyelids
• Sagging or wrinkling in the upper or lower eyelid skin
• Puffy fat deposits in the lower eyelid
• Excess upper eyelid skin that impedes your visual field

Keep in mind that eyelid surgery focuses on the signs of aging around the eyes. For more comprehensive facial rejuvenation results, Dr. Farris may recommend one or more of the following procedures in conjunction with blepharoplasty:

• Brow lift
• Facelift
• Dermal fillers
• BOTOX® Cosmetic

If you have thyroid problems, dry eyes, glaucoma, diabetes or high blood pressure, you should check with your eye or medical doctors before proceeding with surgery.

Blepharoplasty is typically performed on an outpatient basis under limited anesthesia. Your procedure generally takes about 1-2 hours to complete. Dr. Farris’ philosophy is to recontour and replenish the eyelids in a manner that involves the most conservative removal of excess skin, muscle and fat necessary to achieve your goals. This approach helps you avoid the additional rapid aging commonly associated with tissue loss.

Before the procedure begins, Dr. Farris will mark your eyelids while you’re sitting. For the upper eyelids, the incision is placed at the natural eyelid crease and provides access to remove the excess skin, muscle and fat.

The incision at the lower eyelid is placed just below the lash line. At times, the tissue of the lower eyelid is tightened with a “lateral canthopexy.” For situations where there is excess fat without excess skin at the lower eyelid, a transconjunctival approach can be utilized by making an incision on the inside of the lower eyelid without any external incisions. Incisions are closed meticulously with fine sutures.

Before an eyelid surgery you should avoid smoking, blood-thinning substances, and alcohol before the procedure. Your surgeon will also go over any restrictions with food, drink, and medications that you should follow.

After an eyelid surgery, you should avoid certain things to ensure that you get the best results with forom your surgery. Things you should avoid include:

• Contact: Avoid touching or rubbing the eyes
• Strain: Try to refrain from participating in activities that cause heavy strain on your eyes like heavy lifting or strenuous exercise
• Sun Exposure: Protect your eyes from excessive sun exposure immediately following the procedure as it can increase your swelling
• Makeup: Makeup can introduce bacteria to the surgical site. So it should be avoided until your surgeon lets you know that it is okay to use
• Swimming and hot tubs: Swimming or submerging your eyes under water should be avoided as it can delay your healing process and increase your risk for infection 
• Smoking and drinking: Smoking and drinking can affect your recovery process and have negative effects when combined with the medication taht is prescribed to you by your doctor

Typically, patients are advised to sleep at an angle for the first few nights following the procedure. Dr. Farris will give you a detailed recovery plan that will give you more information on how long you will have to sleep in an upright position.

It’s recommended to wait for your surgeon’s approval before you shower after your procedure. Typically, after 5 days it is okay to shower, but be sure to consult your doctor before getting your surgical site wet at all.

Eyelid surgery is one of the least painful cosmetic surgery procedures. You should experience very minor discomfort during the process.