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The upper eyelid surgery is done to remove fat deposits or loose skin which may have formed due to age, heredity, or exposure to sun. Younger people undergo this surgery to remove puffiness from the eyes and give them a brighter and younger look. The common causes for undergoing the upper eye lid surgery or blepharoplasty is the excess skin on the upper eyelid, called ‘hooding’ of the upper eyelid, and puffiness in the inner corner and middle of the upper eyelid caused by pushing forward of fat. This procedure can be done in combination with other procedures like lower eyelid surgery, forehead lift or eyebrow lift. After the surgery there will be a remarkable change in appearance though one should not have an unnatural expectation. The eyes will appear fresher and more youthful and this may last for many years. The degree of improvement varies from patient to patient.
Once a reliable surgeon has been decided, the patient should discuss with him what he wants and expects from the surgery. He should tell him his whole medical history; discuss with him the procedure, the limitations, the expectations, the recovery, and the expected costs. The type of anesthesia used will be finalized as well as the method of the operation. If there are any medical problems, the doctor should be told, so that there should not be any problems later. Any allergies, any thyroid problems will also have to be told. The patient can also request to see photographs of other similar cases.
During the operation, after the anesthesia is administered, incision will be made in the natural folds of the skin. The excess fat and skin will be carefully removed. Sometimes the muscles and the orbital septum, which is a thin connective tissue membrane, may also be tightened. The incision will be closed using medical tapes or removable sutures. The external incisions are hidden under the natural folds of the upper eyelids. The operation is done with very fine electrocautery which controls bleeding. The surgery may take one to three hours and can be done on an outpatient basis. The patient need not stay back in the hospital.
The eye may need eye drops if they feel dry. There may be a bit of a pain which can be relieved by pain killers and the patient may feel a tightening of the eyelid, feel bruised or scratchy for which an ointment can be applied under medical advice. The stitches will be removed within three or five days. The patient should not strain his eyes reading, watching TV or using the computer or the laptop. Any action which may cause blood to rush to the eyes like bending should be avoided for a few days. One should not blink too often for a few days after the operation.
In most cases complete recovery is within a week and the patient can resume normal duties. After the operation and the recovery, one will look younger and fresher. Though upper eyelid surgeries rarely have complications, one cannot overrule infections or a bit of swelling. |
