Womens Health in the News

Eyelid surgery or Blepharoplasty which is the correct medical term for surgery involving the eyelids, is surgery used to remove excess fat, skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. This type of surgery can help to resolve problems caused by drooping upper lids and bags beneath the eyes for cosmetic reasons and to help to alleviate problems with vision caused by excessive drooping of the upper lids.

It cannot however help with the removal of crow’s feet or eliminate wrinkles; your surgeon will be able to give you an idea of how the surgery could help you on your first visit and initial consultation.

Who can the surgery help?

The ideal candidate for this type of surgery are usually men and women over the age of 35 but if problems with droopy or baggy eyes runs in the family and causes undue anxiety or problems with the eyesight then younger people can have it too, surgeons may also do this type of surgery purely for cosmetic reasons.

Any medical problems with the eyes should be discussed with the surgeon before any surgery is considered as people suffering from certain medical problems could be at greater risk. Illnesses such as thyroid problems, diabetes, high blood pressure or circulatory problems can all have an affect and should be mentioned to the surgeon.

The surgery and recovery

This type of surgery is almost always performed on an outpatient basis and only very rarely does it require a stay in hospital, the surgery itself is normally performed under general anaesthesia which relies on the area around the eye being numbed.

The surgery can take anywhere between two to four hours depending on what you are having done, if you are having all four lids done then the surgeon would normally work on the upper two first then the bottom lids.

After the surgery the surgeon may lubricate your eyes and apply bandages to them and they will of course feel sore with the skin around them feeling tight, the surgeon will suggest that you use cold compresses on them to alleviate any swelling and use pain medication for relieving any pain you might feel.

Bruising is common in people who have had this type of surgery and the bruising can vary in intensity and can last around two weeks to a month. Following the surgery, your eyes might feel gummy and your surgeon will suggest ways of treating this to ease any discomfort, during the first few weeks your eyes could be sensitive to light and you could find that they tear easily.

The stitches will normally be removed round about a week after the surgery and once this is done the swelling and discolouration will gradually subside. You should normally feel able to return to work after the stitches have been removed this if course will depend on several factors such as how you yourself feel and how quickly you heal.

However, your eyes may be still extremely sensitive at this stage and may tear and run and wearing sunglasses for the first month or so when you go outdoors to protect your eyes is often a good idea.

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