Upper blepharoplasty is one of the most popular facial plastic surgery procedures. Its popularity stems from its ability to restore a youthful eyelid contour with a short recovery and little downtime. However, contrary to popular belief, an eyelid lift should not be considered a simple, risk-free operation.
We believe it is vital for patients to understand the complexity of their operation so that they can choose a surgeon experienced in this procedure.
Highlighting the following essential steps, we hope to successfully guide patients in their search for the right oculoplastic surgeon.
Step 1: Ensure you’re an ideal candidate for a blepharoplasty:
It is common knowledge in the surgeon community that an operation done perfectly, from a technical standpoint, cannot offer great results unless performed on the right patient. This point is especially true in upper blepharoplasty. Not everyone is an ideal candidate for the procedure, and even if they benefit from the cosmetic result of a blepharoplasty, the patient’s health or ocular integrity may contraindicate the operation.
Patients who often request an eyelid lift would not actually benefit from the operation. Droopy eyelids are a common complaint among individuals with low eyebrows, eyelid ptosis, or a low eyelid crease, common in patients of Asian descent. None of these conditions is corrected with a conventional blepharoplasty. For this reason, the first step to guarantee the best outcome in blepharoplasty is the patient examination to establish whether they are a good candidate for the operation.
Step 2: Skin markings are key to achieving good results.
The step that arbitrates success in upper blepharoplasty is marking the skin. The importance of these markings lies in that their placement determines postoperative symmetry and eyelid contour. If the incisions are marked irregularly, the result will also be irregular. And, if the incision placement is inadequate for the patient’s gender or ethnicity, the surgeon can easily change the person’s distinctive features, giving a very unnatural appearance.
The dimensions of the markings are just as important, if not more so. Removing too much skin will cause dry eye symptoms and could prevent the patient from closing their eyes completely. A healthy and normal blink after surgery depends on careful skin markings before surgery.
Step 3: Choose a surgeon who’s a muscle preserver.
Another substantial factor to consider for maintaining a normal blink after surgery is to avoid resection of the orbicularis muscle when performing a blepharoplasty. The orbicularis muscle is responsible for eyelid closure and is located right underneath the skin. Eyelid surgeons should, therefore, be careful to preserve this muscle when removing excess skin to avoid postoperative dry eye, especially in a patient presenting with an unstable tear film before the operation.
Step 4: Attention to detail is what determines outcomes in eyelid surgery.
As mentioned earlier, although it may seem straightforward, a blepharoplasty can be quite an involved procedure. Therefore, attention to detail must be the surgeon’s primary concern. Meticulous tissue dissection and close attention to anatomical variants are essential to restoring a youthful eyelid contour without completely altering the person’s appearance. Surgeons must consider these factors to avoid complications and achieve an elegant result.
Employing the right surgical approach for every patient’s anatomy and using the appropriate ancillary procedures dictates a successful outcome in blepharoplasty. For example, the patient will get the most out of their cosmetic procedure if their surgeon slightly alters the lid crease, modifies upper eyelid fat, and re-suspends the brow fat pad.
Step 5: Your eyelids will appreciate non-absorbable sutures.
Finally, the election of the suture material is vital because it determines the amount of inflammation in the postoperative period. Surgeons can choose to close the incision with absorbable or non-absorbable sutures. While absorbable sutures have the advantage of dissolving on their own – thus avoiding the need for suture removal one week after the operation – they tend to cause more irritation and swelling of the incision scar. On the other hand, non-absorbable suture materials will require removal in a week, but they are less irritating for the delicate eyelid skin.
Choose a surgeon with experience in blepharoplasty.
When considering an upper blepharoplasty, patients should always choose a surgeon with ample experience. They should feel comfortable asking their surgeon about their approach to blepharoplasty and which ancillary procedures and techniques are best for them. We also encourage patients to ask to see before-and-after photographs of their surgeon’s surgical results.
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