You may well have heard of the famous nip and tuck, or the world renowned face lift – but have you ever heard of ‘blepharoplasty’? Probably not. If that is the case, you should be enlightened to know that blepharoplasty is the technical term for cosmetic eyelid surgery. If people can have excess skin and fat trimmed away from their waistlines, why not their eyelids too?
The most obvious benefit of having cosmetic eyelid surgery is the improvement in appearance that comes from the removal of any excess skin or fat pockets around the eyes.
What is Eyelid Surgery?
Cosmetic eyelid surgery is a procedure which aims to give the eyes a more youthful and ‘perky’ appearance. Generally, this involves the removal of any excess skin or fat deposits that can build up as we age. The muscles around the eyelids can also weaken, causing any fat deposits to ‘droop’ and bulge away from the eye area – this phenomenon is sometimes known as bags under the eyes. Folds and creases can appear in both the upper and lower eyelids, which many people find detrimental to their appearance and self confidence. Eyelid surgery aims to correct these problems by tightening up the skin and removing any ‘bags’ that may be present. Eyelid surgery can be carried out on the upper or lower eyelids of both eyes, either on different occasions or during the same procedure.
Who Can Benefit From Having Eyelid Surgery?
Anyone who finds themselves unhappy with the way their eyes look can benefit from an eyelid surgery operation. Generally, as people age, they will find their eyes lose the youthful look they once had. Cosmetic eyelid surgery is one solution to this problem. Bear in mind that eyelid surgery does not reduce the appearance of the wrinkles found in the corners of eyes, sometimes referred to as ‘crow’s feet’.
There are times when the appearance of someone’s eyes is not due to the aging process, but instead perhaps an accident or injury has caused a build-up of fatty tissue below the eyes or has damaged the muscles which support the eyelids. It is possible that eyelid surgery could help these people regain their previous appearance and lost confidence; however this is at the discretion of a qualified surgeon, and is by no means guaranteed to work in these cases.
What are the Benefits of Eyelid Surgery?
The most obvious benefit of having cosmetic eyelid surgery is the improvement in appearance that comes from the removal of any excess skin or fat pockets around the eyes. As time goes on, patients may well find that the muscles in the eyelid area also strengthen, lifting the eyes and enhancing the youthful look that was gained following the procedure. Another benefit is the increase in self confidence that comes from the improvement in appearance that patients receive following a period of healing. There are also certain cases where eyelid surgery can aid a medical issue, rather than simply being carried out for cosmetic reasons.
What are the Risks of Eyelid Surgery?
As with any surgical procedure, there are some risks associated with eyelid surgery. Generally the operation is safe and well-tolerated; however it is important to know the risks before you decide if eyelid surgery is for you or not.
Immediately following the operation, patients can suffer from some or none of the following negative effects:
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to bright light
- Scarring and bruising around the eyes
- Itchiness around the eyes
These issues will generally clear up within a few days (or weeks) of the operation, and should not be considered to be long term side effects. Obviously, it is vital that you discuss these possibilities with a health professional before having the surgery, as all patients are different and your reaction the surgery may differ.
Eyelid Surgery: The Bottom Line
Overall, cosmetic eyelid surgery is a great way to restore vitality and a youthful look to eyes which have become tired-looking through the natural aging process. The operation can be performed in under an hour in some cases (depending on whether you are having both eyes and/or eyelids operated on).
There are risks involved which should be carefully considered before making a decision; however, these are roughly the same as any other cosmetic surgery procedure.
If you are looking for a way to boost your self confidence and revive your tired eyes, you may well want to give some thought to cosmetic eyelid surgery.
