Why choose to get Eyelid Surgery?
The skin around the eyes is very sensitive to touch. As time progresses, age takes its toll on most people’s eyelids, causing sagging, drooping, fat deposits around the eyes, bags, bulges, dark circles, fine lines, and wrinkles, some of which can impede vision. Occasionally, some of these conditions may be caused by medical conditions, such as thyroid disease. Eyelid surgery (Blepharoplasty) can restore a more youthful appearance by removing excess skin and fat. Dr. Rau can perform eyelid surgery alone or in conjunction with a forehead/brow lift or facelift.
Good candidates
The best candidates for eyelid surgery are adult individuals who have healthy facial tissue and muscles, are nonsmokers and do not have medical conditions that impair healing. Patients with excess skin around their eyes and sagging eyelids can undergo eye surgery. Candidates should have a positive outlook and realistic goals for improving their eyelids.
Your Blepharoplasty consultation
During your eyelid surgery consultation, Dr. Rau will evaluate your overall health status, ask you about your aesthetic and functional goals for the surgery, and recommend a course of treatment. The details of the surgery will be presented, as will any potential complications and your directions for the recovery process.
The consultation is the time to ask Dr. Rau questions and discuss medical conditions, previous surgeries, drug allergies, current medications, and outcome expectations.
The procedure
Eyelid surgery is conducted on an outpatient basis, or at a certified surgery center under general anesthesia. Both the upper and/or lower eyelids are treated in the surgery. Dr. Rau marks the natural lines and creases on each eyelid to make use of these folds to hide any scars. For lower lids, an incision is often made along the lash line to conceal the scar. After making an incision, excess fat, muscle, and skin is trimmed and the incision is closed with fine sutures. The surgery generally lasts between 1 and 3 hours.
Recovery from Eyelid Surgery
Dr. Rau may or may not apply a dressing to the eyes after eyelid surgery. An ointment is often used to prevent eye dryness, which may cause some blurriness of vision. Expect some swelling and bruising on and around the eyes. Cold compresses can help reduce the swelling in addition to any pain medication Dr. Rau may prescribe. It is important to keep your head elevated when lying down during recovery. Dr. Rau will likely instruct you to cleanse your eyes daily with eye drops.
Immediately after the eyelid surgery, light sensitivity, excessive tearing, and double vision may occur. These symptoms will pass in a matter of days. Puffy eyelids and numbness are more likely to last a few weeks longer. Permanent stitches are removed in 5 to 7 days. Generally, patients return to most normal activity within a week, although heavy lifting, bending at the waist, swimming, extreme neck movements, and strenuous activity may be restricted for some additional weeks.
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