Watching the sun set over the horizon or the autumn leaves drifting down is wonderful. But seeing your upper eyelids slowly droop yearly? This is a bit annoying. Sagging, saggy skin can affect the way in which you're feeling about your appearance. Worse, it could actually interfere along with your vision, with the eyelids drooping so low and feeling so heavy that it's hard to open your eyes. Fortunately, a routine surgery can assist.
Upper eyelid surgery
The treatment for drooping upper eyelids is a variety of surgery called upper blepharoplasty (andamp;ldquo;BLEFF-ar-oh-plass-tee”). This is done in an outpatient surgery center, with anesthesia – local anesthesia (an injection to numb the area), “twilight or general sedation”. (so you're unconscious and unable to feel pain) depending in your needs.
During the procedure, a surgeon — an ophthalmologist, an oculoplastic surgeon, or a plastic surgeon — will use a scalpel or laser to make an incision along the natural folds of the upper eyelid. The surgeon will remove excess skin from each the left and right upper eyelids, possibly remove the underlying fat, and shut the incisions with stitches.
The procedure takes about half an hour. If you received sedation or general anesthesia at Twilight, you will want to go to the recovery room for about half an hour before going home.
recovery
Recovery from upper blepharoplasty takes two to 4 weeks. You could have minor (temporary) bruising and swelling around your eyes, however the pain will likely be minimal.
You will even have to apply a topical antibiotic ointment to your stitches thrice a day for every week to stop infection.
See the difference
After only one week, you must see an improvement—somewhat less swelling and eyes which can be more open than before surgery. “After two weeks, most people feel better and the swelling goes away,” says Dr. Yoon. “For some people it takes longer, however, so don't schedule large social events until three or four weeks after your procedure,” recommends Dr. Yoon.
Don't expect a giant change in your appearance. “We can't give an older person their 30-year-old eyelashes. But if your eyelashes interfere with your vision, we can correct them. And we can provide a refreshing effect that helps bring out what you love about your eyes — their color, appearance and alertness when communicating face-to-face,” says Dr. Yoon.
Candidates for surgery
Almost anyone who is worried in regards to the function or appearance of drooping upper eyelids is a candidate for upper blepharoplasty.
However, this may occasionally not be true for individuals who have some serious eye diseases or have outstanding or bulging eyes attributable to an overactive thyroid. And it could actually be dangerous for individuals with severe dry eye syndrome, which may be more pronounced after surgery. “Removing excess skin opens the eyelids to a higher level. But when the eyes are open more, they are more exposed to air, so existing dryness will worsen,” explains Dr. Yoon.
Another risk is important imbalance. “The risk may be 5% or 10%, because the unique way people heal can sometimes lead to mildly uneven results,” says Dr. Yoon. It is best to seek out a surgeon who performs upper blepharoplasty incessantly (every week).
Is it price it?
If drooping upper eyelids are interfering along with your vision, insurance will likely cover all or a part of the associated fee of upper blepharoplasty. However, surgery is not going to be covered whether it is for cosmetic reasons only. Costs start at several thousand dollars, depending in your surgeon and where you reside.
Is it definitely worth the investment? “It's a good ‘bang for your buck' procedure,” says Dr. Yoon. “There's not a lot of pain and recovery, the results last 10 to 15 years, and you can literally look in the mirror and see the improvement.”
Photo: © Valentina Kharslova/Getty Images