It is the common name for surgeries that involve partial removal and partial repair of the skin and subcutaneous tissue around the eyes that form sagging, excess or bags. Although eyelid aesthetics is called blepharoplasty, it is usually performed not only on the eyelid, but also on the face in case of wrinkles around the eyes such as crow’s feet. Again, in case of low eyebrows or cheeks, these areas are also intervened in addition to the eyelid.
Before Surgery
As in every aesthetic intervention, the patient interview before surgery is very important in eyelid aesthetics. In eyelid aesthetics, as I mentioned at the beginning, other problems that are often associated with it are also intervened, so the patient’s expectation is very important. Upper eyelid aesthetics should not be evaluated alone in a patient with low eyebrows and lower eyelid aesthetics in a patient with low cheek.
There is no specific age restriction in eyelid aesthetics, but since the deformities in the eyelids usually start in the thirties, the preference for surgery starts at this age.
Surgery
The surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia and sedation (intravenous sedation), but general anesthesia may also be preferred. Only the upper eyelids can be intervened or both the upper and lower eyelids can be intervened. The incisions made on the eyelids are usually coincided with the natural folds. Since the surgery is shaped according to the patient’s wishes, there is no standard surgical technique. In patients undergoing lower eyelid intervention, the cheeks are often intervened, which once again reminds the importance of preoperative planning. Depending on the amount of the procedure to be performed, the surgery may take between 30 minutes and 2 hours.
What should be known especially about lower eyelid surgery is that if the mid-face area or cheeks are not intervened during surgery in patients with low cheeks or insufficiently tight skin profile, the eyelid may sag down and out. Due to this condition called ectropion, lower eyelid aesthetics should be performed by an experienced Aesthetic Surgery Specialist. Recently, unfortunately, my patients who apply with this condition are increasing due to surgeries performed by hands other than Aesthetic Surgery Specialist. I must state that it is difficult to get satisfactory results, especially in patients whose second surgeries I perform due to incomplete interventions performed in the first surgery.
After Surgery
Cold application and elevated lying is necessary to prevent the development of edema in the eyelids. The patient can be discharged after 6-8 hours with painkillers and antibiotic treatment. There may be a slight opening in the eyes due to the effect of edema, this situation improves with the regression of edema. Stitches are removed between 5-7 days. It may take 3-4 weeks for the edema to subside. Since the surgical scar will remain a little pink in the first weeks, it can be easily hidden with make-up and takes the color of the body after a few weeks.
