Guide:
- What is Blepharoplasty Surgery?
- Types of Blepharoplasty Surgery
- How Long Does Blepharoplasty Surgery Take?
- Who Does Blepharoplasty Surgery Benefit?
- How Long Does Blepharoplasty Last?
What is Blepharoplasty Surgery?
With age, our skin becomes weaker and the muscles that support our eyelids weaken, causing them to stretch and appear droopy. If the aging process is taking its toll on you and you’re noticing sagging eyelid skin that makes you look tired or sad, eyelid surgery can help you appear younger, more alert, and refreshed.
So, what is blepharoplasty surgery and what happens during it? Dr. Ho Taghva removes and redistributes excess, sagging skin, weakened muscle, and excess fat during blepharoplasty surgery.
One of the first aging changes many people experience is the accumulation of excess skin and fat above and below the eyelids, causing them to notice their eyebrows sagging, their upper eyelids drooping, and their under eyelids forming bags.
Eyelid surgery isn’t just for people wanting to restore a youthful appearance. It is a popular procedure for East Asian people who genetically have no upper eyelid crease. While some people are happy without the crease, others seek blepharoplasty to achieve this upper eyelid crease and make their eyes appear wider and larger.
Plastic surgery for the eyes is also an excellent option for people with a severe case of sagging skin around the eyes causing reduced peripheral vision.
To summarize blepharoplasty is a popular solution for:
- Excess, sagging skin and bulges of fat around the eyes due to aging
- Impaired sight due to excessive skin around the upper and outer portions of the field of vision
- Upper eyelids with no upper eyelid crease, causing smaller-looking eyes
Types of Blepharoplasty Surgery
Depending on your preferences and what Dr. Ho Taghva believes is best for you, she may use the surgical incision method, or the no incision suture method for your double eyelid surgery.
Suture Method
Dr. Ho Taghva can create a double eyelid using permanent sutures rather than surgical incisions when using the suture technique. She places a fine permanent suture beneath the upper eyelid skin to produce the shape and fold of the upper lid. Because no skin is removed and no incisions are made, minimal scarring is involved with the suture method. It is a quicker procedure than the full incision technique and requires a shorter downtime, but it is only an appropriate option for specific patients.
Full Incision Method
When using the full incision double eyelid method, Dr. Ho Taghva creates discreet incisions along the natural creases and lines of the eyelids to minimize scarring and promote the best healing. She then uses these incisions to remove excess skin and fat to create a natural crease with sutures, depending on the patient’s specific goals.
If you only need some TLC on your upper or lower lids alone, Dr. Taghva will use specialized techniques to help you reach your aesthetic goals.
Lower Eyelid Surgery
During lower eyelid surgery, Dr. Ho Taghva makes a small incision just below the lashes in the natural crease or inside the lower lid. She then redistributes or eliminates excess fat and tightens sagging skin and muscle to diminish bags and wrinkles. Following this, sutures are meticulously positioned to facilitate optimal healing without leaving visible scars.
Upper Eyelid Surgery
During upper eyelid surgery, Dr. Ho Taghva creates a precise incision along the upper lid fold before delicately removing excess skin, fat, and muscle. She carefully closes the incision to promote the best healing while minimizing the visibility of scars.
How Long Does Blepharoplasty Surgery Take?
Cleveland Clinic says the average time for a plastic surgeon to complete upper eyelid surgery is 45 minutes to an hour. With double eyelid surgery targeting both the upper and lower eyelids simultaneously, it can take a surgeon about two hours depending on the complexity of fat repositioning and whether it is combined with any other facial rejuvenation procedures.
A common procedure to combine with blepharoplasty is the brow lift, helping provide a more comprehensive improvement of the upper eyelids. If you need excess skin and fat removed and repositioned in both your upper eyelids and brows, your surgery could take about an hour and a half to two hours to complete.
What is blepharoplasty surgery recovery like? Many individuals experience a swift and relatively comfortable recuperation following eyelid surgery. You’ll need to allow time to rest for the first 1-2 days after surgery, but you should feel ready to resume daily activities within 3-5 days.
While you may feel fantastic after the 2-week mark, your body still needs time to heal, so you should avoid strenuous activities for several weeks post-blepharoplasty. Dr. Ho Taghva provides patients with comprehensive guidelines tailored to their specific recovery needs.
Who Does Blepharoplasty Surgery Benefit?
As mentioned above, blepharoplasty can benefit a wide range of patients, from people who need to rejuvenate their appearance by improving signs of aging to people born with smaller eyes who want to achieve an upper lid crease and larger eyes.
Patients as young as their 20s and as mature as their 80s achieve their dream results with eyelid surgery, as it can treat a variety of concerns relating to the eyes.
According to Mayo Clinic, blepharoplasty may be a solution if you are concerned with:
- Under eye bags or puffiness under the eyes
- Droopy, heavy upper eyelids
- Excess skin of the upper eyelids that sags and hinders peripheral vision
- Excess skin on the lower eyelids
But as we mentioned, blepharoplasty isn’t just for aging. It can benefit you if you simply want bigger and brighter eyes!
How Long Does Blepharoplasty Last?
The longevity of your blepharoplasty results depends on your genetics, lifestyle choices, skincare routine, and sun exposure. It can also depend on the type of eyelid surgery you have. For example, upper blepharoplasty results can last five years to a lifetime, while lower blepharoplasty is typically a one-and-done surgery.
Many patients consider the long-lasting results to be worth the cost of eyelid surgery. There are ways to get blepharoplasty covered by insurance under specific circumstances, but most patients afford their eyelid rejuvenation surgery through financing options.
Our tips for maintaining your blepharoplasty results for as long as possible include:
- Wear sun protection and minimize sun exposure
- Develop a skincare regimen using medical-grade products with a skin professional (ensure eye cream is included!)
- Follow all of your surgeon’s aftercare instructions
- Minimize alcohol consumption and avoid smoking completely
- Make sure you are maintaining a nutrient-rich diet
If you are in Orange County and considering eyelid surgery of any kind, schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Goretti Ho Taghva, specializing in facial plastic surgery for all races and ethnicities, and find out if this treatment is right for you and your goals.
