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10 Facts about eyelid surgery

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Are you considering eyelid surgery? Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery is a popular procedure to remove the excess skin and fat around the eye area.

This procedure is indicated for patients who suffer from hooded eyes, under eye bags or drooping eyelids. In this blog post, we will be covering the most asked about facts around eyelid surgery.

1. Eyelid surgery ranks at the top of the most performed plastic surgeries.

Eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty ranks 4th most performed plastic surgery with over 209,000 procedures per year and are seeing an increase year after year, according to the ASPS National Clearinghouse of Plastic Surgery Procedural Statistics.

The eyelid surgery is also becoming popular among male as well as female patients.

2. Reasons why you might need an eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty.

There are different reasons to perform an eyelid surgery as this procedure is able to target different concerns. Eyelid surgery can help with:

  • Correction of hooded eyelids.
  • Correction of drooping eyelids.
  • Reduce age-associated eye puffiness.
  • Lifting the skin surrounding eyes.
  • Tighten lower eyelids.

3. There are different types of eyelid surgery.

There are different procedures for eyelid surgery to treat different areas of concern:

Upper Blepharoplasty: This a short procedure taking only 30 minutes, performed under local anesthetic and requiring minimal downtime which targets the top eyelid. This procedure is performed to remove hooded or drooping eyelids.

Lower Blepharoplasty: This procedure involves a higher degree of complexity compared to the upper blepharoplasty yet remaining relatively quick taking approximately 1-2 hours and performed under general anesthetic. This procedure is targeted to treat the area under the eye giving it a lifted and rejuvenated appearance.

Upper and Lower/ Combined Blepharoplasty: For patients who are concerned about both their upper eyelid and lower blepharoplasty or eye bags, this treatment is recommended as it’s able to provide a rejuvenated and restored look.

The best treatment for each patient will always be discussed with your surgeon, who will recommend the best procedure depending on each individual case.

4. The eyelid surgery can be performed in conjunction with other procedures.

Often patients opt to undergo other procedures in combination with the eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty. The most common procedures in which patients combine eyelid surgery are brow lifts, facelifts or fat transfer procedure.  Sometimes patients also opt for dermal fillers after their eyelid procedure to improve and retain the results of the procedure, particularly to target the tear trough area.

5. The best age to undergo an eyelid surgery.

When it comes to eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty, there is no set age to undergo the procedure (always 18 and above). Even though this procedure is often associated with older patients, many 20 and 30-year-old patients undergo eyelid surgery due to sagging eyelids, which can sometimes be due to genetics. The most popular age generally is starting around 40.

6. The results from an eyelid or blepharoplasty procedure can last forever.

The results from an eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty can last forever. Patients who underwent the eyelid surgery early on in their lifetime as they continue to age they might experience further eyelid drop, however, this can be fixed with other procedures such as brow lifts, facelifts or injectable treatments to rejuvenate the area.

7. The recovery and healing process from an eyelid surgery is quite short.

The recovery process from an eyelid surgery is relatively quick as you can expect to return to work and daily activities within a week after the procedure. The stitches will be removed 4-5 days after the surgery and you will be able to wear makeup after a week from the procedure. For any pain that may occur after the procedure painkillers will be able to help and mitigate the pain. It usually takes a few months for the eyelids to completely settle after the procedure.

8. The scars cannot be seen.

The scars left from a blepharoplasty are almost impossible to identify as they are performed in the natural folds of the eye, so the scaring is minimal.

 

before and after eye lid surgery photos
Before and after a lower eyelid blepharoplasty.

9. The results are seen within a few months.

The results after an eyelid surgery can be seen instantly, however, the final results after the swelling is gone will be around 2-3 months post-operation.

10. Non-Surgical Alternative to Blepharoplasty

Patients who are looking to improve the appearance of their eyes, but are wanting to avoid surgery may be suitable for the Handy plasma non-surgical eyelift at our London Harley Street clinic. The treatment is an ideal option for patients with mild to moderate loose skin but if you have more significant drooping you may still require blepharoplasty treatment instead to get the best results. The best thing is to come in for a consultation to discuss the options.

The Handy Plasma non-surgical eyelift treatment is a powerful and effective alternative to surgical procedures such as blepharoplasty that is able to remove the excess eyelid skin and tighten up wrinkles located around the eyes whilst being entirely non-invasive with no need for incisions, scalpels or stitches.

A Plexr® Plasma Pen device applicator is used to ionise the gas particles in the air between the device tip and your skin emitting a small electric arc. This creates a substance known as plasma which makes the target tissue – your skin will go from being solid to a gas state, essentially vaporizing excess skin around the eyes. After the treatment, you will have, what’s known as a carbon crust on the areas that have been treated. This carbon crust will appear as a series of round dots which can take up to 10 days to fully heal. Any swelling following treatment usually subsides after 1-3 days.

Before and after picture after 1 session of Handy Plasma Non-Surgical Eyelift.

Choosing The Private Clinic.

At The Private Clinic, we have highly qualified plastic surgeons experts in blepharoplasty procedures, being recognized for the meticulous work obtaining great results.

To learn more about blepharoplasty treatments, see before and after images of our patients and read useful FAQ’s please visit our website.

If you would like to arrange a consultation, please call us on 0333 920 2471 or you can request a blepharoplasty consultation via our website.

What you need to know about Blepharoplasty Surgery

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As we begin to age our skin elasticity reduces resulting in the appearance of loose skin which can cause heavy or sagging eyelids and noticeable eye bags forming deep creases in the lower eyelid.

A blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that can help approve these issues and it is slowly growing in popularly. Last year saw a 25% increase in men especially opting for the eyelid correction procedure

Drooping eyelids often cause men, and women to look older, tired and less energetic than their former selves and this quick and simple surgical procedure is a great way to restore a youthful boost to their overall appearance.

blepharoplasty lower eyelid surgery before after photo
Blepharoplasty before and after photo

What types of blepharoplasty are there?

When it comes to researching blepharoplasty procedures you may have noticed that there a few different variations. There are 3 types of blepharoplasty procedures;

Upper Blepharoplasty

Upper eyelid surgery is aimed at improving the appearance of droopy heavy eyelids that can make you look tired and grumpy. In rare cases the dropping of the upper eyelid can even impact the patient’s vision. An upper blepharoplasty procedure involves making an incision along the natural creases of the upper eyelid to remove excess fat and skin. Once removed, your surgeon will then lift the skin and close the incision, often using fine absorbable stitches. The result is a smoother and younger looking eyelid area.

Lower Blepharoplasty

Lower eyelid surgery works to reduce the appearance of heavy looking eye bags and sagging skin underneath the eyes. The surgery involves removing excess fat tissue from the area as well as removing any excess skin under the eye creating a tightened effect. In some cases your lower blepharoplasty procedure may be combined with fat transfer or dermal fillers to help fill out any hollowing or tear troughs that you may have in the area resulting in an overall firmer and more youthful looking face.

Transconjunctival Blepharoplasty

In some cases the eyelid skin may still be tight and supple but excess fat pockets may still be present causing an aged appearance. In this instance a slightly less invasive technique may be used remove excess fat tissue from this area. A transconjunctival blepharoplasty technique does not remove any skin or tighten any muscles and is ideal for minor eye bags on skin with good elasticity.

If you are experiencing loose skin and excess fat on the upper and lower eyelid then it is possible to perform a combined blepharoplasty where a upper and lower blepharoplasty are performed at the same time.  Other combined procedures could include a facelift or fat transfer.

The patient below has had fat transfer to the eyelid and cheeks combined with a lower blepharoplasty procedure.

blepharoplasty eye lid eyebag surgery before and after photos
Eye lid Surgery Blepharoplasty before and after photo

How long does eye  bag removal and eyelid surgery take?

Blepharoplasty procedures are often performed as day case procedures meaning you will not need to stay overnight in hospital. The procedure itself can take anywhere from as little as 30 minutes to 2/3 hours depending on the severity of the case. Blepharoplasty procedures are often performed under local anaesthetic but can also be performed under general anaesthetic or sedation if required.

What is the downtime?

During the hours following a blepharoplasty procedure you may feel a little uncomfortable and you should take care to rest with your head elevated and limit your activities for the initial 24 hours.  You may experience swelling and bruising in the areas treated which can last from 7-10 days but make-up can be worn a week after surgery if desired.  It is best to avoid activities that promote eye strain or dry eyes like watching TV, reading and using a computer for at least a week. You will not be able to wear contact lenses for 2-3 weeks but you will be fine to wear glasses as normal post-procedure.

You will be able to start to get back to normal after 2-3 weeks, returning to gentle exercise. Any remaining swelling should have reduced significantly after a month.  The best results are seen 2-3 months of their procedure.  Overall at The Private Clinic we recommend anywhere from a week to two weeks off work and you will definitely not be able to drive for the first week after your procedure.

Am I too young for a blepharoplasty?

Eyelid surgery is most common among patients aged 40 and older but this does not mean that you are ever ‘too young’ for a blepharoplasty procedure.

Eyelid or eye bag correction surgery generally addresses the effects that aging has on the face but it is not uncommon for patients in their 30s or even late 20s to enquire about eyelid surgery after feeling unhappy with their puffy, droopy eyelid skin.

The better your skin elasticity the better the results of surgery will be so it is almost encouraged for patients to not wait too long to have eyelid correction surgery so that they are able to enjoy the results for longer.

In some cases eyelid or eye bag issues could be helped with non-surgical options such as dermal fillers which many younger patients opt for, but for those with more severe problems a surgical procedure is often the only way to effectively treat those complaints.

eyelid surgery blepharoplasty procedure before after photos
Blepharoplasty before and after pictures UK

To find out more information or book a consultation to see one of our experienced facial surgeons please call 0333 920 9135 or click here

Is Gravity affecting your face?

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It’s a common fact that gravity is unavoidable unless you fancy a trip to outer space you have to come to terms with what goes up… is eventually going to come back down.

We are of course referring to your body rather than a general object. What starts off lifted and perky, eventually ends up a little saggy – it’s a natural sign of ageing. When you look at your face shape, you may be able to point out where gravity has started to pull areas downwards.

Where Does Gravity Affect?

  • The eyebrows will lower.
  • Upper eyelids will become heavy.
  • Excess skin in the lower eyelids.
  • The apples of the cheeks will sink.
  • Jowls may begin to form.
  • Excess skin in the neck region.

These are all typical signs of ageing that although fill most of us with dread, they can all actually be treated.

Treatment Step 1

Your first step when it comes to fighting ageing is to try and stop or reduce it from occurring in the first place. Of course, we are not time travellers but we can take it upon ourselves to fill our lives with healthy vitamin-rich diets, exercise, using sun protection, staying hydrated and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol. Living a healthy life will definitely set you up for holding off the effects of gravity in the face for longer.

Of course, even the best lifestyle in the world will not stop the ageing process altogether…

Treatment Step 2

When you notice the slight effects of ageing you can look at what non-surgical procedures there are that are suited to the problems that you are facing.

  • Lowering of the eyebrows – Anti wrinkle injections can help relax the active muscles that cause the brow to drop.
  • Sinking of the apples of the cheeks – Dermal Fillers can be used to restore and plump out the volume of the cheeks.
  • Aged and damaged skin – A genuine Dermaroller treatment is ideal for reducing fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and sun damaged skin for a fresher-faced look.
  • Sun damaged skin – A laser skin resurfacing treatment may sound a little ominous but it is a very safe and effective treatment for improving the appearance of general signs of ageing such as brown spots, uneven skin tone and fine lines or wrinkles.
  • Non-surgical facelift – Our Thermage treatment is often referred to as the ‘non surgical facelift’. It is a skin tightening treatment that does not involve surgery or injections and the downtime is minimal. It is ideal for improving the appearance of loose jowls and sagging skin.

Treatment Step 3

Depending on your age and the severity of the effects of gravity on your face you may find that non-surgical treatments are unable to deal with large amounts of excess skin or heaviness especially in the upper eye region or jowl area. At this point you may consider surgical treatments and we recommend making consultations with facial specialist surgeons to discuss the best course of action for you.

  • Heavy upper Eyelids -–Upper blepharoplasty can remove the excess fold on the upper eyelid.
  • Lower eyelid – Lower blepharoplasty can tighten up of the skin of the lower eyelid and remove puffiness.
  • Mini Facelift – Lifts sagging jowls and the neck, removes excess skin, resulting in better defined jaw and neck lines.
  • Full Facelift – Lifts the upper and lower face for total rejuvenation, removes excess skin and removes deep lines and folds.
  • Forehead Lift (Browplasty) – Lifts the forehead, to remove deep lines and elevate the brows. This will help to improve the overall look of the face as well.
  • Mid-Face Lift (Cheeklift) – Restores the lower eyelid area and cheeks. Tired, sagging cheeks are lifted and the face looks rejuvenated. This procedure can help with deep nasal folds.
  • Facelift and Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery) – A combination procedure to completely rejuvenate the face and eyelids.
  • One stitch facelift – The one stitch facelift targets the mid-face and can improve the jaw line. It is performed under local anaesthetic and patients are usually back to work in no time at all.
  • One stitch temporal lift – The one stitch temporal lift is very similar to the one stitch facelift however this option targets the upper face and both have been featured in Harper’s Bazaar’s Cosmetic Tweakment Trends of 2019

Whichever route you decide to take, gravity may be an inevitable fact of life but it is not one that you need to take “lying down”: if you want to do something about the effects of gravity in your face, you can achieve extremely successful results through both non-surgical and surgical procedures for reversing the inevitable effects gravity takes on your face.

The Private Clinic
Our plastic surgery team consists of some of the country’s most reputable Consultant Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons who have years of experience and expertise. Our surgeons are available in London, Manchester, Northampton, Birmingham and Bristol.

To find out more about facelift procedures available at The Private Clinic give us a call on 0333 920 2471 or use our online facelift contact form.

Blepharoplasty: A Simple Procedure that gives Impressive Results…with the right Surgeon, of course!

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Of all the signs of ageing, one of the hardest to disguise is drooping, excess skin around the eyes. Short of constantly wearing sunglasses it can’t be hidden, nor can make-up conceal it as easily as other imperfections.

What makes the matter worse, however, is how many of us it affects. In 2013 BAAPS reported a 14% increase in the number of people opting for eyelid surgery with 7,808 procedures carried out. Further yet, with many in their twenties and thirties suffering from the condition, eyelid laxity is far from just a problem for those battling the years.

But what can be done about it and how complicated is the treatment? We explore the surprisingly quick and easy blepharoplasty – a procedure designed to transform your eyes from tired and sagging, to refreshed and youthful, in what can be as little as 30 minutes under local anaesthetic.

Blephs image

Image: Blausen 0085 Blepharoplasty-EyeLift by BruceBlaus.

What is blepharoplasty?

Whether it’s performed due to time leaving its mark or genetics, blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the upper or lower eyelids. The treatment can be used to tackle a number of issues around the eye including reducing drooping, tightening creases and folds in the eyelids, or lifting the skin surrounding eyes.

How does the blepharoplasty procedure work?

Everyone is different, and we keep that in mind with every treatment. Each candidate needs to be properly assessed prior to blepharoplasty and your treatment will depend both on what you’re hoping to achieve and the view of the expert on how to achieve it.

There are two main areas of treatment:

Upper blepharoplasty

Procedures on the upper eyelids are relatively quick and can take as little as 30 minutes. Usually performed under local anaesthetic, an upper blepharoplasty is extremely safe and requires minimal downtime following the procedure with patients able to return home swiftly afterwards. We carry out our upper blepharoplasty procedures in our very own theatres, avoiding the need for a hospital stay.

Lower blepharoplasty

More complex than the upper blepharoplasty, procedures for the lower lids often require general anaesthetic and take between 1-2 hours to perform, but are again a safe way to combat ageing eyes.

For some, a combination of both procedures may be more beneficial to restore a youthful and refreshed appearance, but the look you want and the best method to achieve it will always be discussed fully at consultation stage with one of our Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons.

It is important to remember that despite its benefits, blepharoplasty is not a one-size-fits-all wrinkle buster; lines like crow’s feet cannot be treated through eyelid surgery and any surgeon you consult should advise you on other treatments like wrinkle injections and fillers to resolve this.

Quick and safe when performed by industry professionals, blepharoplasty is an effective solution to tackle excess skin around the eyes. While the procedure itself is speedy, the results our expert cosmetic plastic surgeons achieve can be life changing. By working with only the best professionals, your safety and satisfaction can be guaranteed and one of the most frustrating facial annoyances can be fully transformed.

The Private Clinic

At The Private Clinic we are proud to host some of the country’s most experienced and reputable consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeons. Blepharoplasty procedures are available in our London, Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol clinics with the majority taking place within our own rooms. Find out more about the treatment on our website.

To find out more about the procedure, arrange a consultation or visit our site.