- Is blepharoplasty a good idea?
- How long does eyelid surgery usually take?
- How long does it take to recover from eyelid surgery?
- Should you consider blepharoplasty eyelid surgery?
The time to consider cosmetic eyelid surgery is a personal choice. It is known as a very effective procedure, giving our eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) patients from Winter Park, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, and Tampa, FL., a more youthful and rested appearance with little to no side effects.
When it comes to the aging process, your eyes are the windows to your soul. That’s because your eyelids can exhibit the drooping and wrinkled signs of aging, but inside you may still feel 10-years younger than you look. Fortunately, Dr. Edward J. Gross, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon at Primera Plastic Surgery and Med Spa, offers his patients a blepharoplasty that can make you look as young as you feel inside.
How Do I Know if I Need Eyelid Surgery?
Dr. Gross says the typical reasons patients seek out cosmetic eyelid surgery is when they feel like their eyes don’t reflect the age that they feel inside. They want to look younger and improve their self-esteem.
Blepharoplasty offers patients a way to cosmetically alter their appearance to look younger. Dr. Gross says, “For instance, they may feel youthful, but they may have an issue with the way their eyes look a little bit droopy and saggy, but they want to project an image that is consistent with how they look and feel.” These are the perfect patients for this safe, effective cosmetic procedure.
Is Blepharoplasty a Good Idea?
The Aesthetic Society (formerly ASAPS) reports blepharoplasty is one of the top five cosmetic procedures for men and women, with more than 115,000 performed annually in the United States. It is the No. 1 procedure for men at Primera Plastic Surgery.
It’s easy to understand the procedure’s popularity as it can treat:
- Loose or sagging skin around the eyelids
- Fatty deposits that present as puffy skin
- Eye bags
- Drooping lower eyelids
- Fine wrinkles and excess skin of the lower eyelids
While the majority of eyelid surgeries are cosmetic, pure aesthetics aren’t always the reason for the procedure. Eyelid surgery can also improve eyesight by removing excess skin that droops so significantly it impairs peripheral vision.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Eyelid Surgery?
Good candidates for blepharoplasty include patients who are:
- Healthy with no complicating conditions
- Nonsmokers
How Long Does Eyelid Surgery Usually Take?
“The blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery for upper and lower eyelids takes about an hour and a half,” Dr. Gross notes. “It’s done in our confidential and convenient outpatient surgery center.”
The process begins with a thorough examination by your doctor, including a physical exam, eye test, and a thorough history of any health concerns, medications, and allergies. Your goals for the treatment will be discussed and pictures of your eyes will be taken from different angles to help plan the surgical procedure.
You will be given a sedative, and a local anesthetic will be administered to the area around your eyes. Sometimes the procedure can be done with other skin-rejuvenating cosmetic surgeries, such as a facelift. When eyelid surgery is combined with other procedures, general anesthesia may be used.
Blepharoplasty patients may have just their upper or lower lids done, depending upon the initial consultation with their doctor and their goals for the surgery. During the surgery, the surgeon will cut along the natural eyelid lines to reduce the appearance of scarring. On the lower lid, the surgeon may make the incision inside the eye where it won’t be visible. Another technique used could be making the incision along the margin of the eyelash.
No matter the surgical technique, the goal is to be as non-invasive as possible while removing the extra skin and fat and then closing the incision with tiny stitches. Those dissolving stitches will remain on the upper lids for a week or so and the lower lids may not even need suturing.
What Can I Expect After Upper or Lower Eyelid Surgery?
After surgery, your doctor will put ointment in the eyes to keep them moist and cover the area with a cool compress. Someone will need to drive you home and help you get settled. Right after the surgery, your vision may be blurry from the ointment or light sensitive.
Dr. Gross now uses a revolutionary breakthrough to speed healing after eyelid surgery, called Lid Lift Goggles. They are similar to ski goggles and are applied after the procedure to apply gentle pressure around the eyes, which minimizes swelling and bruising. 
The eye area will be bruised and swollen for a few days. Staying home with your head elevated, including while sleeping, as well as applying cold packs, will help with the recovery process. The skin around your eyes may look swollen for a couple of weeks, and you should avoid strenuous activity to allow your body the time it needs to heal.
You should also avoid smoking, rubbing your eyes, and wearing contact lenses. (You can usually resume wearing contact lenses after about 2 weeks.) We recommend keeping the incision out of the sun for several months, and if you do go out, wear a hat and sunglasses. The bruising and swelling usually go down after a couple of weeks, but any scarring may take months to fade completely.
How Long Does It Take To Recover From Eyelid Surgery?
Most eyelid surgery patients can resume driving within 7 days and return to work in 7 to 10 days. “A blepharoplasty is a simple outpatient procedure with minimal recovery time to get you back to your life as quickly and safely as possible while helping you to look and feel your most confident,” says Dr. Gross. One study on these types of surgeries points out, “Eyelid skin heals better than almost any other skin on the body.” As a result, the complications from these procedures are quite rare.
Should You Consider Blepharoplasty Eyelid Surgery?
Eyelid surgery is a great way to keep your face looking as young as you feel. The procedure lasts for years and rarely needs repeated. Dr. Gross says, “Typically, patients will come in for an eyelid consultation in their 30s and 40s, since the periocular soft tissues tend to age a little bit faster than the face. Then we might see them back in 10 more years for a mini lift or neck lift.”
The Mayo Clinic points out, “You may decide to undergo blepharoplasty at the same time as another procedure, such as a brow lift, facelift, or skin resurfacing.” This is an important point to consider; you don’t have to settle for the natural process of aging. Cosmetic surgery can change the way you look in very subtle or dramatic ways, depending on the effect you want to achieve.
Ultimately, the decision to get a blepharoplasty procedure is a personal one; and many patients report the results, and the ensuing boost in confidence they feel, meets or exceeds their expectations.
If you’re ready to talk with a plastic surgeon about an eyelid lift, you can request a consultation with Dr. Gross or call us at (407) 333-3040.
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