Cosmetic surgery of the eyelids - Blepharoplasty

What is blepharoplasty?

Cosmetic eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure to improve the appearance of the eyelids. It is used to correct drooping eyelids that give an aged and tired look to the eyes, or to eliminate specific hereditary or age-related imperfections. The surgery can be performed on the upper or lower eyelids or both, simultaneously or separately, for both men and women.

Who is a blepharoplasty recommended for?

Blepharoplasty is recommended for people who wish to replace the tired and unsightly appearance of their eyes with a more rested and relaxed look.

Cosmetic eyelid surgery will give you a refreshed, younger look by correcting

• Heavy and droopy upper eyelids, with excess sagging skin that creates creases and sometimes disrupts vision,
• Sagging and withered lower eyelids that reveal white under the iris, excess skin and fine horizontal wrinkles due to skin distension,
• Fat hernias or fat deposits, which are responsible for bags under the eyes, such as dark circles, located on the lower eyelids or even on the upper eyelids.

At Global Plastic Surgery, you will be considered a candidate for this procedure if you have a positive outlook and realistic goals for successfully completing the selected procedure. If you are a non-smoker or quit smoking at least 1 month prior to the procedure, results will be more predictable. However, if you cannot quit smoking, complications are to be expected and the procedure may be suspended.

At Global Plastic Surgery, surgical candidates are also committed to a healthy lifestyle, good nutrition and physical activity.

How is the surgery performed?

Surgery is performed under local, intravenous or general anesthesia on an outpatient basis.

Interventions are performed as follows:

On the upper eyelids: skin incisions are concealed in the furrow halfway up the eyelid, between the mobile and fixed parts of the eyelid. This allows for the correction of excess skin, bags of fat and for tightening muscles.

In the lower eyelids: the skin incisions are made just below the lower eyelash line or transconjunctival, and may extend a little outside.

The incisions will of course be in the natural folds in order to conceal scars in the eyelid natural structures.

Stitches are made with very fine, non-absorbable sutures that are removed a few days later.

How much time off should I plan for?

After blepharoplasty, signs of the operation (bruises or small hematomas) may be present and persist for a few days. However, there is no real pain. A small discomfort, a slight irritation may be felt when closing the eyes in the days following the operation. During the first few days, it is necessary to rest as much as possible and avoid any violent effort.

After 5 days, the sutures will be removed. Generally, bruising and swelling fade after 7 to 10 days and can be camouflaged with makeup (usually by the 5th day). There is also the possibility of watery eyes. All of these signs are normal and usually quickly reversible. A slight induration of the treated areas may persist for a few months, especially on the lower eyelid, but this is not noticeable to those around.

Note that scars, although very discreet, will become permanent between the 3rd and 6th month following the operation. It is of course recommended to protect oneself from the sun (wearing appropriate glasses) during this period in order to rule out any possibility of dyschromia or pigmentation disorder.

The stigmata of the operation will gradually fade, allowing a return to a normal social and professional life after a few days, on average 6 to 10 days depending on the case.

What results can be expected?

The results of the surgery will be visible and obvious, on average 4 to 6 weeks after the operation, just enough time for tissues to regain their suppleness and scars to fade. Results are generally among the most durable in cosmetic surgery. The goal of blepharoplasty is to bring about an improvement and if your wishes are pragmatic, the results obtained will give you great satisfaction. After bruises have gone, you will discover a fresher, more youthful and luminous look. Your eyelids will be smoothed out, giving you a more rested look. Your eyes will be lightened and your face rejuvenated in a spectacular way.

What are the possible risks?

A blepharoplasty, performed for essentially aesthetic reasons, is nonetheless a real surgical procedure that involves risks related to any medical act, no matter how small.

In general, the vast majority of procedures are carried out without any problems and patients are fully satisfied with the results obtained. However, despite their rarity, some complications may occur: hematomas and swellings, which are usually not serious, a disorder of tear secretions, epidermal cysts that often disappear spontaneously, possible lagophthalmos in the first few days following the operation, glaucoma or ocular hypertension, conjunctivitis that can be treated with an eyewash. All of this will disappear with time.

In the 10 days preceding the operation, you will be asked to avoid taking medications containing aspirin. It is strongly recommended that you stop smoking one month before and one month after the operation. Smoking can delay the healing process.

At Global Plastic Surgery, all possible risks and complications will be discussed with you prior to the surgery. After thorough discussions with your surgeon, you will decide if the risks, potential complications and benefits are acceptable to you.

What is the price of this type of surgery?

The price of the procedure depends mainly on the areas to be treated, the operating time and the choice of anesthesia. The price for a blepharoplasty operationstarts at 4500 CHF.