Eyelid Surgery(Blepharoplasty)眼部整形
Do you always look tired and unhappy because of the way your eyes look? Blepharoplasty is a surgery for the eyelids which involves the removal of fat along with excess skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. The droopy appearance and puffy areas below the eyes will be gone, but blepharoplasty cannot correct dark circles, lift sagging eyebrows, or remove crow's feet. For Asian patients, this procedure can add an upper eyelid crease where there may have not been one before. It can also be performed in conjunction with a face life or other facial plastic surgeries.
People interested in blepharoplasty are usually over 35, but if you are interested in having this done earlier it is possible. You must be physically and psychologically healthy and have realistic expectations of what your appearance will be after the procedure is finished and you have healed. Your vision will be tested and your ability to produce tears must be sufficient.
There are several factors that make blepharoplasty more risky. If you have a history of dry eyes, detached retina, or glaucoma, you may want to consult an ophthalmologist. Other risk factors that may affect this surgery include hypothyroidism, Graves' disease, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
Some of the complications that can occur following blepharoplasty include temporary swelling at the corners of the eyelids, or blurred vision for several days. There is also a chance that the incisions may heal asymmetrically. If tiny whiteheads appear following surgery, your doctor can easily remove them with a small needle. Some patients have difficulty closing their eyes completely when sleeping. Although this is very rare, in some circumstances it can be permanent. You will not be able to wear contact lenses for several weeks following surgery.
Blepharoplasty is normally performed under local anesthesia and takes one to three hours depending on the complexity of the procedure. The area around your eyes will be numb and you may be given a sedative to keep you relaxed. You will be awake during the procedure and might experience some minor discomfort, but you should be mostly calm. If your surgeon prefers to use general anesthesia, you will be completely asleep during the surgery.
The surgeon will make incisions that follow the natural lines of your upper eyelids and slightly below the lower eyelashes. The upper eyelids are usually worked on before the lower lids when all four lids are being operated on. The skin is separated from the muscle and fatty tissue underneath and excess skin is trimmed.
Blepharoplasty is typically an outpatient procedure. Following surgery, your eyelids will feel sore and tight, but you will have appropriate pain medication to control any discomfort you may have. You will need to keep your head elevated for several days to minimize swelling and keep cold packs on the area. You will also need to learn how to keep your eyes clean while healing. Two days after the surgery, your stitches will be removed. It may be up to ten days before you feel comfortable going back out in public, but many of your activities will be restricted.
Once you have healed, your new youthful appearance will enhance your self-image and last for many years to come.
Double Eyelid Surgery
A single incision is usually made along the upper or lower eyelids with the aim of enhancing the appearance of the eyes.
Blepharoplasty can be a functional surgical procedure. When a higher than normal amount of upper eyelid tissue is present, the skin may cause irritation by hanging over the eyelashes. Removal of this excess tissue above the eyelid is sometimes required to prevent the skin from overhanging and affecting a patient’s vision.
However, a lot of eyelid surgery performed these days is for cosmetic purposes. Lower eyelid blepharoplasty is almost always done to improve puffy lower eyelid bags and to reduce wrinkles around the eye to give a more youthful appearance.
Preparation before Surgery
If you are a smoker, you will be asked to stop smoking well in advance of surgery. Aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory drugs can cause increased bleeding, so you should avoid taking medications for a period of time before surgery.
What should I expect?
Before surgery, you will talk to surgeon about the operation and will be asked to sign a consent form.
This confirms you understand the risks, benefits and possible alternatives to the procedure and have given the permission for it to ahead.
You will usually have a photograph taken before the operation so that the results of surgery can be compared with your original appearance,
If you are having a general anesthetic, you will be asked to follow fasting instructions. You must not eat or drink for about 6 hours before a general anesthetic
The Operation
Blepharoplasty usually takes one to three hours, depending on the extent of the surgery. If you’re having all four eyelids done, the surgeon will probably work on the upper lids first then the lower ones.
In a typical procedure, the surgeon makes incisions following the natural lines of your eyelids; in the creases of your upper lids, and just below the lashes in the lower lids.
The incisions may extend into crow’s feet or laugh lines at the outer corners of your eyes. Working through these incisions, the surgeon separates the skin form underlying fatty tissue and muscle, removes excess fat, and often trims sagging sin and muscle. The incisions are then closed with very fine sutures.
If you have a pocket of fat beneath your lower eyelids but don’t need to have any skin removed, your surgeon may perform a transconjunctival blepharoplasty. In this procedure the incision is made inside your lower eyelid, leaving no visible scar. It is usually performed on younger patients with thicker, more elastic skin.
After Surgery
After surgery, the surgeon will probably lubricate your eyes with ointment and may apply a bandage. Your eyelid may feel tight and sore as the anesthesia wears off, but you can control and discomfort with the pain medication prescribed by your surgeon. If you feel any severe pain, call your surgeon immediately.
Your surgeon will instruct you to keep your head elevated for several days, and to use cold compresses to reduce swelling and bruising. (Bruising varies from person to person: it reaches its peak during the first week, and generally lasts anywhere from two weeks to a month). You’ll be shown how to clean your eyes, which may be gummy for a week or so.
Many doctors recommend eyedrops, since your eyelids may feel dry at first and your eyes may burn or itch. For the first few weeks you may experience excessive tearing, sensitivity to light, and temporary changes in your eyesight, such as blurring or double vision.
Your surgeon will follow your progress very closely for the first week or two.
The stitches will be removed two days to a week after surgery. Once they’re out, the swelling and discoloration around eyes gradually subside, and you’ll start to look and feel much better.