As people age, the skin of the upper eyelids begins to sag and droop due to loss of elasticity. The sagging skin can hang over the upper eyelid and lashes and cause visual field obstruction, while the fat around the eye can also protrude into the eyelid, resulting in a puffy appearance that obscures the natural eyelid crease.
Upper eyelid surgery, or upper blepharoplasty, can restore a natural, more youthful appearance to the eyes and can improve vision in cases with visual field obstruction. If you are considering eyelid surgery, here are 8 things you should know about blepharoplasty:
1. Eyelid surgery is subtle. You’ll still look like you, just a well-rested version of yourself. It won’t change the structure of your eyes—it will simply help to alleviate bags and puffiness to help you look more awake and refreshed.
2. It’s normal to be nervous. Chances are you’ll be happy with your final results, but it’s totally normal to be nervous before your procedure. Talk to your surgeon to help ease your fears.
3. Avoid makeup and contacts. Following surgery, you’ll be advised to avoid makeup and contact lenses for at least a week or two to allow your eyelids time to recover and avoid infection.
4. Allow yourself time to heal. Let the recovery process take its course. Take time away from work following surgery to give yourself a few days to recover privately and to follow your surgeon’s recovery guidelines.
5. It can make you look younger. You may finally stop being asked if you feel OK or being told you look tired. Eyelid surgery can help you regain your youthful glow and confidence by tightening sagging eyelid skin.
6. Results are long-lasting. Eyelid surgery doesn’t stop the aging process but will stop, or even turn back, the clock by as many as 10 years—or more!
7. Recovery is relatively quick. Patients can generally resume reading after 2 to 3 days and driving after a few days. Following your surgeon’s specific instructions for postoperative care will also help expedite your recovery.
8. Costs may vary. For most purchases, saving money makes sense but surgery is not one of those times. Well-qualified doctors may offer surgery for less, but most discounted surgeries come with discounted results. Always look for an experienced board-certified facial plastic surgeon.
Eyelid surgery can be a wonderful way to fix under-eye bags, dark circles, and sagging skin in both the upper and lower eyelids (lower blepharoplasty). To enhance the rejuvenating effects, many patients opt to combine their procedure with a facelift or brow lift. Learn more about these procedures and more in our related blog post.
So, if you think you may be a good candidate for the procedure and want to learn more, we encourage you to request a consultation or call us at (615) 942-8016 to get started.
