As people age, their skin loses its elasticity. This and gravity leads to excess skin in the upper and lower eyelids. Wrinkles and bulges can form on the lower eyelid, and an extra fold of skin can form on the upper eyelid and obstruct vision. This can make the eyes appear to be baggy and tired-looking. Many people elect to get eyelid surgery, which is technically known as blepharoplasty, to correct these problems. Since everybody experiences these problems, this procedure is actually among the top five most common cosmetic surgeries in the United States. It should make the people who get it seem more alert and refreshed.
Many people have eyelid surgery to improve their appearance. It is important to have realistic expectations about what the procedure may and may not do for the patient before getting it. What it might not do is make you look perfect or change how other people treat you. In fact, the outcome may be a lot different than what you were expecting it to be when going into the surgery. It also will not change the structure of your face. What it should do is enhance your appearance and it may even help improve your self-esteem. It is also important to know that results are not permanent but generally very long-lasting, and surgery is usually not needed to be done on the lower eyelid more than once.
Before the procedure begins, local anesthesia is usually given to numb the eyelid area and sedatives to relax you. Then incisions are made along the natural lines of the eyelids, separating the skin from the tissue and removing the extra fat, skin, and muscle from the area. The incisions are then closed. There are two different techniques that can be used when performing lower eyelid surgery. These are called the transconjunctival technique and the transcutaneous technique. In the transconjunctival technique, the incision is made inside the eyelid. The incision is not visible after surgery in this technique. In the transcutaneous technique, the incision is made along the eyelash margin and it takes some time for the incision to fade.
As with any surgery, there are possible risks and complications from eyelid surgery. Some complications include bleeding, infection, dry eyes, discoloration, abnormal folds, inability to close eyes fully, obstruction or loss of vision, and dissatisfaction with the outcome. Also, the recovery time should take about one to two weeks, and swelling and occasionally bruising may occur. If all goes well, you should see an improvement in your appearance and possibly self-confidence.