What exactly is blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty is surgery done on the upper eyelids, the lower lids, or both. It can help to smooth out wrinkles, remove loose or sagging skin, and remove fat that can make the eyelids look puffy and give the appearance of “bags” under the eyes. The procedure can make you look and feel younger, but it can be done for medical reasons as well – excess skin can cause functional problems with your eyelids, and it can reduce your field of vision (which is annoying but can also be very dangerous).
What is the procedure for blepharoplasty?
This procedure is done on an outpatient basis, and it typically takes less than 2 hours. Depending on the results you want to see, excess fat and skin may be removed, muscles may be tightened, or fat may be transferred around your eyes to help fill in any “hollow” looking areas. Incisions are made in such a way that any scarring is next to invisible. After the procedure you will have some swelling, bruising, and pain, but ice packs and over-the-counter medication can help. You should avoid strenuous activity such as heavy exercise for about 3 weeks, and you can usually return to work in less than a week. You should be especially careful to protect your eyes from sun for the first few days after surgery (but protecting eyes from sun is always important!).
Eyelid surgery can help to make you look and feel younger, but it is also an important procedure for medical and safety reasons. If you are interested in blepharoplasty, call the office of Jeffrey C. Dawes, MD, FRCSC Plastic and Dermatologic Surgery in Calgary, at (403) 571-3141!
