Eyelids that sag or droop can affect peripheral vision and make daily activities more difficult.
Blepharoplasty removes excess skin and fat and tightens the muscles and tissues of the eyelid.
It reduces the skin that droops into the visual field to improve peripheral vision.
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Types of Blepharoplasty
There are two types of blepharoplasty: functional and cosmetic.
Functional Blepharoplasty
A functional blepharoplasty removes the excess skin that obscures your field of vision.
If the procedure is determined to be medically necessary, it may be covered by medical insurance.
Testing your visual field with a Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer will determine how much vision is affected.
Cosmetic Blepharoplasty
Cosmetic blepharoplasty can be performed on either the upper or lower eyelid, or both.
You should have realistic expectations before undergoing a blepharoplasty.
While the procedure can improve the appearance of your eyelids, it does not dramatically alter your face.
Once the incisions have been made, fat deposits and excess skin are removed.
A strip of the orbicularis oculi muscle surrounding the eyelids may also be removed to deepen the lid crease.
Depending on the method, excess skin in the lower eyelid is removed or fat is redistributed or removed.
After the procedure, your incisions are closed with either removable sutures, skin adhesives, or surgical tape.
Most of the swelling subsides within two weeks.
You will not be able to wear contact lenses or eye makeup for two weeks after surgery.
Your stitches will usually be removed by the third or fourth day after surgery.
Potential Risks
Blepharoplasty is usually very well tolerated.
After the surgery, there may be swelling and bruising around the surgical site.
This will eventually subside on its own.
Your eyes may experience irritation and dryness due to a temporary change in tear distribution.
Although rare, another potential risk is retrobulbar hematoma, an accumulation of blood behind the eyeball.
This condition is considered a medical emergency as it can lead to blindness if not treated.
Your scars from a blepharoplasty will usually be well-concealed and will fade with time.
Summary
Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure used to improve the appearance of the eyelids.
While every procedure has risks, blepharoplasty is generally well-tolerated and can dramatically improve vision.
The procedure removes excess skin and fat and tightens the muscles and tissue of the eyelid.
The fee runs around $5,000, depending on where you live.
Other fees can include hospital or surgical facility costs, anesthesiology fees, and postoperative prescription medication.
This is known as a functional blepharoplasty.
Anyone with fatty deposits under the eyes or sagging and drooping eyelids could consider blepharoplasty.
People age 40 to 65 typically undergo this procedure for functional or cosmetic reasons.
The results of surgery typically last many years.
Lower eyelid surgery rarely requires revisions, but upper eyelid surgery may need another treatment around seven years later.
Blepharoplasty is not intended to eliminate wrinkles.
Lower eyelid blepharoplasty can eliminate some under-eye wrinkles if there is excess skin.
The procedure will not remove crow’s feet or any other wrinkles around the face.
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