Eyelids
Blepharoplasty
Patients may not feel tired or look angry, but if they look in the mirror and see droopy eyelids and bags under their eyes it can make them look tired and older than they really feel.
Eyelid surgery is called blepharoplasty and is recommended for healthy adults of any age. Older patients sometimes experience vision impairment caused by the droopy eyelids.
Incisions are typically made in the creases of the upper eyelids and just below the lashes at the lower eyelids. The healing is always perfect and the scars virtually invisible. After the excess of loose skin is removed the underlying fat is remodelled and the excess of it is removed as well. The incisions are carefully closed with fine sutures.
The term Transconjuctival Blepharoplasty is the eyelid procedure with the incision done inside the lower eyelid. No skin is removed and the incision is closed with dissolving sutures. This type of blepharoplasty is exclusively used among young patients who have “buggy lids” with no excess of skin to remove.
Eyelid surgery usually takes between one to two hours to complete. After medication, which makes the patient relaxed and sleepy, a painless and comfortable operation can be performed under local anaesthesia. Patients are advised to stay in the hospital for a few hours. If the patient shows a high level of anxiety then general anaesthesia can be used.
Stitches are removed 4 days following surgery and most patients can return to work within a few days. If sun glasses can be worn whilst working, they can return to work feeling less worried about their appearance. Full activities may be resumed within approximately two weeks. Scarring is usually minimal after three weeks and undetectable in six months.
Though blepharoplasty is often performed as a single procedure, we may also recommend a canthoplasty, brow lift, or face lift. Fine lines and light wrinkles can be erased from around the eyes using a laser resurfacing procedure, BOTOX injection or other injectable filling material.
Canthopexy and Canthoplasty
Canthus is the name given to the lid corners. Lateral Canthopexy is the name of the procedure which is performed to elevate the outer corners of the lids. The lateral Canthoplasty is a similar procedure with similar purpose. The difference between them is that Canthopexy is the connection of the corner in a higher position, while Canthoplasty is the connection of the corner at a higher position after this has been detached from its previous attachment point.
These procedures can create tremendous youthfulness to the eyes, which have the outer corners low or the lower lid margin loose and low. These problems make the lids look unattractive due to the white colour shown between the coloured pupils and the lower lid. These outpatient procedures can be done under simple local anaesthesia or by using a combination which would result in complete mental and physical calmness.
Mild swelling and bruising may resolve within one week.
