Index
1. What is blepharoplasty?
2. Why is it performed?
3. What does it consist of?
4. Preparation for blepharoplasty
5. Care after the procedure
What is blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty, or surgery for dark circles under the eyes, is a surgical procedure aimed at correcting eyelid defects, such as sagging and excess skin or the appearance of bags.
It is one of the most demanded treatments and is usually performed in the area of crow’s feet, eyelids, dark circles and bags.
Why is it performed?
In most cases it is performed for aesthetic reasons, since eyelid surgery improves and rejuvenates the appearance and expression of that area of the face, correcting the defects of the eyelids that give a tired and aged appearance to the face. Through this procedure on the eyelids, bags and eye corners, excess skin is removed and rearranged, the muscle of the eyelids, both lower and upper, is tightened and localized fat is removed to eliminate the bags that form around the eyes.
It also serves to correct the eyelids when they interfere with the patient’s lateral or peripheral vision.
Blepharoplasty rejuvenates the appearance of the eyelids.
What does it consist of?
There are two ways to perform this surgery:
External route: a small cut is performed under the eyelashes through which the fat bags are extracted and sealed by a very fine suture that facilitates skin tightening.
Internal route: a small incision is made in the inner part of the eyelid, without having an external wound, through which the fat is extracted through the internal mucosa of the eyelid. No sutures are required since this tissue heals easily on its own. The eyes are protected with special contact lenses, eye protection, after applying anesthetic drops.
The duration of surgery is usually between half an hour to an hour, depending on the number of eyelids to intervene.
Preparation for blepharoplasty
At the first appointment, vision and tear production will be analyzed, as well as general health status. The patient should indicate if he/she smokes, what type of medication he/she is taking, if he/she is allergic to any medication and if he/she wears glasses or contact lenses. In addition, it will be considered which are the eyelids to intervene, if the upper, lower or both. One or two weeks before surgery, the patient should stop smoking.
Care after surgery
Once the surgery is over, an ointment will be applied to the eyes to lubricate them and, in some cases, a soft bandage will be applied. You may have some discomfort on the eyelids; in that case they are easily relieved with the medication advised by your surgeon. The head position will be elevated for a few days and cold compresses will be applied to reduce swelling and bruising. You will learn how to wash your eyes and you will be informed if you should apply eye drops to keep your eyes hydrated, you should also wear sunglasses to protect the skin of the intervened areas.
Other measures after surgery include avoiding heavy lifting or strenuous physical activity for the next few weeks. In addition, it is important not to rub your eyes.
During the first few weeks you may notice excessive tear production, hypersensitivity to light and temporary changes in visual acuity, such as blurred or double vision. The stitches are removed within two days to a week. The edema and bruising will gradually diminish until it disappears completely and you will begin to look and feel much better.