Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, is the surgical modification of the eyelid.
The muscles and tissues surrounding the eyelid area can be surgically enhanced or changed.
Eyelid surgery can be done to improve the functionality of the eyelid or for purely cosmetic purposes.
Eyelid surgery can be done on both the upper and lower eyelids.
It can sometimes happen that the upper eyelid may have excess skin, which may cause it to droop over the eyes.
This can be very inconvenient, and can hamper the normal functionality of the eye.
It can affect the vision, and can cause difficulty while driving or reading.
In such cases, the excess tissue is removed so that normal eyelid function can be restored.
Upper eyelid surgery is also performed for cosmetic reasons.
This is especially common among Asians who wish to have surgery in order to create a crease in the upper eyelid.
Blepharoplasty is a relatively simple surgical procedure.
It is usually performed by making incisions along the eyelids including the upper crease, and the lower lash line.
This process allows the excess skin to be removed.
If excess tissue is to be removed from the lower eyelid, then an internal incision may be made, which is better because it does not leave any visible scars.
An eyelid surgery takes about one to three hours to complete.
In the beginning, swelling and bruising may occur, which subsides in the following weeks.
The success of this procedure greatly depends on the anatomy of the eyelids, age, and skin quality.
Sometimes, complications can occur because of these reasons.
One of the complications, which can occur, is dry eyes syndrome.
Some people experience dryness in the eyes after surgery, which can damage the eye if it is severe.
Sometimes, a laxity of the lower lid is also seen, which causes lower lid malposition.
If too much skin is removed, it can give a stretched look to the eyes, which is unflattering.
The total recovery time for eyelid surgery is two to three weeks.
Patients are sent home after the procedure with a set of instructions and medicines.
Painkillers are also prescribed to the patients.
In the first few days, patients are given ointments to keep the area lubricated.
They are also advised to use ice packs in order to reduce swelling, and bruising.
Eye drops are sometimes prescribed in order to ward of infections or dry eyes syndrome.
Stitches are removed approximately two days after the eyelid surgery.
The swelling and bruising will take almost a week to subside, but will go away completely in about two to three weeks.
Currently, patients are advised to refrain from putting any strain on the eye, or wearing contact lenses.
Also, any activities, which may raise the blood pressure, such as exercise or sports, are also prohibited.
Since it is not a major surgery, eyelid surgery is not very difficult to recover from, and most patients experience few complications.