Blepharoplasty is a plastic surgery procedure indicated for patients who want to change the appearance of drooping eyelids. This cosmetic procedure usually removes excess skin and fat bags; however, with advances in techniques, there are now other possibilities that allow a much more satisfactory result.
Does blepharoplasty rejuvenate?
In young patients, the eyelids have a beautiful contour, no wrinkles, elastic skin, and no shadows thanks to adequate volume. As we age, the most noticeable facial changes begin in the eyelids.
The main goal of surgery is to rejuvenate the patient, not just to remove skin and fat bags. Over the last 15 years, we have refined our techniques, precisely because traditional blepharoplasty surgery (simply “cutting and removing” tissue) was unable to rejuvenate and sometimes caused further aging.
Blepharoplasty with fat transposition
In general, we still remove the excess, but we make better use of all the tissues, especially by repositioning fat throughout the area. The greatest gain is precisely restoring volume and reducing the shadows that age us so much.
What type of anesthesia is used for blepharoplasty?
Anesthesia is another important topic. We can use local anesthesia, local with sedation, or even general anesthesia. Some patients are more concerned about the safety of general anesthesia, but advances in medications have made this type of procedure extremely safe.
Patients' growing expectations have led to continuous improvement in the quality of postoperative care; in particular, physical therapy, taping, medication, and nutrition have been optimized to reduce swelling and bruising and to speed up healing. The “go-to remedy” during the recovery period is still the cold compress.
We stress the need to position the stitches in the natural folds of the skin, where they should become practically invisible between 3 and 6 months after surgery. In general, swelling decreases considerably within about 2 weeks; it lasts longer in repositioning cases and may persist for 3 to 4 months.
Whenever possible, we combine surgery with laser and find great benefits, such as reduced postoperative swelling and bruising, as well as skin retraction, which can be achieved with either the laser or chemical peels.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace a consultation. Whether any procedure is indicated depends on an in-person assessment, case by case. CRM SP 90.116 | RQE 11.350.
