Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery

With aging and the effect of gravity, sagging occurs naturally in the skin. For these reasons, signs such as bagging of the eyelids, loosening skin, discoloration, laxity and wrinkles appear.

Factors such as exposure to sunlight, air pollution, irregular sleep, excessive smoking and alcohol use accelerate the aging process of the skin. The lower or upper eyelids affected by these processes acquire the appearance they should have with blepharoplasty surgery.

What is blepharoplasty?

Cosmetic eyelid surgery, medically referred to as blepharoplasty, is an application applied to the lower and upper eyelids, during which eye contour tissues are stretched and sagging skin and excess muscle tissue removed. Blepharoplasty is performed by aesthetic and plastic surgeons.

With aging and the effect of gravity, sagging occurs naturally in the skin. For these reasons, signs such as bagging of the eyelids, loosening skin, discoloration, laxity and wrinkles appear. Factors such as exposure to sunlight, air pollution, irregular sleep, excessive smoking and alcohol use accelerate the aging process of the skin. The lower or upper eyelids affected by these processes acquire the appearance they should have with blepharoplasty surgery.

Aging Symptoms of Eyelid

Human skin has an elastic structure, but its elasticity gradually decreases with aging. As a result of the loss of elasticity in the facial skin, the excess skin first occurs in the eyelids. Therefore, symptoms of aging begin to appear initially in the eyelids and cause the person look tired, dull and older than s/he really is.

Some changes in upper and lower eyelids with aging:

• Bagging and discoloration under the eyes
• Drooping of eyelid
• Wrinkles and sagging of the eyelid skin
• Crow's feet lines
• Tired facial expression

People who want to have blepharoplasty due to self-consciousness or for functional reasons can have blepharoplasty in either the upper eyelid or the lower eyelid or both according to need.

Blepharoplasty is generally performed in combination with eyebrow lifting, forehead lifting and endoscopic midface surgery.

How is cosmetic eyelid surgery performed?

Cosmetic upper eyelid surgery or droopy eyelid surgery briefly involves the removal of excess skin and muscle tissue in the region.

An incision is made on the eyelid folding line so that the scar is not visible. When applied with forehead lift and eyebrow lift operations, the result obtained will be more aesthetic.

In the case of lower eyelid problems such as under-eye bags, under-eye wrinkles, cosmetic lower eyelid surgery, i.e. lower blepharoplasty is performed. Lower eyelid is corrected using an incision made 1.5 mm below the eyelashes. Depending on the type of deformation, the fat bags are taken out, the herniation points are tightened, the skin in front of the bagging is stretched, or the tissues in the area where the bags are formed are spread towards the upper region of the cheek. The incision is sutured from the eyelash line area, so there will be no scar.

How long does the surgery usually take?

The upper eyelid procedure takes approximately 30 minutes.

The eyelids are anatomically more complex than other aesthetic and functional parts of the face, so the operation requires a rigorous planning and surgical technique.

Surgical procedure in the lower eyelids takes 1-1.5 hours on average; the most important factor affecting the operative time is whether or not there will be another procedure related to the face in addition blepharoplasty.

Before Blepharoplasty

Things to consider before surgery

Before the operation, the patient should inform the surgeon and anesthesiologist who will perform the aesthetic surgery about all details about his existing medications and general health status. Stop taking blood thinner medications, herbal teas, fish oil and avoid any special herbal cure applications 1 week before surgery. As in all operations, you're advised to stop smoking and alcohol consumption at least one week before blepharoplasty. This is very important for a rapid healing process.

How is the healing process after surgery?

During the recovery, the edema that occurs in the first few days usually subside at the end of the first week and the patient can easily resume normal activities in the second week.

Will there be any scar left after blepharoplasty?

In blepharoplasty, the incision marks remain exactly in eyelid folding site in upper eyelid and at the bottom of the eyelashes. in lower eyelid. These marks in upper eyelid become unnoticeable from about 1 month, and those in lower eyelid become completely pale from the 2nd month.

What are the risks of blepharoplasty?

There is no zero-risk surgery, the risk rate is related to the patient's overall health. For example, a smoker may suffer from adverse affected wound healing. Or previous surgeries in that region or eyelid diseases may delay recovery by increasing edema.

The patient might have the following rare risks:

• Bleeding: It is rarely seen in some cases and requires intervention.
• Blurred vision: It is a condition that can be encountered in the first few days and it is temporary.
• Tear More Than Normal: It is a condition that can be encountered in the first few weeks and it is temporary.
• Difficulty Closing Eyes During Sleep: It is a condition that can be encountered in the first few days and it resolves when swelling subsides.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should a person have blepharoplasty, except for matters of self-consciouness?

Skin laxity developing in eyelids over time causes droopy upper eyelid. The extent of this condition may sometimes be too high that it impairs vision. In that case, this condition should also be treated functionally.

Is there an age limit for blepharoplasty?

There is no lower or upper age limit for blepharoplasty. Minimal deformations around the eye can be resolved by non-surgical aesthetic methods at an early age. However, as age increases or the extent of deformation increases, non-surgical interventions prove to be inadequate. In that case, the definitive solution is blepharoplasty.

When can I resume normal activities after surgery?

Blepharoplasty operations are procedures with a short and problem-free recovery period that give very good results. You can resume normal activities after a maximum resting period of 3 days.