Beauty trends and cosmetic surgery are on the rise.
Plastic surgeons in the United States performed a staggering 17.5 million procedures in 2017. That’s a 40-percent increase since 2000.
Americans spent more than 15 billion dollars on plastic surgery for the first time ever.
Among the top procedures done is eyelid surgery, also called blepharoplasty. It’s so popular that it ranks 4th with a whopping 209,571 procedures!
This may have got you thinking about your eyelids’ appearance. Specifically, if eyelid surgery is a good option for you.
First things first: There are various types of eyelid surgery. Knowing the differences can help you figure out which one is best for your situation.
So, to help you make the right choice, we’ve come up with this post that covers the main types of blepharoplasty.
Before we discuss what the types of eyelid surgery are, it’s important to have some background about blepharoplasty first.
So, here’s a quick rundown of some facts about the procedure:
Blepharoplasty is a type of surgery that repairs droopy eyelids. The surgeon removes excess muscle, fat, or skin.
Because your eyes are some of your most noticeable features, improving its appearance affects your overall look. Saying goodbye to droopy eyes or sleepy-looking eyes can mean slashing years off your appearance.
But there’s more to this procedure than just its ‘beauty’ side. Indeed, it’s a vanity procedure. In some patients, however, there’s already a need to get rid of the sagging skin that obstructs vision.
No wonder why many people decide to have eyelid surgery! And why there are now quite a lot of different types of eyelid surgery.
Do you feel like your eyes look tired, as though you’re sleepy or unhappy? Sagging, drooping and wrinkled eyelids can cause this appearance.
Excess fat deposits and skin on the eyelids make the eyes puffy and drooping.
In most cases, the common causes of sagging eyelids are sun damage, aging, genetics, and gravity.
This is where upper blepharoplasty, one of the most sought-after types of eyelid surgery, comes into play.
So, what happens during an upper eyelid surgery?
The doctor uses incisions to remove excess fat or skin in the upper eyelids. Plastic surgeons make sure there are no obvious scars after the procedure. They conceal the scars within the natural structures of the eyelid.
The surgeon removes the sagging skin and excess fat in the eyelids. He performs the needed adjustments to achieve a better-looking eyelid. Of course, less sagging skin means fewer problems with obstructed vision.
If you’re worried about the recovery time, it can take several weeks. In about 10 to 14 days, you may already see the changes in your appearance.
Like any other surgery, you can expect to have swelling and pain. The eyes may produce more tears than normal.
To take care of the incision, avoid any activities that may dry the eyes. These include watching television, using a computer, or reading.
To cut swelling, elevate the head as much as possible during the first few days. You can apply a cold compress for the first 24 hours after surgery.
After five days, the doctor will need you to return to the clinic to remove the sutures.
On the 10th day of surgery, you will notice that you look younger as the swelling subsides.
Your eyes are the windows to your soul, right? Definitely.
So, those sagging and puffy lower eyelids can make you look like you haven’t slept for ages.
Herniated fat deposits may collect under the eyes. They may appear in older people, as the skin loses its elasticity over time. But many people as young as those in their 20s can also have these eye bags.
If you think the pesky eye bags make you look old, you might want to consider having lower blepharoplasty, one of the several types of eyelid surgery.
Lower eyelid surgery is an excellent solution to correct eyelid bags. It aims to minimize or redistribute excess fattissue that may accumulate under the eye. In some cases, the doctor removes excess skin to create a more tightened look.
What are the things to expect during a lower eyelid surgery?
The procedure will take about one to two hours under local anesthesia. The surgeon creates the incision on the outer edge of the lower eyelid, below the lash line. The doctor will remove excess fat and skin before closing the incision with tiny stitches.
The recovery time will take about a couple of weeks. But, after everything, you will find yourself looking younger and better.
The doctor will tell you to rest your eyes to prevent drying. An ointment for the incision will help the wound heal faster.
You might end up with eyelid problems due to stress, aging, and sun exposure. Sagging, puffy and drooping skin may be the result of these factors. Accumulation of fat is also a big problem for some people.
To rejuvenate the eyes, the doctor may also perform a bilateral eyelid surgery, another of the most common types of eyelid surgery. This involves removal of excess skin and fat from the upper and lower eyelids.
The results? It gives your skin a tighter look. So, once your body’s done healing, you’ll boast of a fresher, youthful glow.
Basically, bilateral eyelid surgery combines upper and lower blepharoplasty. The doctor may recommend this procedure for people with puffy and sagging skin in both eyelids.
Right after the surgery, the doctor will tell you to wear sunglasses on your way home to prevent sun exposure. Also, you may have to avoid reading books, watching television, or wearing contact lenses for at least two weeks after the surgery.
To help your body cope with the surgery, apply a cold compress. Make sure you use a sterile solution and a gauze pad though! Apply this 10 to 15 minutes for the first 24 hours right after the procedure to lessen swelling.
Recovery time will take a couple of weeks. During this period, you should avoid exercising and lifting heavy objects.
Many people actually refer to this as the Asian eyelid surgery. It got this ‘nickname’ for one simple reason: it’s one of Asia’s most popular types of eyelid surgery.
Eyelid surgery accounts for 12.9 percent of all plastic surgeries done worldwide in 2016. Japan and China are among the countries on top of the list.
Many Asians appear to have no eyelids at all! Although this fold is common to most ethnic groups, half of the Asian population don’t have it.
Hence, Asians in this group have given rise to its popularity. With many of them having undergone it, it’s easy to see why it’s become one of the common types of eyelid surgery.
So, why have it?
This procedure adds a supratarsal epicanthic fold in the upper eyelid. As a result, it gives your eyes a seemingly larger appearance.
With that fold, your eyes can look bigger and brighter.
There are three methods to create a double eyelid-incision, buried suture, and beads.
As their name suggests, the incision method involves a slice on the skin. It’s a reliable technique since it also provides an extra perk. It removes the wrinkles between the new double eyelid line and eyelashes.
The buried suture and beads methods don’t require any incision. And although well-known, it pays for you to know about their shortcomings too.
For instance, the beads method may show visible signs of the needle scars. On the other hand, the effects of the suture method can disappear when fat deposits collect on the upper eyelids.
This said, know that most surgeons still prefer the incision method.
Some people have excess fat pockets around the eyelids. This then makes their eyes look puffy and swollen.
To reduce these fat pockets, the doctor often recommends a transconjunctival eyelid surgery. This technique is less invasive. Less, in the sense that it only requires a minimal incision.
For you, this means minimal, even unnoticeable scars.
The procedure addresses the fat in the lower eyelid eye bulges. In most cases, removal is not the primary goal of this procedure. Rather, the doctor may reposition them to address contour abnormalities.
In any case, a successful procedure paves the way for brighter, younger, and of course, larger-looking eyes.
Most patients undergo the procedure because their eyes make them look older than their age.
After the surgery, you’ll look refreshed and young-looking, without the pesky eye bags. While the doctor improves the look of your lower lids, he can also reduce the wrinkles by tightening the skin.
The result of your eyelid surgery will depend on how well you take care of your surgical incision. Thus, aftercare is a crucial part of your recovery. It reduces the risk of swelling, infection, and return of the sagging skin.
Make sure you take care of your eyelid surgery. Avoid strenuous activities for a couple of weeks after the procedure.
Eyelid surgery is no doubt becoming even more popular. And there’s no other better time than now to consider going for it if you know it can help.
Ready to know more about how removing those sagging eyelids can help? Or perhaps a more in-depth review of the types of eyelid surgery? Then give us a call and set up an appointment and get a quote of our expert services!
We’re looking forward to hearing from you! Call us, send an online message, or stop by our offices to talk to a member of our team and arrange a consultation.
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