eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty)

eyelid surgery techniques

Upper eyelid surgery begins with a skin incision hidden within the upper eyelid crease. Incisions are made with either the CO2 laser or a scalpel. Excess skin, muscle and fat are then carefully removed to leave a more youthful and well-contoured eyelid. Finally, the incision is closed with a fine line of stitches.

Lower eyelid surgery techniques are more variable. If excess skin is not present, all incisions are made on the inside of the eyelid to avoid any external scars. The bulging fat that gives lower eyelids their puffy and tired appearance is then meticulously removed. Two or three dissolving stitches are placed to close the incision. If excess or wrinkled skin is present, it can be removed at the same time or smoothed with the CO2 laser.

candidates for eyelid surgery

Droopy, heavy upper eyelids and puffy lower eyelids with or without baggy wrinkled skin are effectively treated with modern blepharoplasty techniques. In both men and women, a forehead lift should be carefully considered with upper eyelid surgery if the eyebrows have dropped significantly with age.

preparing for surgery

On the night before your surgery we ask that you not have anything to eat or drink (including coffee, tea and juice) after 12:00 am. This allows your stomach to empty thereby minimizing any postoperative nausea.

Two weeks prior to your surgery all blood thinning medications and supplements (e.g. aspirin, ibuprofen, ginko, ginseng and vitamin E) must be stopped. This reduces the amount of swelling experienced postoperatively. A prescription for antibiotics and pain medication will usually be supplied to you during your consultation visit and should be filled before the day of your surgery.

A simple blood test to measure your hemoglobin level is performed prior to surgery and, if you are over 50 years of age, a cardiogram is required for your safety. A preoperative visit with your ophthalmologist may be necessary with any history of eye problems.

your surgery

Surgery is performed in our fully accredited operating room under twilight anesthesia. You will be asked to arrive 30 to 45 minutes prior to the onset of surgery. After surgery, patients are taken to our specially equipped recovery area. Once recovered, all patients proceed home or to an after care facility.

follow-up

Moderate swelling and some bruising are normal in the early postoperative period. Stitches used to close any skin incisions are removed in 5 days. Stitches placed inside the lower lid dissolve on their own within several days.

resuming normal activity

Following surgery, you should rest quietly for the first 24 hours. Sleeping with two pillows under your head for the first 2 nights helps minimize swelling and bruising. Cold compresses placed over the eyes are soothing and will also help with swelling.

Most patients are permitted to shower and wash their hair 2 days after surgery.

Bending, lifting and straining are prohibited during the first 48 hours. Light non-cardiac exercise can be resumed one week following surgery and slowly increased over the next seven days.

Make-up can be applied to the upper eyelids as soon as the skin incision has healed, and to the lower eyelids within 7 days. Most patients are back at work within 7 days of surgery.

costs of eyelid surgery

Following your consultation, a quote is given which is good for one year. Our quotes include all costs: pre-operative tests, anesthesia, facility charges, the services of our staff, and applicable taxes. You are encouraged to make cost comparisons. In comparing, be sure you determine the total of all costs related to the surgery.

A deposit is required at the time the surgery is scheduled in order to hold a specific date for you. The balance is due two weeks prior to your surgery. For your convenience, we accept MasterCard, VISA and debit cards.

We have arranged a financing plan for our patients with an outside financial institution. Ask our patient care coordinators for details about how to qualify.

Occasionally, provincial health care plans and insurance companies will pay for upper eyelid surgery in cases where vision is restricted by excess skin. If this is a consideration, a visit to your ophthalmologist to test for vision restriction will be required by the insurers prior to your surgery.

alternatives to eyelid surgery

Not infrequently a heavy brow contributes to drooping upper eyelid skin and, in these individuals, a browlift procedure should be considered at the same time as, or instead of, eyelid surgery.

In the absence of excess fat in the lower eyelids, a simple resurfacing procedure may be all that is necessary.

Laugh lines or "crow's feet" are not corrected by blepharoplasty, but do respond well to treatment with Botox™.

back to surgical procedures

| | | | | |
| | | | | |