Eyelid Surgery / Belpharoplasty
Anaesthesia Local
Hospital stay Day stay
Removal of stitches 4 - 7 days
Return to work 7- 10 days
Full Recovery Up to 6 months for scars to fade
The aging process
The eyes are perhaps our most important facial features. They are our source of vision, but not only that - ‘the eyes are the mirror of the soul’ and have the ability to show our feelings and emotions and to greatly influence overall facial expressions. One’s eyes and surrounding tissues can also be regarded by the lay person as a barometer of the health of the individual. This is one operation that results in one’s friends and relatives remarking "Don’t you look well - have you had a holiday?"
Unfortunately, the eye area often shows the earliest signs of ageing. The upper and lower
eyelids may develop ‘bags’, folds or wrinkles that can add years to one’s appearance.
There may be swelling and puffiness especially in the morning that gradually becomes more permanent, and there is often a lowering of the brow line. However, these problems are not just age-related, they can be hereditary in origin (when they usually appear in the twenty to thirty age group), or can be due to an allergy or some systemic disorder that can then lead to earlier ageing.
Aesthetically, these conditions might be visually unattractive and can create an unnecessary or premature impression of ageing. The upper lid can also sag sufficiently to actually impair vision. The surgery is usually for the middle-aged and over, but in general the earlier the condition is treated the better, as this slows further deterioration with successful results. Other ageing signs will occur in time, but the ‘bags’ are unlikely to return.
What is Belpharoplasty / Eyelid Surgery?
Blepharoplasty is a surgical operation designed to remove the excess fatty tissue, muscle and loose skin and to create a more youthful, wide-eyed look. The upper eyelid lift is performed in cases where the patient requires to lose the excess tissue above the eye that has developed over the years, or merely to lift the eyelid to give the eye a more attractive shape. This problem can also be treated sometimes by elevation of the eyebrows.
The eyebrow may be lifted on its own, or it may be done as part of an overall facelift operation. The lower eye operation is obviously used in cases of eye-bag removal.
All types of wrinkles around the eyes will be lessened by blepharoplasty, but not totally eradicated - a chemical peel may help further with wrinkles. In summary, blepharoplasty is primarily a treatment to remove excess skin and fatty tissue.
Both the upper and lower lids can be corrected at the same time or treated separately and if required, combined with a full-face lift. This treatment is suitable for both men and women. In either case, results can be extremely effective and dramatically reduce the impression of aging.
The operation / how is the Blepharoplasty performed?
The operation is usually performed under local anaesthesia and you would be treated as a day patient. The procedure itself takes about an hour for either upper or lower eyes depending on the individual case. Between four to seven days post-operatively the stitches will be removed. There may be some discomfort, swelling, tenderness, and bruising of the eye area. This is only temporary. Patients usually return to work one week after surgery. Make-up is allowed after the stitches have been removed and most of the swelling has subsided.
Recovering after Eyelid Surgery surgery
Dark glasses are often worn so one can proceed with one’s normal routine as soon as possible. Post-operative care instructions are given by the surgeon and nursing staff and these must be carefully followed to ensure best results.
The position of the incisions for this procedure varies, and this point will be discussed by the surgeon. They are inconspicuous in location, usually in a natural crease line of the upper eyelid, or just below the lash line for the lower lid, sometimes in mild cases from inside the eyelid (transconjunctival).
Extremely fine sutures are used, so usually post-operative incision marks become virtually undetectable after a short period of time. Occasionally prolonged post-operative pigmentation might occur.
Possible complications of Blepharoplasty
Vision is not affected by this operation, as it is only the tissues that surround the eyes that are involved. There is a slight risk (although rare), of downward displacement of the lower eyelid, which is called ‘ectropian’. This is a result of skin tension and can usually be corrected by ‘squeeze’ exercises, involving repeated tight closure of the eyelids.
Occasionally, this displacement may be significant enough to require a second corrective operation. Other problems that may arise are those associated with any surgical procedure ie infection, scarring and prolonged swelling. This will be discussed during your consultation with your surgeon, together with other questions or concerns you might have. 
