Upper Lid Blepharoplasty
The upper eyelid lift (technically called a blepharoplasty) is a procedure to correct heavy drooping upper lids - features that can make you look older and more tired than you feel. It is one of the safest and most reliable of all the cosmetic surgical procedures, with a very high satisfaction rate.
The best candidates are men and women who are physically healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in their expectations. Most are 35 or older, but if droopy, baggy eyelids run in your family, you may decide to have eyelid surgery at a younger age.
A few medical conditions make blepharoplasty more risky. They include thyroid problems, dry eye or lack of sufficient tears, high blood pressure or other circulatory disorders, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
When eyelid surgery is performed by a qualified oculoplastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Nevertheless, there is always a possibility of complications, and the risks you need to consider are the risk of infection, the risk of a large bruise known as a haematoma, the risk of the scar thickening to become more visible and a theoretical risk to your vision.
I usually perform upper lid lifts under local anesthesia--which numbs the area around your eyes, sometimes with intravenous sedation. You'll be awake during the surgery, but relaxed and insensitive to pain. (However, you may feel some tugging or occasional discomfort.)
After surgery, I lubricate your eyes with ointment and may apply a bandage. Your eyelids may feel tight and sore as the anesthesia wears off, but you can usually control any discomfort with paracetamol. If you feel any severe pain, call me immediately.
Post-operative I recommend you to keep your head elevated for several days, and use ice packs to reduce swelling and bruising. (Bruising varies from person to person: it reaches its peak during the first week, and generally lasts anywhere from two weeks to a month.)
The stitches will be removed a week after surgery. Once they're out, the swelling and discoloration around your eyes will gradually subside, and you'll start to look and feel much better.
Most people feel ready to go out in public (and back to work) in a week to 10 days. By then, depending on your rate of healing, you'll probably be able to wear makeup to hide the bruising that remains. You may be sensitive to sunlight, wind, and other irritants for several weeks, so you should wear sunglasses and sunblock when you go out.
Keep your activities to a minimum for three to five days, and avoid more strenuous activities for about three weeks. It's especially important to avoid activities that raise your blood pressure, including bending, lifting, and rigorous sports. Minimise alcohol, since it causes fluid retention.
Healing is a gradual process, and your scars may remain slightly pink for six months or more after surgery. Eventually, though, they'll fade to a thin, nearly invisible white line. You will always be able to find your scars, but I aim for strangers to be unable to see them at 6 weeks, and your friends unable to see them by 6 months.
Blepharoplasty can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it won't necessarily change your looks to match your ideal, or cause other people to treat you differently.