Type of Surgery

Information

Doctor Certified

Last updated: 11/24/2009

Definition

Blepharoplasty or surgery of the eyelids is a procedure aimed at altering the size and shape of the upper, lower or both eyelids by removing excess skin and fat. Eyelid surgery can be performed for medical reasons though it is most often performed...

for a purely aesthetic improvement. Since aging can result in fatty deposits and sagging in the eyelids, the procedure involves removing excess skin and/or fat to achieve a younger appearance for the patient. Blepharoplasty not only improves sagging in the upper eyelid but can also remove “bags under the eyes” which are simply pads of fat. It should be noted that this surgery does not improve wrinkles (e.g. “crow’s feet”) and may not improve the dark circles around the eyes, that often occur from blood that has leaked from broken blood vessels.


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A graphic animation of what causes fat and sagging eyelids. The video describes what takes place during eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty).

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Other Information

Blepharoplasty can be both a functional and cosmetic surgical procedure intended to reshape the upper eyelid or lower eyelid by the removal or repositioning of excess tissue as well as by reinforcement of surrounding muscles and tendons. When an advanced amount of upper eyelid skin is present, the skin may hang over the eyelashes and cause a loss of peripheral vision. The outer and upper parts of the visual field are most commonly affected and the condition may cause difficulty with activities such as driving or reading. In this circumstance, upper eyelid blepharoplasty is performed to improve peripheral vision. Patients with a less severe amount of excess skin may have a similar procedure performed for cosmetic reasons. Lower eyelid blepharoplasty is almost always done for cosmetic reasons, to improve puffy lower eyelid "bags" and reduce the wrinkling of skin.
 
Blepharoplasty is performed through external incisions made along the natural skin lines of the eyelids, such as the creases of the upper lids and below the lashes of the lower lids, or from the inside surface of the lower eyelid. Initial swelling and bruising take one to two weeks to resolve but at least several months are needed until the final result becomes stable. Depending upon the scope of the procedure, the operation takes one to three hours to complete.


From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blepharoplasty

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