Cosmetic Eye Surgery Can Wipe Years Off Your Face

A person’s most noticeable facial features are their eyes. This is the reason why tens of thousands of Americans resort to cosmetic eye surgery every year, according to the American Academy of Facial and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery.

Cosmetic eye surgery (or blepharoplasty) can dramatically improve the way you look, wiping years of your face. Eyelid surgery focuses on fixing droopy eyelids that make a person look older than their years. Cosmetic eye surgery also works on removing the bags or puffiness under the eyes that make a person look weathered and tired.

However, cosmetic eye surgery has its limits:

• It cannot eliminate dark circles.


• It cannot remove the fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes.


• It cannot repair sagging eyebrows.

Therefore, although eyelid surgery is a single procedure, many surgeons suggest that results be enhanced with additional surgical procedures.

So it is important that you find a surgeon whose opinion, skill, and competence you can trust. You must have realistic expectations because the success of cosmetic eye surgery, as with any type of cosmetic surgery, is greatly determined by the results’ emotional impact on you.

What Does Cosmetic Eye Surgery Involve?

The procedure, basically, removes excess fat, skin, and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids, resulting in a refreshed look and a firmer eye area.

You and your plastic surgeon will have to decide on any complementary procedures together. Examples of these are:

• Skin resurfacing treatment (removes fine lines and wrinkles)


• Brow lift


• Forehead lift

Caution: If you have vascular or eye problems, you must consult your specialists before even considering eyelid surgery as an option.

Following are the basic steps to expect if you choose to undergo eyelid surgery.

Pre-Surgical Consultation

1. Your surgeon will ask you why you think you need cosmetic eye surgery.


2. Your surgeon will then explain the potentials of the procedure and adjust your expectations as to its results.


3. Your surgeon will evaluate your medical history and you will be asked questions about your eyes (vision, use of corrective lenses, tear production, etc.).


4. You will be evaluated physically (extent of vision obstruction, age, ethnicity, skin type, etc.).


5. If you both agree to go ahead with eyelid surgery, your surgeon will discuss
   
   1. Technique
   
   
   2. Anesthesia
   
   
   3. Surgical facility
   
   
   4. Additional treatments and surgery
   
   
   5. Risks and side effects
   
   
   6. Total cost (you can ask for a breakdown)

Cosmetic Eye Surgery

1. Upper eyelid surgery
   
   1. Surgeon marks individual lines/creases of eyelids to keep scars invisible along natural folds
   
   
   2. Surgeon makes incisions and removes excess fat, muscle, and skin
   
   
   3. Fine, self-dissolving sutures close the incisions, minimizing scar visibility


2. Lower eyelid surgery
   
   1. Surgeon makes incisions along the lash line and smile creases of lower lid
   
   
   2. Surgeon trims excess fat, muscle, and skin
   
   
   3. Fine, self-dissolving sutures close the incisions

Cosmetic eye surgery normally takes one to two hours.

After Surgery

From one to two weeks after your eyelid surgery, you will have to clean your eye area carefully, and your surgeon or specialist may recommend the use of eye drops. You will also be prohibited from engaging in activities and exposing your eyes to certain environments during this period. Any permanent stitches will be removed 3 to 5 days after your surgery, while self-dissolving ones will disappear on their own.