If you’re a Michigan native with drooping or puffy eyelids that make you look tired when you’re not, older than you are, angry even when you’re at your cheeriest or even interfere with your vision, blepharoplasty may be an answer. Blepharoplasty is the formal name for eyelid surgery.
Who Is a Candidate for Eyelid Surgery?
As with most types of cosmetic surgery performed in Michigan, an eyelid surgery candidate is an adult who is in good mental and physical health and has realistic expectations of the surgery. People who shouldn’t have blepharoplasty are people who have dry eyes, an eye disease, or infection or any other sort of severe illness.
Eyelid Surgery Consultation
During a consultation, the patient and plastic surgeon discuss the patient’s goals when it comes to their eyelid surgery. The doctor gives the patient both a physical and eye exam and takes pictures of their eyes to help plan the surgery. They’ll ask the patient to stop taking any sort of blood thinning medications or supplements, to quit smoking at least two weeks before the blepharoplasty, and to make sure they prepare their home for after the surgery.
What Happens During Blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty is usually an outpatient operation, which means the patient can go home shortly after it is completed. The surgeon operates on the upper eyelid first by removing excess tissue. If the drooping of the upper eyelid is severe, the surgeon may also perform ptosis to tighten the patient’s eyebrow muscle. The lower lid is operated on in a similar manner to the upper lid.
When the surgery is over, the patient is taken to a recovery area where they’re monitored for a while to make sure all is well.
Recovery from Blepharoplasty
For the first few days after blepharoplasty, the patient may find that their eyelids are puffy, swollen, and bruised. Their eyes may water and they may have double vision and be sensitive to light, but all of these symptoms fade. Ice packs placed on the eyes help, and the patient should simply rest and avoid strenuous activity for at least a week, and take pain medications as needed. It’s also important to keep their head elevated for a few days after the operation and to make sure to keep any follow up appointments with the surgeon.
Call Us for More Information
If you live in Michigan and think blepharoplasty is something that can correct your sagging or puffy eyelids, visit Southwest Michigan Plastic and Hand Surgery in Portage or Battle Creek. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!
