About Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty, or surgery of the eyelids, is a plastic surgery procedure which can improve the appearance of droopy upper eyelids and puffy undereye bags. The surgery restores a more youthful and refreshed appearance to the eye area by removing excess fat, muscle, and skin from the upper and/or lower eyelids.
Individuals who are looking to improve sagging or puffiness of the eyelids may be good candidates for blepharoplasty. As with other types of cosmetic surgery, patients must also be realistic in their expectations for the outcome and be in good health. Patients should also understand the limitation of blepharoplasty surgery. The procedure cannot improve the appearance of dark circles, sagging eyebrows or fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. Special considerations may need to be made for individuals with circulatory, ophthalmologic, or other serious medical conditions. During your consultation, Dr. Donath will help you to decide if blepharoplasty is right for you. He may recommend complementary surgery to help you achieve your desired look. For instance, blepharoplasty is often performed along with a brow lift, facelift or skin resurfacing,
The Surgery Process
Local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia may be used for the blepharoplasty surgery. Dr. Donath will begin by making the incisions which will be located along the natural lines and creases of the upper eyelids and along the lash line and smile creases of the lower eyelids. Working through the incisions, excess fat, muscle and loose skin will be removed and fine sutures will be used to close the incisions. A bandage may be applied to the eyelids once the surgery is complete. Transconjunctival blepharoplasty may be performed on patients with just eyelid puffiness caused by excess fat. For this procedure, the incisions are made on the inside of the lower eyelids and excess fatty tissue is removed. Surgical times for blepharoplasty will vary and can run anywhere from one to three hours.
Eyelid Surgery Recovery
Patients may experience some soreness and tightness of the eyelids which can be managed with prescription medication. Dryness, itching, burning, tearing, sensitivity to light and blurred or double vision may also occur during the first week. Some swelling and bruising can be expected and can be reduced by applying cold compresses and elevating the head for the first few days after surgery. You will also be required to apply an ointment to the eye area to help prevent dryness and eye drops may be recommended as well. Traditional stitches are removed within three to five days while self-absorbing stitches will dissolve on their own and need not be removed. The incisions are typically placed to allow the resulting scars to be as inconspicuous as possible. Most patients are able to return to work within five to ten days after undergoing blepharoplasty, though rigorous activities will be prohibited for several weeks.
*Each patient is unique and individual results may vary.
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Blepharoplasty FAQs
A – Blepharoplasty is a plastic surgery procedure designed to improve the appearance of puffy lower eyelid bags and drooping of the upper eyelids in order to restore a more youthful and refreshed appearance. During the surgery, excess fat, muscle and skin are removed from the upper and/or lower eyelids.
A – If you are looking to improve the appearance of puffy lower eyelid bags and/or drooping of the upper eyelids and are physically healthy and realistic in your expectations, then blepharoplasty may be right for you. Patients must understand that the surgery will not affect dark circles, wrinkles around the lines, or sagging of the eyebrows. Dr. Donath is happy to meet with you for a consultation to help you decide if blepharoplasty is right for you.
A – During the consultation for blepharoplasty, Dr. Donath will meet with you to examine your eyes, discuss your goals, and take a thorough medical history. If you have certain medical conditions like circulatory or ophthalmologic problems, special considerations may need to be made. Dr. Donath will also weight other factors like your age, skin type and your attitude toward surgery in order to determine if blepharoplasty is right for you. He will go over the recommended technique, the anesthesia, the surgical facility, the risks, and the costs. Any questions or concerns that you may have will also be discussed. If necessary, Dr. Donath may recommend complementary surgery, such as a brow lift or skin resurfacing, to help you achieve your desired look.
A – Blepharoplasty may be performed with local anesthesia and sedation or with general anesthesia.
A – Dr. Donath begins the blepharoplasty surgery by making the incisions. For the upper eyelids, these are located along the natural lines and creases. For the lower eyelids, these may be located along the lash line and smile creases. Once the incisions are made, he will remove excess fat, muscle, and loose skin. The incisions will then be closed with fine sutures. Patients who have just eyelid puffiness caused by excess fat may be candidates for transconjunctival blepharoplasty in which excess fatty tissue is removed through an incision on the inside of the lower eyelid.
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Q – How long is the surgical time for blepharoplasty?
A – Blepharoplasty may take one to three hours to complete depending on the extent of the work and the technique used.
Q – Where are the blepharoplasty incisions made?
A – The incisions for blepharoplasty are made along the natural lines and creases of the upper eyelids and along the lash line and smile creases of the lower eyelids. For transconjunctival blepharoplasty, the incisions are made on the inside of the lower eyelids.
Q – Will I have scars after blepharoplasty surgery?
A – For traditional blepharoplasty, the incisions are located in such a way so as to be as inconspicuous as possible. For transconjunctival blepharoplasty, the incisions are made on the inside of the lower eyelids and leave no visible scarring.
Q – Does blepharoplasty involve much pain?
A – Patients may experience some soreness and tightness of the eyelids along with some temporary tearing and burning. Prescription medication can help to alleviate discomfort.
Q – What is the recovery from blepharoplasty like?
A – Some soreness and tightness of the eyelids may occur after surgery along with temporary dryness, itching, burning, tearing, sensitivity to light, and blurred or double vision. Discomfort can be managed with prescription pain medication. Swelling and bruising may occur and can be relieved with cold compresses and keeping the head elevated. An ointment will need to be regularly applied to the eye area for a period of time to help prevent dryness.
Q – When will I be able to resume work after my blepharoplasty surgery?
A – Work and most other normal activities can usually be resumed with about five to ten days after the blepharoplasty surgery.
Q – When will the stitches be removed after my blepharoplasty procedure?
A – Stitches are usually removed or dissolve on their own within about three to five days.
About Dr. Donath
Welcome to the practice of Dr. Alexander S. Donath, a renowned facial plastic surgeon who has gained an international reputation for excellence in facial cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures. Dr. Donath is honored to be invited regularly to present his techniques at international conferences in aesthetic surgery and has patients fly in from all parts of the U.S. and many foreign countries. Dr. Donath has also earned the respect of fellow physicians, having been nominated as a Top Doctor in Cincinnati Magazine and by Castle Connolly for many consecutive years, is a national trainer of other physicians for both Galderma and Allergan, and is a frequent guest on multiple media outlets to present the public with the most recent facial aesthetic techniques.
Even before medical school, Dr. Donath knew his interest was in surgery, and so during medical school when he fell in love with the anatomy of the face, head, & neck, he elected to pursue a goal of becoming a leader in facial plastic surgery by completing a rigorous five-year residency training program in all aspects of Head and Neck Surgery at St. Louis University, including extensive experience in Facial Plastic Surgery. During this residency, he was fortunate to learn the latest techniques in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery from Harvard-trained Facial Plastic Surgery faculty. He additionally spent time studying at Harvard Medical School with the Director of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Dr. Mack Cheney, gaining invaluable insights on a multitude of procedures while working with Dr. Cheney and his team directly in the operating room at the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary. Dr. Donath is also involved with many charitable organizations.
Related procedures: Otoplasty, Facelift, Brow lift, Mini Facelift, Rhinoplasty, Revision Rhinoplasty