The purpose of blepharoplasty (eyelid) surgery is to improve the appearance of the aging upper and/or lower eyelids. Oftentimes, signs of aging such as excess skin and bulging fat pockets can contribute to a more tired or a more harsh appearance of the face. Blepharoplasty procedures can greatly improve these indications of aging and result in a more rested, youthful and softer appearance. Upper and lower eyelid surgery can be performed alone or together, depending on the patient’s needs, and are often performed at the same time as other procedures, such as a facelift.
Upper eyelid surgery is performed primarily to remove the excess skin or drooping skin that may have formed around the upper eyelids due to the aging process. Heredity, sun damage and smoking can also hasten these changes. Younger individuals may also elect to have this procedure done to eliminate puffiness of the eyes from congenital excess fatty tissue deposits.
Upper blepharoplasty surgery can dramatically improve common problem areas such as excess skin on the upper eyelid itself (referred to as “hooding”). It can also greatly improve puffiness in the inner corner and middle of the upper eyelid caused by herniation (pushing forward) of fat in that area.
While the main problem with the aging upper eyelid is generally excess skin, the main problem with the lower eyelid is generally excess fat or “bags.” As we age, the fat surrounding the eyelids diminishes, while the fat that causes the bags does not. Furthermore, the membranes which frequently hold that fat back in youth become more relaxed with age and so that fat bulges out more. The reason the fat in bags does not diminish with age is that it belongs to a different compartment than the superficial fat in the face; it is actually orbital fat, meaning fat which surrounds the eyeball. That is why people often refer to bulging lower eyelid fat as herniated fat. These facts of nature lead to the lower eyelid area becoming increasingly harsh in appearance as many people age, with many seeking both nonsurgical as well as surgical options for improvement.
Reducing the excess fat of the lower eyelid is generally quite straightforward, and as explained below, can be done either from within the eye (transconjunctival) or from outside the eye (open approach).
Reducing the excess skin in the lower eyelid is an entirely different matter. It is frequently not possible in the aging eyelid to surgically remove significant amounts of excess skin, because the aging eyelid frequently lacks the support to tolerate such a removal.
What this means is that if the excess skin is simply surgically cut away, the lower lid itself will become pulled down. This creates an unsightly appearance called “scleral show,” which means seeing the white of the sclera under the pigmented cornea in the lower lid. It can further lead to a phenomena called ectropion, which is an actual outward turning of the lower lid border. These issues can lead to tearing as well as significant dry eye problems, in addition to the unsightly appearance.
For these reasons, Dr. Ali Murat Akkus assesses each case individually and will advise whether any lower eyelid skin at all can or should be removed. In some cases, a procedure to improve the support of the lower eyelid is performed during lower eyelid blepharoplasty, and this is called a canthoplasty. This is a tightening of the actual support structure of the lower lid. It is not a simple procedure, and will be reviewed in detail if recommended.
Op. Dr. Ali Murat AKKUS can readily perform upper eyelid blepharoplasty under local anesthesia. This is done frequently with oral pre-medication using a pill such as Ativan to help with relaxation.
Most patients still prefer IV sedation. In this situation, the patient essentially has no memory of the procedure, but the anesthesia is minimally invasive, with the patient breathing on his/her own, and having a very rapid recovery. Lower eyelid blepharoplasty is almost always performed with IV sedation.
For the first night after blepharoplasty, it is important to rest with the head of the bed elevated about 30 degrees. Cold compresses are applied intermittently for the first week. It is also very important to avoid any straining or bending over for that first week.
Sutures, if they are used, are removed on or around the second and fifth days after surgery. Patients can return to non-straining activities within 1 or 2 days, but many will take 5-7 days off because of the bruising that commonly occurs following the surgery. Dr. Ali Murat Akkus typically allows makeup to be applied one week after blepharoplasty.
