Procedure time & anaesthetic
This procedure usually is performed through external surgical incisions made along the natural skin lines (creases) of the upper and the lower eyelids, which creases then hide the surgical scars from view, especially when effected in the skin creases below the eyelashes of the lower eyelid.
Eyelid surgery usually requires 1–3 hours to complete and is often performed as a day case, however an overnight stay may be required.
Risks:
Possible risks of eyelid surgery include:
- Infection and bleeding
- Dry, irritated eyes
- Difficulty closing your eyes or other eyelid problems
- Noticeable scarring
- Injury to eye muscles
- Skin discolouration
- The need for a follow-up surgery
- Temporarily blurred vision or, rarely, loss of eyesight
- Risks associated with surgery in general, including reaction to anaesthesia and blood clots
Talk to your doctor about how surgical risks apply to you.
The operation will be performed either under general anaesthetic, where you are asleep during the procedure, or local anaesthetic where the area around the eye is numbed but you are awake.
Recovery time & after care
Post-operatively, the initial swelling and bruising consequent to the surgery will subside and resolve with 1–2 weeks; the final, stable results of the blepharoplastic correction will become apparent after several months.
After surgery
Immediately after surgery, you will be taken into a recovery area for close monitoring. You may be permitted to go home when you are stable for discharge, typically after an hour or so.
During the recovery, the nurses will measure your Blood pressure through a cuff. She will also attach a monitor to your finger to check your pulse and level of Oxygen in your blood to ensure you are fully oxygenated.
Before leaving, you will be given specific postoperative instructions for your recovery and a follow- up to an appointment with your plastic surgeon.
You may also receive medications or a prescription, but many plastic surgeons prescribe postoperative medications in advance. Your prescribed medications may include pain pills and an antibiotic to prevent infection.
We advise no showering for one week which is a very difficult task for anyone. We advise that it is ok to have regular hand showers with lukewarm water and ensuring no water is submerged onto the incisions. We will advise you of this before you leave the hospital.
7 days after surgery
You will return to the hospital for your post-operative review, in which any stitches are removed.
Though the surgeon uses dissolvable stitches, we will check to make sure your incisions have healed. You will also be assessed with any leftover swelling and any advice to help improve your recovery time.
1 year after surgery
As apart of your aftercare, we advise all patients to book in once a year to see their surgeon for a brief assessment of the consistent results.
The results of a blepharoplasty procedure are best appreciated by comparing pre- and post-operative (before-and-after) photographs of the eye region of the patient.
Time off work
We recommend taking 7 days off of work following your blepharoplasty procedure. In this case, I can supply you with a medical certificate for your employer.
Post-op appointments
Post-operative follow-up is of paramount importance. Each patient undergoing any Cosmetic Surgery will be given post-operative appointments for wound management and suture removal.
Post-operative instructions are vital and we consider it very important that you adhere to them.
Failing to follow these guidelines and attend your appointments can adversely affect the outcome of surgery and put patient safety at risk.