Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty is a plastic surgery operation, which aims to improve the appearance of the periocular region by removing the tegument / musculature or excess adipose tissue. As we age, the skin and the orbicularis (muscle located within the eyelids) become looser, and can cause herniation of the periocular fat. The appearance will be that of bags under the eyes or the prominent and drooping upper eyelid.

Uses:

• Swollen eyes or under-eye “bags”;
• Excessive skin or fine wrinkles around the lower eyelid;
• Obstruction of vision due to excessive lowering of the upper eyelid;
• Tegumentary fold of the upper / lower eyelid.

How the operation is carried out:

Preoperative: do not smoke, drink coffee / cola / pepsi, do not take NSAIDs / anticoagulants / antiaggregants.

The procedure is most often performed with local anesthesia but depending on the extent of the intervention it can be performed under general anesthesia or under sedation.

The excess skin to be excised will be assessed intraoperatively. Anti-inflammatory drops will be applied intraocularly to reduce postoperative discomfort. Anesthetic solution will be introduced to the area and the tegumentary surplus will be excised. The incisions are made in the natural folds of the eyelids, so that the scar can be hidden. The periocular fat is repositioned and if necessary (in case of lower eyelid laxity) the retroseptal area is re-draped.

Intradermal sutures will be used, and the suture material will be removed 5-7 days postoperatively.

A surgical adhesive will be placed over the incision to reduce tension and seal the suture.

Risks and complications will be discussed depending on the degree of ptosis, the presence / absence of herniation of the periocular fat, the upper / lower eyelids subjected to the intervention, as well as depending on your possible health problems.

The most common postoperative complications are:

• Pain, bruising, significant edema
• Dry eye syndrome
• Excessive tears
• Hypertrophic scars, color changes of the scar
• Hematoma
• Impaired healing (smoker, uncontrolled diabetes, corticosteroids)
• Asymmetry, which is physiological. There are differences between the same segments of the head.

Postoperative complications are quite rare after blepharoplasty, and any postoperative discomfort will be treated medically.

What to expect postoperatively:

Postoperative recovery after blepharoplasty is relatively easy. Immediately after the surgery, you will experience numbness in the eyelids for another hour if local anesthesia was used. You will be prescribed analgesics, antibiotics, and artificial tears.

In the next postoperative hours edema (swelling) can occur, as well as ecchymoses (which will be treated with local applications with Arnica) which will progressively fade until the end of the first week. Intense physical effort can be resumed 3-4 weeks after the procedure.

Makeup can be applied from the 2nd week.

You need to apply periocular sun protection creams (SFP 50) in the first 6 months after the procedure and silicone gel based healing creams (Stratamed, Strataderm, Dermatix, Cimeosil etc).

We recommend you wear sunglasses for 1-2 weeks postoperatively, in order to avoid negative effects of wind / light.