Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty Basics

Although blepharoplasty isn't a word that most people recognize, it is a very common cosmetic facial surgery. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, roughly 209,000 people underwent blepharoplasty in 2010, making it the third most popular cosmetic surgery that year.

Blepharoplasty is a surgery which targets the eyelids. It is also called "eyelid surgery," "eye lift," and "eyelid lift." Blepharoplasty can help to tighten loose and sagging eyelids, and it can help to remove excess tissue from around the eyes, whether that tissue is fat, muscle, or skin. It can help to remove bags, and it can help to banish puffiness under the eyes. However, it can't typically cure crow's feet (although a brow lift may be able to). It similarly can't get rid of dark circles, and it can't smooth out fine lines and wrinkles.

A blepharoplasty can be performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on your preferences and on the preferences of your surgeon. The surgery takes somewhere between thirty minutes and three hours to perform. During the procedure, the surgeon will make incisions along the outer creases of the eye. There will probably be incisions made along the upper lid, and depending on the surgery, there may also be incisions made along the lower eyelid as well. The surgeon will then remove skin and excess fatty tissue through these incisions.

Doctors work to place the blepharoplasty incisions inside the natural creases of the eyelids. This makes it so that the surgical scars will be hidden and unobtrusive. Once the procedure is finished, the surgeon will suture the incisions closed, and he or she will also probably apply a lubricating ointment to your eyes. A dressing of some sort will probably be applied to your face. The surgical staff will monitor you until they feel that you are ready to return home. Most blepharoplasties are performed as outpatient procedures, so it is unlikely that you would need to stay overnight at the hospital.

After the surgery, patients' eyes may feel painful, and they may have a difficult time seeing. Blurry vision is common, and is not a sign of surgical damage. The lubricating ointment that the surgeon placed in your eyes after the surgery is most likely what is causing the blurring. This blurriness will likely last for a day or more, but it should disappear relatively quickly.

Patients should just relax and take it easy for the first week or so after their surgeries. Some pain, swelling, and bruising is common. However, the pain should be controllable using the pain medication that the surgeon prescribed. Some amount of burning or itching is also common, but patients should not scratch their eyes. Certain types of eye drops can help to reduce these uncomfortable sensations.

Most patients are able to return to work within a week and a half of their blepharoplasty surgery. However, if your work requires lots of physical exertion or a lot of eyestrain, you may need to wait a little longer. Exercise should be avoided for about a month, and sports should be avoided until your surgeon specifically gives you the okay. Anything which could bump your eyes should be avoided, because bumping the eyelids while they're still healing could cause setbacks in the healing process.

Patients should not wear contacts for at least a couple of weeks after the surgery. Instead, they should wear glasses. Also, makeup should be avoided for at least a week or two after the surgery.

Blepharoplasty costs will depend somewhat on how extensive the surgery is. Surgeries which target only the upper or the lower eyelids may cost somewhere between $2,000 and $3,000. A surgery which targets both the upper and the lower lids may cost $4,000 or more.

Whether or not blepharoplasty is covered by health insurance will depend in great measure upon the reason for getting the procedure. If the surgery was undergone just to help you appear younger and more attractive, your health insurance provider will not cover the surgery. However, if there is a legitimate medical issue which is being addressed, it is possible that insurance could help to pay for your surgery. For example, if you experience severe enough eyelid droop (or eyelid ptosis) that your vision is adversely affected, there is the possibility that you could get some help from your insurance provider.

Asian Double Eyelid Surgery

Whereas many Caucasians have a natural crease at the top of the eyelid, many Asians do not have this crease. This is frequently referred to as "single eyelids." Although there is nothing wrong with this at all, many Asians feel that having a "double eyelid" is aesthetically superior. As such, there has been a recent rise in Asian eyelid surgery. This procedure is becoming more popular in the United States, and it is also on the rise in other parts of the world. Reports by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) also indicate that Asian double eyelid surgery is extremely popular throughout many parts of Asia, including China, Taiwan, and Thailand.

There are a number of different ways that surgeons can create or enhance the appearance of an eyelid crease. Some surgeons use small sutures to create the impression of a crease. Some others may use a laser or a scalpel to remove small amounts of skin, fat, or muscle to create or deepen an already existing crease.

Asian eyelid surgery is typically performed under local anesthesia, and it usually takes an hour or two to perform. The surgery typically costs somewhere between $3,000 and $5,000. People interested in Asian double eyelid surgery would do well to find a surgeon who has a significant amount of experience with this procedure. Merely being good at blepharoplasty does not necessarily carry over into being talented with Asian eyelid surgery.