Blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery
Blepharoplasty gives the eyes a more relaxed, rested appearance. As light is once again captured by the iris, blue or light eyes regain a new radiance!
Both men and women can benefit from eye surgery
These people consult us for tired, weighed-down, darkened eyes. Over time, the thin skin of the eyelids loses its tone. The upper eyelids droop, patients widen their eyes to compensate, and the lower eyelids wither, revealing wrinkles and bags under the eyes. Sometimes we see younger patients in the family who all have bags under their eyes from the age of 30, or heavy upper eyelids.
Surgical blepharoplasty: before and after
Eye bag surgery. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis at the clinic, and the results are rapidly appreciable.
Here, the case of one of my lovely patients who wanted to reduce the appearance of “bags” under her eyes, with a tired look and a much older appearance than she actually had. Over time, the skin of the eyelids, which is very thin, will lose its tone and thus have a “drooping” effect. Similarly, the skin under the eyelids withers, causing wrinkles and bags under the eyes. Many patients complain of tired, darkened, weighed-down eyes… Sometimes, bags under the eyes can be “familial” and visible without excess skin, even in young people. Blepharoplasty is an operation that gives the eyes a more relaxed, rested look.
Over time, skin tends to lose its elasticity. When this happens around the eyes, the effects are highly visible: the eyelid becomes heavier, puffiness appears and even worsens, giving a tired look to your pretty face. You get up in the morning looking tired, and your colleagues remark on how well you’re doing. Blepharoplasty involves – in the case of this before-and-after – removing the excess skin under the eyelid in order to tighten it and remove the pockets of fat that protrude under the skin. This procedure gives your eyes the light and softness they deserve!
Here’s a lower blepharoplasty result for a man 3 days after the operation, which explains why the absorbable threads are still present at the moment. As you can see, no bruising. During the clinical examination, my job is to assess whether any fat needs to be removed. Depending on the amount to be removed, I may perform a scarless technique (trans-conjunctival approach), or go under the eyelashes (sub-ciliary approach). Occasionally, an ophthalmological examination may be recommended to identify any pathology that may contraindicate eyelid surgery. The procedure lasts between 30 minutes and 1 hour, and is generally performed under local anaesthetic, or neuropeltanalgesia for major procedures such as this one.
Clinical examination
The clinical examination is used to assess the surgical procedure, and in particular to explain the scars planned. For example, in the case of lower eyelid surgery, it is necessary to assess whether any fat needs to be removed, and depending on the amount of skin to be removed, a scarless technique ( transconjunctival approach ) or a subciliary approach(under the eyelashes) may be used. A prior ophthalmological examination may be recommended to identify any pathology that may contraindicate eyelid surgery.
The operation
The procedure takes between 30 minutes and 1 hour. The operation is generally performed under local anaesthetic. The patient enters the clinic an hour or two before the procedure and leaves the same evening.
Post-operative care
Pain is easily managed with analgesics. Saline drops are prescribed for a few days to protect the eyes, which may be a little irritated. Cool compresses or cold glasses are recommended immediately after the procedure, and can even be brought to the clinic for immediate use. Depending on the extent of the procedure, the patient may experience some bruising. This varies greatly from patient to patient. Sutures are removed 5 days after the operation. In the case of scarless blepharoplasty, there are no threads to remove. A few days off work are to be expected, although some patients work the very next day wearing sunglasses. The change can be seen very quickly, and the final result will be seen as the edema melts away. Scar massage may be recommended when scars extend to the side of the most pronounced lower eyelids.
What is blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty without surgery
Aesthetic blepharoplasty: before and after
Surgery is not always necessary. In some cases, hyaluronic acid injections are enough to improve the look.
Here’s a case study of one of my young patients, on whom I performed an aesthetic blepharoplasty. As the skin of the eyelids is particularly thin, this can lead to a heavier, drooping effect in the eyes. As you can see, by working with full eye hyaluronic acid injections and hyaluronic acid at the temples, the tail of the eyebrow rises, volumes are rebalanced, giving a more open look to the eyes. As a result, the patient looks less tired and stressed, and her eyes appear more relaxed and rested.
■ DID YOU KNOW?
How do I know whether to use tensor threads or blepharoplasty for eye treatment?
I regularly see patients in my practice who already have an idea of the procedure they would like to undergo. But often, it’s not the most appropriate one for their problem. Remember that a practitioner is not just an expert in the technique you’re considering, but truly an advisor who is there to guide you to achieve the best and, of course, most satisfying results. This time, I’m talking about the difference between tensor threads and blepharoplasty, which can achieve excellent results in opening the eyes and lifting the tail of the eyebrow.
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