Do you look in the mirror and not like what you see? Are you troubled by the appearance of bags under your eyes?
It’s very common to develop bags around your eyes and drooping eyelids as you get older. The good news is that minimally invasive procedures can treat sagging upper and lower eyelids.
Eyelid surgery is often performed for cosmetic purposes. In some cases, restoring your vision and improving your visual field may be medically necessary if your sagging eyelids impact your ability to see.
Whether you require eyelid surgery to improve your vision or want to feel better about how you look in the mirror, eyelid surgery can help. Keep reading to learn how eyelid surgery can treat your saggy eyes and help you love how you look again!
What is Eyelid Surgery?
Eyelid surgery, also called blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure that treats sagging or drooping eyelids. You can have blepharoplasty performed on your upper or lower eyelids or both.
Blepharoplasty is one of the less invasive cosmetic procedures you can undergo because it only requires tiny incisions. It’s used to treat sagging eyelids for both cosmetic and medical reasons.
Some patients may have ptosis treated while undergoing a blepharoplasty by having ptosis repair surgery and blepharoplasty combined to improve the function and appearance of their eyelids.
What is Ptosis?
Ptosis occurs when there’s levator muscle weakness in the eyelids. When this happens, the muscles stretch and weaken over time, leading the eyelids to sag and become droopy from a lack of elasticity.
Although you can develop ptosis at any age, it’s most common in older adults. With age, your skin naturally loses elasticity, and your muscles weaken. Though it’s part of the natural aging process, many people find that sagging eyelids make them feel older and more self-conscious about their appearance.
But sagging upper eyelids can be more than a cosmetic concern. When your upper eyelids droop significantly, they can block your vision, limiting your visual field.
Many people have eyelid surgery to improve their visual field and restore their vision. But others undergo blepharoplasty because they want to look and feel younger.
Some patients may have blepharoplasty for a combination of cosmetic and medical reasons. It all depends on your individual needs.
If you’re having eyelid surgery only for cosmetic and aesthetic reasons, your surgeon may check to see if your eyelids impact your visual field. If they do, your health insurance may pay for part of the procedure, making it more affordable because it’s partially medically necessary.
Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty is usually an outpatient procedure, meaning you’ll go home once it’s over. It can be performed with local anesthetic and sedation or with general anesthesia.
Dr. Nicolas Villanustre will treat your upper and lower eyelids if both are necessary during the procedure. He will create tiny incisions on your eyelid along the natural crease to hide any visible scarring.
After this, he will remove any excess fat, skin, tissues, and muscles before closing the incision and restoring your ability to see without droopy eyelids in your way. You’ll usually have any stitches removed after a week.
Eyelid Surgery Recovery
Recovery from eyelid surgery takes a few weeks. During this time, you’ll want to keep your head elevated and apply cold compresses to your eyes and face to stay comfortable.
You may experience mild bruising and swelling around your eyes, which should improve as you recover. Avoid strenuous activities like exercising or lifting anything heavy during your initial recovery.
Prescribed pain medication can help ease post-surgical discomfort, as can cold packs to reduce swelling. Dr. Villanustre will give you specific instructions on how to care for your eyes during recovery.
As you recover, you’ll start seeing improvements, especially as the swelling decreases and any bruising begins to dissipate. Any initial pain or discomfort you experience should be significantly reduced as your eyelids heal. The best part? You’ll be able to look in the mirror and see a whole new you!
Why Eyelid Surgery is Worth It
Eyelid surgery is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a cosmetic procedure without a lengthy recovery and that comes with your desired results. But a blepharoplasty can significantly affect your appearance, making you look and feel younger and more vibrant.
It can also restore your vision, letting you see better while helping you look and feel better about your appearance! The results of eyelid surgery are also long-lasting, making it well worth it for qualified patients.
With proper skin care, eyelid surgery on your lower eyelids can lead to results for many years. There’s always some risk of your skin drooping again, but good skin care lowers this risk significantly.
Your upper eyelids may start to sag again a few years after the procedure, but the results of blepharoplasty often last up to seven years with upper eyelids, if not more. If you require another procedure on your upper eyelids in the future, your health insurance may cover part of it.
You’re unlikely to notice your upper eyelids sagging again unless they impede your vision, which may mean the procedure is medically necessary.
Are you ready to learn more about eyelid surgery and to love the skin you’re in again? Request an appointment at St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute in Clearwater, FL! It’s time to look in the mirror and finally love what you see!
