Blepharoplasty has become one of the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedures in the world. According to the American Society of Plastic surgeons, blepharoplasty comes 4th in frequency after breast augmentation, liposuction and rhinoplasty (nose reshaping). So why is blepharoplasty such a popular procedure and what does it accomplish? In today’s blog, we will talk about this safe and effective eyelid operation and how it can improve your appearance.
Explaining the Blepharoplasty procedure
Blepharoplasty comes from the Greek blepharon, which means eyelid, and the English word plasty, which means “to repair”. Simply put, blepharoplasty means “surgical repair or reconstruction of an eyelid”. This repair can be functional or cosmetic. A functional procedure aims to correct a condition which negatively affects a person’s quality of life. In the case of blepharoplasty, this condition could be loss of peripheral vision or eye fatigue. Therefore, a functional blepharoplasty can improve a patient’s vision and his/her quality of life. On the other hand, a cosmetic blepharoplasty is done with the purpose to improve a person’s appearance and will not necessarily have any effect on their vision. This is explained by the fact that most people who seek this operation for cosmetic purposes do not have enough excess skin to cause any visual problems. However, it is important to note that a functional blepharoplasty always has a positive cosmetic result! The difference between functional and cosmetic blepharoplasty is also important to private insurance companies because they will not reimburse the patient for the procedure if it’s done only for cosmetic purposes.
A blepharoplasty operation consists of a series of steps. First, an evaluation must be done to make sure that the patient is a good candidate for the operation. This step is crucial, as some patients may think they have excess upper eyelid skin when, in fact, the saggy appearance of their eyelids is related to a droopy eyebrow. Once a correct diagnosis has been made, the patient is scheduled for surgery. This is an outpatient procedure, done under local anesthesia with or without mild sedation. Before starting the operation, the surgeon carefully marks the skin to make sure that he leaves enough tissue to allow the patient to blink normally after the surgery. He also makes sure that the incision is designed in such a way that it will heal nicely, without leaving a visible scar. Next, local anesthesia is injected in the area. After 5 minutes or so, the surgeon removes the skin with a scalpel blade and surgical micro scissors. Oozing blood vessels are then cauterized to prevent excessive bruising the next day. The last step consists of suturing the skin edges with very fine, non-absorbable stitches. These are removed in the office 5 to 7 days later.
Recovering from a Blepharoplasty
Before having an eye lift or blepharoplasty, many people want to know how much time it will take them to recover from surgery. Other people are concerned that they won’t be able to take time off from work. Fortunately, the recovery from a blepharoplasty is fast and painless. Granted, there will always be some swelling and a little bruising, but both subside within a week or two. Following the doctor’s instructions will help you keep inflammation to a minimum. Regarding time off from work, this will depend on what you do for a living. If you must lift heavy objects, it is best to wait one week before returning to work. On the other hand, if you do office work, you may return three days after surgery.
Blepharoplasty in Costa Rica
Blepharoplasty may be performed by plastic surgeons, oculoplastic surgeons or surgical dermatologists. Make sure that the doctor performing your surgery is qualified to do so. Although blepharoplasty is a safe procedure, complications may arise if the operation is done inadequately. We invite you to visit our website for more information on this procedure!
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