When your eyes look tired and droopy, it makes you look older. Sure, make-up and concealers can help, but they can only do so much. If you have had it with the way your eyes look, you might want to have eyelid surgery, called an eyelift or blepharoplasty, according to WebMD. Blepharoplasty can improve the appearance of both your upper and lower eyelids, resulting in a more rested and alert appearance.
Considerations
Eyes don’t always age well. Skin, in general, loses elasticity in the aging process. When the skin sags on the lower eye, this can lead to baggy eyes. When skin sags on the upper eye, you get an extra fold of skin there. Most people have eyelid surgery for cosmetic reasons, but sagging upper eyelids can obstruct vision. In that case, people opt for eyelid surgery to improve sight.
Who Can Get Surgery
People who are in good health and who have realistic expectations about what eyelid surgery will and will not do are the best candidates, according to WebMD. Eyelid surgery can enhance your appearance, but it cannot eliminate dark circles under your eyes or get rid of crow’s feet, which are the wrinkles around your eyes. The procedure will last a long time, but it won’t last forever. Your eyes will still age. You may not ever need to redo your surgery, but results typically last five to seven years. Rather than getting a second eyelid procedure, many women opt for a brow lift if they have sagging again in that area.
The Procedure
The surgeon will make an incision and remove the excess fat, skin and muscle from your eyelid. The surgery will take about two to four hours for both upper and lower eyelids. You will have sutures in the upper lids and may not need them on the lower lids. The sutures will stay in for three to six days, and in about two weeks, your eyelids will look normal, according to WebMD.
Recovery
You can typically go home the same day you have your cosmetic eye surgery. Any bruising should go away in five to 10 days, and the swelling should subside in two to four weeks, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. You will have some incisions lines that will continue to fade for one year.
Complications
Risks and complications are rare with eyelid surgery. Some possible risks include bleeding, infection, dry eyes, discoloration of the skin on the eyelids and an inability to close your eyes. Contact your doctor if you have any complications.
Photo Credit
- eyes image by EvilGirl from Fotolia.com
