Tyler Plastic Surgery

Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, improves the appearance of the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both by correcting eyelid droop, eye bags and puffy eyes, removing excess or sagging skin and reducing eye wrinkles.

About Eyelid Surgery

• The Best Eyelid Surgery Candidates
• Blepharoplasty Eyelid Surgery
• Eyelid Surgery Risks
• Eyelid Surgery Recovery
• Eyelid Surgery Terms

The Best Eyelid Surgery Candidates

Considering treatment for eyelid drooping

Many men and women who seek eyelid surgery do so because they are fed up with how tired they look even when they feel rested. Blepharoplasty restores a more awake, youthful look to the eyes and is ideal for patients who experience:

• Upper eyelid sagging
• Lower eyelid drooping
• Under eye bags
• Puffy eyes
• Crow's feet
• Under eye fine lines
• Excess skin that impairs vision

If the source of drooping is the eyebrows and not the eyelids, it is important to note that eyelid surgery will not correct this. In this case, Dr. Motlagh would recommend a forehead lift instead of a blepharoplasty. Blepharoplasty also is not the best treatment for under eye hollows or dark circles.

Adults who are both physically and mentally healthy non-smokers and have realistic expectations for surgical outcomes possible with blepharoplasty may be ideal candidates for this procedure. If you have any of the following conditions, check with your ophthalmologist before seeking eyelid surgery:

• Thyroid problems such as hypothyroidism and Graves' disease
• Dry eye or lack of sufficient tears
• High blood pressure or other circulatory disorders
• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Detached retina
• Glaucoma

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Blepharoplasty Eyelid Surgery

What to expect during eyelid surgery

Dr. Motlagh will draw incision lines on your eyelids prior to surgery and place you under either general anesthesia or local anesthesia with IV sedation. A variety of different techniques and incisions are used to correct different cosmetic concerns during eyelid surgery, and Dr. Motlagh will choose the ones that will work best for you. The entire procedure will take 1-3 hours.

To correct sagging upper eyelids, an incision is made in the natural eye crease. Fat deposits are repositioned, the underlying muscles and tissues are tightened and excess skin is removed.

Upper eyelid surgery

For lower eyelid surgery, an incision is made either below the lower lash line or inside the lower eyelid. The external eyelid incision is more appropriate when excess, sagging skin needs to be removed from the lower eyelid area, whereas the internal (transconjunctival) incision is generally an alternate approach to lower eyelid surgery and more appropriate when redistribution or removal of excess fat deposits is needed.

Lower eyelid surgery (external incision)

Once Dr. Motlagh has finished performing upper eyelid surgery, lower eyelid surgery or complete eyelid rejuvenation surgery, dissolvable sutures, skin adhesives and surgical tape may be used to closed your incisions. A laser treatment or chemical peel may also be performed in conjunction with eyelid surgery to improve skin texture and pigmentation. Eyelid surgery may also be performed concurrently with a facelift.

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Eyelid Surgery Risks

Understanding blepharoplasty complications

Eyelid surgery, like all cosmetic surgery procedures, does carry some risk. Aside from normal temporary side effects, such as bruising, swelling, numbness and discomfort, blepharoplasty complications may occur, including:

• Poor wound healing or scarring
• Impaired vision
• Dry eyes
• Difficulty closing your eyes
• Bleeding (hematoma)
• Infection
• Blood clots
• Numbness and other changes in skin sensation
• Need of revisional surgery
• Loss of eyesight

To minimize your risk, make sure your surgery is performed by a skilled board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive blepharoplasty training.

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Eyelid Surgery Recovery

Healing and recovery after blepharoplasty

Immediately following your eyelid surgery, lubricating ointment and gauze may be applied to your incisions. Using a cold compress and keeping your head elevated the first few days after blepharoplasty will be helpful in minimizing swelling. To minimize pain and discomfort, follow dosing instructions for the pain medication you will be prescribed.

Most patients return to work about 10 days after eyelid surgery but may not wear contact lenses for two weeks after surgery. Vigorous activity may be resumed about 3-4 weeks following blepharoplasty, and most bruising and swelling will have subsided by this time.

Final results from your blepharoplasty procedure will start to become visible within 2-4 months, however some residual swelling can linger for six months or more.

It is imperative that you avoid sun exposure, use sun protection and wear darkly tinted sunglasses until you are completely healed after eyelid surgery. Follow all post eyelid surgery care instructions and attend all follow-up meetings at Dr. Motlagh's Tyler, Texas plastic surgery office.

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Eyelid Surgery Terms

• Blepharoplasty: Eyelid surgery to improve the appearance of upper eyelids, lower eyelids or both.
• General anesthesia: Drugs and/or gases used during an operation to relieve pain and alter consciousness.
• Hematoma: Blood pooling beneath the skin.
• IV sedation: Sedatives administered by injection into a vein to help you relax.
• Local anesthesia: A drug injected directly to the site of an incision during an operation to relieve pain.
• Transconjunctival incision: Incision hidden inside the lower eyelid.
• Sutures: Stitches used by surgeons to hold skin and tissue together.

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