Eyelid surgery
Eyelid surgery (also known as blepharoplasty) removes excess skin and protruding fat from the eyelid to produce a more alert appearance. Nothing ages our face more than our eyes but as we get older the skin around our eyes naturally loses its elasticity and begins to droop. The muscles in this area also slacken enabling fat to become stored here, giving the overall appearance of bags under the eyes, which also makes us look tired and older.
Cosmetic eyelid surgery can be carried out on the upper, lower or both eyelids and is sometimes performed at the same time as a facelift for an overall improvement to the look of the face. For many people is the first step in reversing the signs of ageing.
The procedure
This procedure is normally performed as day surgery under general anaesthetic. During surgery, excess skin in the upper eyelid is removed through an incision made in the natural crease above the eye. With lower eyelid surgery, excess tissue and fat is usually removed through an incision either just under the eyelashes or, in some cases, just inside the eyelid.
You recovery
Some tenderness and minor swelling can be expected but usually subsides fairly quickly, with most people returning to work within seven to ten days of surgery once the stitches are removed. Scars will be pink initially but will fade to become almost invisible. If you wear contact lenses you must wait two to three weeks before you can start wearing them again.
