Eyelid Plastic Surgery (Upper
& Lower)
OVERVIEW
Eyelid plastic surgery, or blepharoplasty, is a procedure to
remove fat, excess skin, and/or muscle from the
upper and lower eyelids. Eyelid plastic surgery reduces
drooping in upper lids and puffiness below your eye.
However, the procedure doesn't remove crow's feet or
other wrinkles, eliminate dark circles or lift
sagging eyebrows. |
SURGERY
During your initial consult with Dr. Anagnos, he
will review your medical history, allergies and any
medications, including vitamins, that you're taking.
He will test your vision and assess your tear
production. You should also provide any relevant
information from your most recent eye exam.
Eyelid plastic surgery is performed under local anesthesia,
so you'll be awake during the surgery but relaxed
and insensitive to pain. The procedure takes 1 to 3
hours, and the upper lids are typically done first.
Dr. Anagnos will make incisions following the
natural lines of your eyelids. Working through these
incisions, Dr. Anagnos will separate the skin from
underlying fatty tissue and muscle, remove excess
fat, and trim sagging skin and muscle. The incisions
are closed with fine sutures. |
RECOVERY
After your surgery, Dr. Anagnos will lubricate your
eyes with ointment and apply a bandage. Your eyelids
may feel tight and sore, but you can control any
discomfort with pain medication. You will need to
keep your head elevated for several days and use
cold compresses to reduce swelling and bruising.
Your eyes may be gummy for a week or so, and you'll
be shown how to clean them. You should be able to
read or watch TV after 2 to 3 days. However, you
won't be able to wear contact lenses for about two
weeks.
RISKS
Some medical
conditions make blepharoplasty more risky: thyroid
problems, dry eye, high blood pressure,
cardiovascular disease, diabetes, a detached retina,
or glaucoma. Check with the doctor before the
surgery regarding these conditions.
All surgical procedures carry some uncertainty and
risk. Minor complications associated with
blepharoplasty include double or blurred vision for
a few days, temporary swelling at the corner of the
eyelids, and a slight asymmetry in healing or
scarring. Some patients have difficulty closing
their eyes when they sleep, following the surgery.
Another very rare complication is ectropion, a
pulling down of the lower lids. This can usually be
corrected with further surgery. |
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If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact us at 828-268-0082,
email us, or use our
online
request form. |
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