As your body ages, the muscles that support your eyelids begin to weaken, causing the upper eyelids to droop and allowing fat to gather under the eyes. A blepharoplasty, or eyelid lift, is a type of surgery that helps the appearance of eye puffiness by removing any excess skin and fat, according to MayoClinic.com. Although a blepharoplasty can rejuvenate your skin, it isn't foolproof and it isn't a cure-all for aging skin.
The Procedure
A blepharoplasty is usually performed when you're awake, yet sedated, according to MedlinePlus. Not to worry; the doctor will numb the area around your eyes so you won't feel any pain during the procedure. When your skin is numb, the surgeon will make small incisions into the creases of your eyelids to remove excess fat and loose skin; then he will stitch your skin back together.
After Surgery
Your surgeon may apply small bandages to your skin, but this isn't the case for all types of eyelid surgery, says the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, or AAFPRS. She may also give you an ointment to reduce eye dryness and prescribe a pain medication. Some bruising and swelling should be expected, but you can take steps---such as applying a cold compress and keeping your head elevated when you're lying down---to reduce any discomfort and to hasten the healing process, according to the AAFPRS. You will need to keep your eye area clean and you may need to use eye drops in the week to two weeks after your surgery.
Risks
Since a blepharoplasty is surgery, it comes with expected risks such as scarring, infection and a negative reaction to the anesthesia, according to MayoClinic.com. Risks particular to this type of surgery are temporary eyelid numbness, impaired function of your eyelids, temporary changes in your vision, dry and irritated eyes and a slight risk of blindness due to bleeding from behind the eye, according to MayoClinic.com.
Precautions
Your doctor may also give you a list of instructions to follow while your skin is still healing; follow it carefully. Precautions on the list may include: not lifting objects that weigh over 20 lbs., not participating in strenuous exercise, not swimming and specifics about how often you should clean your eyes or use your eyedrops, says MayoClinic.com. It may also include a list of dangerous symptoms, such as abnormal heart rate, shortness of breath, pain in the chest and visual disturbances, so that you will know when you should seek immediate medical assistance, says MayoClinic.com.
Considerations
A blepharoplasty won't cure all the wrinkles around your eyes, lift any sagging eyebrows or get rid of any dark circles under your eyes, warns MedlinePlus. You would need to undergo multiple procedures in order to fix all areas surrounding your eyes. Also, if your main reason for wanting eyelid surgery is to rejuvenate your face rather than improve your vision or alter an eye deformity, your insurance is unlikely to offer coverage.
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