Eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty is a cosmetic procedure, used to remove any excess fat or skin from the eyelids. It can be performed on the top eyelid for drooping eyelids and the lower lids for eye bags or dark circles under the eyes. Before you opt for this type of surgery, you need to know why you want it, is it for cosmetic or functional purposes?
You should discuss your plans with your doctor, as you may have a medical condition that will affect your eyelids and the surgery may not be the right choice for you in the long run. It's important to remember that many eyelid surgeries are elective cosmetic procedures, therefore they are not covered by the NHS, so you can find yourself paying anywhere up to £6000 to achieve a more youthful appearance. The NHS may cover the cost of your surgery is functional and your drooping eyelids are causing vision problems.
Eyelid surgery is performed by an oculoplastic surgeon and is offered in many of the top eye hospitals in the world. Most independent eye hospitals and clinics will provide this type of cosmetic eyelid surgery. Remember that any clinic or hospital offering eyelid surgery in England must be CQC registered.
Don't only research about the hospital or clinic you want to use, but also research the surgeon. The oculoplastic or ophthalmologist doing the surgery should be registered with GMC. They should also have a website, where you can learn more about them, their education, experiences, certifications, and more.
Eyelid surgery is often carried out under local anesthetic and is an outpatient procedure. If you are having more than one surgery, your surgeon may recommend a general anesthetic, where you can sleep through the entire procedure. You will need to advise the surgeon on the medications you are taking, especially when taking blood thinners regularly.
The procedure itself is a delicate process of cutting along the crease of the eyelid, inside the natural fold of the eyelid to remove any muscle, fat, or excess skin. The incision is then closed so that the scar is hidden in the natural fold of your eyelid. Your surgeon will make an incision just below the lower eyelashes or inside the lower eyelid. They will remove the fat or excess skin, along with muscles and tendons if necessary and then the incisions are closed. Suture strips may be used, which are sticky strips to provide the eyelids with support, which can be removed within a week.
Upper eyelid surgery takes approximately one hour, though lower eyelid surgery can take up to two hours. The good news is that you can usually go home the same day and recover in the comfort of your own home.
If you are working, you will want to take at least a week to recover from eyelid surgery. This means you should avoid driving for a few days after the surgery. You can expect some swelling, redness, and bruising, which will fade over several weeks.
Your eyelid surgeon may recommend you prop your head up when resting, helping to reduce any swelling, along with using a cold compress on your eyelids for a specific amount of time each day for the first forty-eight hours. They may suggest you wear sunglasses when you go out, protecting your eyes from the wind and sun while taking paracetamol to help with any discomfort.
About Us: Pari Shams, BSc MRCP FRCOphth, is a cosmetic and functional eyelid surgeon that operates from Moorfields Eye Hospital in the heart of London. She is a very well-established consultant ophthalmologist and oculoplastic surgeon. She graduated with distractions in medicine, surgery, clinical pharmacology, and therapeutics. She has known for her eyelid lacrimal and orbital disease treatments and is a member of the Royal College of Physicians in London, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, the British Oculoplastic Surgery Society, and the American Society of Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery, and the International Thyroid Eye Disease Society. In addition to this, the is also active in clinical research. To find out more about Pari Shams, visit her website at https://www.parishams.com.