Eyelid Surgery Blepharoplasty

Skin, muscles around our eyes and supportive tissues are factors that are responsible to prevent sagging of eyelids. As you age, the skin loses elasticity and the muscles and supportive tissues weaken, resulting in sagging of upper eyelid and sagging and accompanying under-eye bags in lower eyelid. Those structural changes in eyelids cause a tired and older facial appearance.

Eye-lid surgery (also known as blepharoplasty) is usually done for cosmetic reasons. This surgery provides successful results especially in patients with sagging upper eyelids.

When the sagging of the eyelid is severe, it can also cause visual problems.

Eye-lid surgeries do not help dark discoloration under eyes and under-eye wrinkles (goose feet). Eye-lid surgeries are usually combined with or done as a part of other procedures such as laser resurfacing, filler injections or forehead lift.

If you want to have an eyelid surgery, please consult our plastic surgeons for techniques, expectations, conditions that contraindicate eyelid surgery  and potential risks.

Aging causes loss of elasticity in skin of eyelids and when it is accompanied by weakening of muscles and supportive tissues, the gravity force sags the eyelids. Extra skin folds develop in upper and lower eyelids.

Best candidates for eyelid surgery are persons with good overall health and realistic expectations. This surgery is more commonly preferred by middle aged and older persons. However, it can be performed in younger patients due to medical necessities.

An eyelid surgery may enhance your self-confidence by improving appearance of your eyes. Although effects on upper eyelids are usually long lasting, you may notice sagging in the future due to aging. However, surgery is rarely repeated for lower eyelids.

If both upper and lower eyelids are operated on, the procedure can take about 2 hours. The operation is carried out under local anesthesia combined with sedation.

Your plastic surgeon usually makes the incisions over the natural skin folds or creases on your eyelids. After an incision is made, excess fat, tissue and muscle are removed. Very small stitches are placed on the incision line to ensure cosmetic results. The stitches placed on the upper lid will remain for approximately one week. For lower eyelids, stitching may not be required depending on the technique.

Your plastic surgeon will inform you whether you need to be observed or you should stay in hospital

• Procedure time: 60 to 90 minutes
• Overnight stay: 0-1 night
• Anaesthetic: General or Local with sedation`
• Final result: 3 to 6 weeks