Eyelids

Before and After Photos

Are you interested eyelid surgery?
Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery is a surgical procedure to that removes fat and often skin of the eyelids:

• To correct drooping upper lids.
• To reduce the puffy bags of the lower lids

Planning your surgery
At your consultation we will listen to your medical history, examine you, take photographs, check your vision, and check for tear production. If you wear glasses please bring them with you. We will discuss your goals and try to explain what may be accomplished with each procedure. Upper and lower lids may be treated. Often other procedures such as brow lift or face lift may be considered.

At the end of the initial consultation you should have the information you need to make an informed decision about the possibility of plastic surgery.

Preparing for your surgery
We will give you instructions to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. While making preparations, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery and to help you out for a few days, if needed.

Note
Blepharoplasty is relatively straightforward. But as with any operation, there are risks associated with surgery and specific complications associated with this procedure. The minor complications that occasionally follow blepharoplasty include double or blurred vision for a few days; temporary swelling at the corner of the eyelids; and a slight asymmetry in healing or scarring. Following surgery, some patients may have difficulty closing their eyes when they sleep; in rare cases this condition may be permanent. Another very rare complication is ectropion, a pulling down of the lower lids. In this case, further surgery may be required.

At the time of your consultation these possibilities will be reviewed in detail.

The surgery
Blepharoplasty is usually an outpatient procedure done at our fully accredited operating rooms at the Plastic Surgery Center, at the Asheville Surgery Center on Sweeten Creek Road, or at the Memorial Mission Hospital. It is done under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. At any of these locations anesthesia will be provided by the anesthesiologists and CRNA's of Asheville Anesthesia.

Recuperation
The operation takes an hour or two and then requires some quiet time away from your usual schedule as you recuperate. Most patients are more comfortable with ice and some elevation, as in a recliner, for the first 48 hours. Avoid exercise or activities that raise your blood pressure for a few weeks. Many patients are back to light activities in three or four days, and wearing contacts at two weeks. You may return to aerobic exercise in about three weeks. You will be seen in the office in follow up at regular intervals. Your eyes will be sensitive to light and wind, so you will need to use sunglasses for a few weeks after blepharoplasty. Please use sun block to protect your scars from tanning. Scars fade from red to pink to white in the months following surgery so they are often nearly invisible.

We look forward to assisting you.