Blepharoplasty – Are you considering it?
Blepharoplasty is a procedure that can repair eyelids that are dropping. Blepharoplasty removes the excess amount of skin, fat, and muscle that has been created since the dropping began. The more you age, the more your eyelids will stretch. The muscles that normally support your eyelids will begin to weaken as you get older. When the muscles weaken and the skin stretches, the fat deposits in these areas causing the eyelid to droop down. It may also cause the eyebrow to sag as well. You may also notice sagging underneath the eye or bags forming under the eyes. Over time, if the sagging gets worse, it can affect your peripheral vision, the vision that allows you to glace out of the sides of your eye. Blepharoplasty can reduce the amount of skin, muscle, and fat around the eye and improve vision.
To start the procedure, Dr. Pillai will inject a medication into the eyelid that is used for numbing purposes. You will also receive medication through an IV. You will feel groggy during the Blepharoplasty but that means that the medication is working. If your eyelids are sagging then the surgery will consists of making an incision that goes along the fold. The excess fat, muscle, and skin will then be removed and tiny stitches will be put into place until the incision heals. Sometimes only surgical tape or adhesive is necessary instead of stitches. If Dr. Pillai is working underneath the eye during a Blepharoplasty the incision will begin directly under the eye and below the lashes in the natural crease. Dr. Pillai will then remove the sagging skin, excess fat and muscles and then place stitches in order to heal the area during Blepharoplasty.
Blepharoplasty usually takes around two hours but can take a little less, depending on the situation.
After recovery you will be able to leave to go home. Dr. Pillai will lubricate the eye with an ointment to prevent the eyes from drying out while healing. This ointment will cause your vision to be blurry however it may also create excessive tearing and make your eyes sensitive to light. Your incision will remain red and swollen at first and you may have black eyes for about a week. This is normal after having Blepharoplasty so don’t worry about it. You can reduce the color and swelling by adding ice packs to the eyes for about twenty minutes at a time. Stitches will be removed between three and four days.
If you suffer from baggy upper or lower eyelids or puffy eyelids, an excessive amount of skin on the upper eyelid that prevents you from seeing correctly, lower eye lids that droop low enough to show the whites of your eyes under the iris, or bags under the eyes, you may want to talk to Dr. Pillai to see if Blepharoplasty is right for you. Scheduling a consultation is a good place to start.
For more information about Blepharoplasty contact Dr. Pillai today.
