Eyelid Reduction (Blepharoplasty)

Many people develop excess skin around their eyelids and this often has a negative effect their self-esteem. Drooping eyelids can also obscure vision and cause headaches. Sufferers try to overcome this by contracting the forehead muscles to lift the eyebrows.   

Bulging bags beneath the eye are due to an inherent tendency to develop surplus fat within the eye socket, which bulges forward. This is often inherited. Blepharoplasty or a cosmetic eyelid surgery procedure can successfully counter the effects of drooping eyes.

If you are interested in finding out more about cosmetic eyelid surgery or wish to book a consultation, please call us on 020 7901 8500. You can also contact us via this website now. 

The Benefits Of Blepharoplasty

An eyelid reduction can improve the overall appearance of the eyes by removing bulges, folds and wrinkles of skin. One only needs to have enough skin left behind to enable the eyelids to close fully. Functional benefits of this cosmetic treatment may include better peripheral vision.

Is Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery Right For You?

Blepharoplasty surgery is conducted in order to remove excess skin, muscle and unwanted fat from around the eyes to help them look younger and healthier. 
Fine wrinkles of the skin of both upper and lower eyelids can also be helped by CO2 Fractional Resurfacing Laser. Botox is excellent for treating the effects of “crow’s feet”.
 As with any medical procedure, it is important to maintain realistic expectations regarding results, and these will be discussed at your consultation.
There are 2 main considerations when it comes to eyelid reduction - the treatment of bulging fat or eye bags and of the wrinkled skin. Some patients have just one of these problems, but many have both. Eyelid blepharoplasty removes or re-positions surplus fat around the eyes. The bulges will go and the so-called tear duct trough is filled in. During this procedure, any surplus skin can be trimmed.

What to Expect on the Day of Your Blepharoplasty Surgery

Before an Eyelid Reduction: The procedure can be carried out under local, IV sedation or general anaesthesia. Photographs will be taken for the records and to assess the final result by comparison with ‘after’ photographs. The procedure takes 1-2 hours.

During an Eyelid Reduction: Usually skin and fat reductions are carried out through an incision in the fold of the upper eyelid and immediately under the eye lashes of the lower eyelid. Scars of the eyelids settle in very quickly and are usually the best of any part of the body. If the problem is only bulging fat of the lower eyelid, the procedure can be carried out transconjunctivally - through an incision on the inside of the lower eyelid. This incision does not need to be sutured and of course leaves no scar at all on the outside.

After Eyelid Reduction: Stitches are removed 3-7 days post operatively, but the end result may take some months to appear. During this time movement of the eyelids may be reduced and closure more difficult. Eye drops or ointment can be useful to lubricate the eye.
There is always some bruising, which will take up to 14 days to resolve. Oedema or the tissue swelling one sees after any surgery will be present in the eyelids, but also often visible on the eyeball itself where it appears as a watery look and is called chemosis. This is quite normal, but can last some weeks or even months.
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