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Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
05.28.06 12:00 AM
Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
Puffiness above and below the eyes can even make you look older than your age.In severe situations, eyelids may cause functional problems, such as impaired field of vision (baggy upper eyelids) or difficulty wearing glasses (baggy lower eyelids). Other conditions impairing functionality include eye injury, eyelid cancer, or eyelids that roll in (entropion) or out (ectropion).Blepharoplasty is cosmetic eyelid surgery. Thousands of people have enhanced their appearance and/or restored vision functionality with this procedure. Blepharoplasty can correct sagging eyelids, remove fatty bulges above and below the eyes, and eliminate hanging skin from the upper or lower eyelids. It can be performed as a stand-alone procedure, or together with other procedures such as browlifts or laser skin resurfacing. Cosmetic eyelid surgery is usually an outpatient procedure performed under local anaesthesia with sedation if desired. It is usually not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). An "eyelift" (upper eyelid blepharoplasty) reduces excess skin and fat in the upper eyelids. In some cases, excess skin can "hang" over the eyelid, interfering with normal vision. The procedure involves making an incision in the natural contours of the upper eyelids and removing excess skin and fat. The incision is then closed with fine sutures. Because incisions during this procedure are made in the eye's natural "lines", they are barely visible, fading gradually over time; with the eyes open, the incisions are completely hidden. Recent innovations in CO2 laser technology can dramatically benefit the blepharoplasty procedure. Using a laser for incisions can result in less swelling and more rapid recovery. Wrinkles near incisions can also be resurfaced. Lower blepharoplasty reduces excess bulging and puffiness in the lower eyelids. During this procedure, an incision is made on the inside of the lower eyelid. The excess fat is removed and the incisions heal without sutures. Any incisions made on the inside of the eyelids are, of course, not visible. External lower lid incisions are usually not required with laser blepharoplasty, but if utilized, are barely visible and fade over time. The skin of the lower lid can then be resurfaced to eliminate wrinkles and tighten it naturally. After surgery, the patient’s head should be kept elevated and cold compresses are applied to the treated area to reduce swelling and bruising. Initial recovery will take anywhere from two weeks to one month, with discomfort subsiding gradually. The patient will experience a youthful, more alert look after just a couple of weeks. The complete healing process takes up to six months as scars slowly fade to thin, nearly-invisible white lines.
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