The eyes, of course, are windows to the soul, but as you age, the window dressing can change. Bagginess under your eyes combined with sagging eyelids conspire to create a tired and bedraggled look, even after you’ve slept a solid eight hours. Skin laxity is a contributor, an inevitable deterioration of skin condition also brought on by aging.
As the skin of your eyelids loses moisture and elasticity, it can start to sag. Not only is this a cosmetic issue, in extreme cases it can restrict your vision. While there are plenty of nonsurgical treatments to tighten lax skin in other locations, droopy eyelids respond best to a simple plastic surgery procedure called blepharoplasty.
Choosing blepharoplasty
It’s not only lax skin that creates eyelid issues. Facial muscles get weaker with age, and fat deposits accumulate, adding to the unsupported bulk that falls prey to gravity. Most blepharoplasty patients are over 35, but if eyelid sagging affects your vision, or if there’s a genetic link to the condition in your family, you may wish to have surgery sooner.
The procedure is often done only on the upper lids, but it can be done below the eye, too, usually in combination with the upper lid work. Lower lid blepharoplasty is almost always done for cosmetic reasons, while upper lids may be cosmetic or functional.
Blepharoplasty usually takes two hours or less to perform, depending on the extent of the work you’ve chosen. It can be combined with other cosmetic procedures, too, such as a face-lift or skin resurfacing.
Preparing for your procedure
Because blepharoplasty is usually done as an outpatient procedure, you’ll need to arrange a ride home since you’ll still be under the effects of anesthesia. You can aid your recovery by making other arrangements ahead of your surgery date. Consider filling post-procedure prescriptions so you have antibiotics, eyedrops, and pain medication ready.
Recovering from blepharoplasty
Controlling swelling is an important part of post-surgical recovery, so have ice cubes and cold compresses ready. Bags of frozen peas or corn work well as improvised cold packs. If necessary, move furniture aside and prepare a place to rest for a few days. It will be about two weeks before the swelling fully subsides.
It’s common to experience dry eye after surgery. This, too, lasts about two weeks when it occurs, but it will pass. During that time, use eyeglasses rather than contacts for vision correction. Avoid any strenuous work or activities for the first week after your procedure, and protect your eyes from sun exposure with dark, oversized sunglasses when you’re outside.
The results
Scars from blepharoplasty are usually well-hidden. Upper lid procedures can be done from inside the lid, while bottom lid scars disappear into the natural folds of your eyelid. However, it could take a few months before these scars reach their final appearance.
You’ll soon be facing the world with eyes wide open and alert. Contact Dr. Morris and the team at Radiance MediSpa. Call the most convenient of their three locations, or use the online messaging tool to contact the team and arrange your consultation today.