Posted by: Chicago Arbor Eye Institute in Uncategorized
If you have been considering undergoing a cosmetic procedure to help you look more youthful, eyelid surgery might be the perfect choice. Eyelid surgery is a wonderful way to reduce the signs of age and make your eyes look more open and awake.
It’s an excellent option if you want to refresh your face without committing to a full facelift. Keep reading to learn more about eyelid surgery, including how long the results last!
What is Eyelid Surgery?
People choose eyelid procedures for a variety of reasons, including:
- Lifting sagging upper eyelids to make eyes look more open and awake and address any asymmetry between the eyes
- Smooth out undereye bags to reduce puffiness and signs of aging
- Ptosis repair to correct eyelid sagging that affects vision
- Eyelid reconstruction due to prior trauma or after tumor removal
Blepharoplasty, more commonly called an eyelid lift, is a safe, outpatient procedure to reshape loose skin on the eyelids. Blepharoplasty on the upper lids can remove excess skin to elevate hooded or droopy eyelids. Blepharoplasty on the lower lids can decrease the appearance of under-eye bags and tighten loose skin. In addition, an eyelid surgery called ptosis repair is used to correct a condition called ptosis, which causes significant upper eyelid drooping.
Ptosis can limit your vision because your eyelids are covering parts of one or both eyes, even when they’re open.
What Affects How Long the Results of Eyelid Surgery Last?
As a general rule, you can expect the eyelid lift duration to be about five to ten years, though results may last longer. The procedure removes extra tissue and fat, which doesn’t return, but the aging process can affect the remaining skin around your eyes.
Loss of skin elasticity, gravity, and loss of volume throughout your face can cause drooping or sagging. This can affect your eyelids even after a prior blepharoplasty procedure.
The skin of the lids themselves may become looser and start drooping. Alternatively, the skin of your brow area can move slightly downward. Your brows may look lower set, and the weight of the brows and surrounding tissue can push the eyelid down as well. This can make eyes look hooded, or lids appear to be less open.
Eyelid procedures on the lower lids may last longer than upper lid blepharoplasty. Many lower-lid procedures are aimed at removing excess fat to smooth out the appearance of eye bags.
Those fat cells are permanently gone, so you are unlikely to see a recurrence of that puffiness. Lower lids can show sagging and loose, crepey skin over time.
How Can You Extend Eyelid Surgery Results?
The first thing you can do to give yourself the best blepharoplasty longevity is follow aftercare instructions. Your surgeon will give you instructions on how to care for your incision and give you medications to prevent infection.
You should plan to refrain from strenuous activities until your surgeon gives you the go-ahead to resume activities like working out. Avoiding infection and giving the delicate skin a chance to heal completely can minimize scarring and other complications.
A smooth recovery will also reduce the need for follow-up procedures to address suboptimal results. After your lids have healed, the best thing you can do to maintain results is protect your skin from the sun.
UV damage can increase wrinkles and other signs of aging around the eyes. Use broad-spectrum sunscreen on your face every day to protect it from damaging UV rays. You can add extra protection to your eyes by wearing sunglasses that block UV rays and broad-brimmed hats that shade your face.
When Might You Need a Touch-Up?
It is often a personal choice when you need a touch-up. The results of your original procedure should last for at least 5 years and may last longer than that.
Repeat surgery is generally safe, though your surgeon will let you know if there is a medical reason you should not consider a touch-up. If you have a recurrence of ptosis after ptosis repair surgery or eyelid changes that impede your vision, you may want to get a touch-up as soon as that happens.
Some people find that a brow lift will be beneficial in addressing drooping eyelids. You can have a brow lift in addition to or instead of a second eyelid procedure.
Your surgeon can discuss your options with you and help you decide the best plan to get the refreshed look you desire.
What to Expect During Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty is an outpatient procedure that your oculoplastic surgeon can perform in their office or at a surgical center. You will be awake, and your surgeon will use local numbing to prevent any discomfort.
If you are having an upper eyelid blepharoplasty, your eye surgeon will first make an incision along the fold of your eyelid. They will carefully remove excess skin and fat and bring the edges of the skin back together to make the lid look tighter.
The scar should be hidden in the crease of your lid. During lower eyelid blepharoplasty, your surgeon will make an incision just below your lower eyelashes or inside the lower lid.
They will gently remove or redistribute excess fat beneath the eyes and tighten loose skin before closing the incision. Surgery takes about an hour per eyelid.
You will be able to go home shortly after the procedure is finished, though you will need someone to drive you. You may experience pain or swelling in the first few days after the procedure, but that should improve quickly. You won’t need prescription pain medications; you can use over-the-counter pain medicines like Tylenol or Advil to manage any discomfort. Most people are completely recovered from blepharoplasty within 10 to 14 days.
Do you want to learn more about eyelid surgery from a qualified ophthalmologist who specializes in oculoplastic procedures? Schedule an appointment at Chicago Arbor Eye Institute in Chicago, IL, today!
