Eyelids (Blepharoplasty)

Bright, youthful eyes are essential to maintaining a vibrant appearance. Eyelid surgery reverses years of aging, giving your eyes a naturally alert, refreshed appearance. Droopy eyelids can make you look older and can also impair vision. Blepharoplasty corrects these problems and also removes puffiness and bags under the eyes that make you look worn and tired. This procedure cannot alter dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, nor can it change sagging eyebrows. Though blepharoplasty is often performed as a single procedure, Dr. Heinrich may also recommend a browlift, facelift, or skin resurfacing to achieve the best results.

Understanding the surgery

In upper eyelid surgery, Dr. Heinrich will first mark the individual lines and creases of the lids in order to keep the scars as invisible as possible along these natural folds. The incision is made, and excess fat is removed or re-positioned, and then the loose muscle and skin are removed. Fine sutures are used to close the incisions, thereby minimizing the visibility of any scar.

In lower eyelid surgery, Dr. Heinrich makes the incision in an inconspicuous site along the lashline and smile creases of the lower lid. Excess fat, muscle, and skin are then trimmed away before the incision is closed with fine sutures. Eyelid puffiness caused primarily by excess fat may be corrected by a transconjunctival blepharoplasty. The incision in this case is made inside the lower eyelid, and excess fatty material is removed. When sutures are used to close this kind of incision, they are invisible to the eye. They are also commonly self dissolving and leave no visible scar. Under normal conditions, blepharoplasty can take from one to two hours.

Recovery period

A certain degree of swelling and bruising is normal. Cold compresses, as well as head elevation when lying down, will enhance healing and relieve discomfort. Dr. Heinrich will also prescribe medication for discomfort. For a week and a half following blepharoplasty, you will clean the eye area (the eyes may feel sticky, dry, and itchy). Eyedrops may be recommended. A list of activities and environments to avoid in the weeks immediately following surgery will be provided. Permanent stitches will be removed in three to five days after surgery. Self-absorbing stitches will dissolve on their own.

The recovery time is approximately one week. The results on the lower lids is permanent, the results on the upper lids last approximately ten years.