All You Need to Know about Eyelid Surgery

One of the most popular plastic surgery procedures currently performed is blepharoplasty. This procedure is better known as eyelid surgery and it is the removal of excess muscle, fat and skin in the upper and lower eyelids. Not familiar with this surgery? Take a look below at what you need to know about eyelid surgery.

Eyelid Surgery Facts

Check out these eye-catching facts about eyelid surgery:

• Eyelid surgery is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedures in the United States. As recently as 2013, it ranked number three on the list of most performed cosmetic surgery procedures according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
• Eyelid surgery can actually make you look younger. The skin that is located around the eyes is one of the first areas on the body that shows signs of aging due to the skin becoming less elastic. Also, the muscles tend to weaken as a person gets older. In turn, this causes the eyelids to sag and bags to develop in the area of the lower lids. A person who has eyelid surgery normally ends up with a younger and more rested appearance.
• Patients consider undergoing a blepharoplasty procedure if droopy or sagging eyelids keep them from being able to completely open their eyes or pull down their lower eyelids. Studies show that removing excess tissue from the upper eyelids can improve vision. Other reasons why patients undergo blepharoplasty includes baggy or droopy upper eyelids, excess skin on the upper eyelids that interferes with peripheral vision, excess skin on the lower eyelids and bags under the eyes.
• Blepharoplasty can be performed alongside a couple of other procedures like a brow lift, facelift or skin resurfacing.
• If the procedure is carried out to repair a condition that impairs the vision, the cost should be covered by insurance. If the procedure is performed simply to improve the appearance of the patient, the cost probably won't be covered by insurance.

How Eyelid Surgery is Performed

Here are some steps you need to know about how eyelid surgery is performed:

Adequate preparations are necessary to ensure a successful blepharoplasty procedure. Prior to scheduling the surgery, it is important that you see a plastic surgeon and an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) or a plastic surgeon that specializes in eye surgeries (oculoplastic surgeon) to talk about your medical history and the risks and rewards of the procedure. During a consultation, your surgeon will inquire about any procedure you've had in the past as well as past or current medical conditions like dry eyes, glaucoma, allergies, circulatory problems, thyroid problems and diabetes.

Before the procedure, a physical examination will be performed. The cosmetic surgeon will test your tear production and measure parts of your eyelids.

A vision examination will be performed and this includes an examination of your eyes and a test of your vision (including your peripheral vision). Eyelid photography (the photography of the eyes from different angles) will be performed to help in the planning of a blepharoplasty procedure. These examination steps are performed to assess the immediate and long-term effects of blepharoplasty on your eyes.

A blepharoplasty procedure entails the surgeon cutting along the creases of the eyelids to trim sagging skin and muscle and to remove excess fat. After the excess tissue is removed, the skin is joined back together with dissolvable stitches.

The results from eyelid surgery are usually long-lasting as bags and puffy areas on the lower lids normally don’t reappear after surgery. Any droopiness that might reappear is normally due to sagging brows. Doctors can utilize a brow lift or Botox to correct this issue. Also, staying out the sun and not smoking also helps keep the results looking youthful.

Eyelid Surgery Risks and Recovery

As with any surgical procedure, there are risks involved with eyelid surgery. A skilled surgeon can normally make the procedure a very safe experience. The risks from the surgery normally include dry eyes and trouble closing the eyes. Be sure and do your research to find a board-certified surgeon to perform the surgery.

The recovery time after eyelid surgery is normally a few weeks after the surgery. The first couple of weeks after surgery will see some pain, swelling and bruising. All of these conditions should subside in a few weeks. Most patients can return to work a couple of weeks after the surgery.

Check with a Board-Certified Doctor

As mentioned above, most insurance plans don’t cover cosmetic surgeries such as eyelid surgery. However, showing that the surgery is medically necessary might be what you need to get your insurance company to pay for the procedure. The cost for the surgery includes anesthesia fees, facility fees and any tests associated with the surgery. Check with your board-certified doctor of choice to see if the eyelid surgery you desire is deemed to be medical necessary.

If the surgery is not medically necessary, you can always ask your doctor about nonsurgical alternatives including fractional eyelift and Botox. While they don’t remove excess skin, they do improve the look of sagging eyelids by tightening and/or lifting them.