Face and Head
BLEPHAROPLASTY (EYELID SURGERY)
BLEPHAROPLASTY (EYELID SURGERY)
A blepharoplasty tightens drooping upper eyelid skin and reduces puffy bags below the eyes. A blepharoplasty resolves sagging eyelids through the eradication of surplus fat, muscle and extra skin.
Procedure
Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) rejuvenates the upper and/ or lower eyelids by removing excess fat, skin and muscle. Generally, the surgeon initially works on the patient's upper eyelids before he or she moves to the lower eyelids. Once the surgeon removes extra muscle, skin or fat, he or she sutures the incision closed with a fine suture. For the lower eyelid, an incision is made just below the lash line, and the eyelid fat is either excised or redraped. The lower lid skin is then tightened and hitched into the correct position, before trimming a small amount of excess skin and closing the incision.
Eyelid surgery takes approximately two hours.
General anaesthesia or intravenous sedation and local anaesthesia are used.
This is an outpatient procedure.
Temporary discomfort, feeling of "tightness" in the eyelid area, swelling or bruising. Excessive tearing and sensitivity to light for the first few weeks should be expected. Temporary dryness, burning, or itching of eyes may also occur, but these side effects are rare.
Possible risks include: temporarily blurred or double vision, infection, bleeding, swelling at the corners of the eyelids, dry eyes, the formation of whiteheads, slight asymmetry in healing or scarring, difficulty in closing eyes completely (which is rarely permanent), and a lowered position of the lower eyelid of the lower lids which may require further surgery. Permanent loss of vision is a risk, but this is extremely rare.
The patient may begin reading after about two to three days and can expect to return to work at approximately five to ten days. Use of contact lens may be resumed after two weeks (upon re-evaluation by the physician). The patient should not consume alcohol after the surgery. More strenuous activities and alcohol consumption may be resumed after three weeks. Bruising and swelling should be gone after several weeks.
For some, the improvements from this procedure will last several years and may be permanent for others.
WHEN YOU CHOOSE A DOCTOR WHO IS A MEMBER OF APRASSA, YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT YOUR SURGEON IS QUALIFIED IN ALL ASPECTS OF COSMETIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY.
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The Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons of Southern Africa was formed in 1956. All our members are fully qualified Plastic surgeons that have been approved for APRASSA membership and will endeavour to provide you with excellent care throughout your plastic surgery journey.
