Drooping upper lids and puffy bags beneath your eyes can make you look older and feel more tired than you really are. In some cases, your vision can be impaired.
Eyelid surgery – blepharoplasty – rejuvenates the appearance of your eyes by removing fat and sometimes excess skin and muscle from the upper and lower lids. You’ll look younger, and more alert and approachable.
Eyelid surgery can be done alone, or in conjunction with other facial surgery procedures such as face-lift or brow lift.
Any questions you have about eyelid surgery and whether it is appropriate for you can be answered by simply contacting Dr Hunt.
Considering eyelid surgery?
There are some common questions that many people who are considering eyelid surgery ask, such as:
Eyelid surgery is a very individualised procedure, and the outcome will be different for everyone. That is why before you make any decisions you will have a consultation with Dr Hunt to discuss your needs and goals for the surgery.
During this consultation, Dr Hunt will evaluate your general health as well as your face, including the skin, muscle, fat, and underlying bone. He will explain the factors that can influence the outcome of your surgery, and photographs will be taken for your medical record.
After the consultation, Dr Hunt's assistant will prepare a quote that will include your surgical, anaesthetic, and hospital fees.
You should bring any information you have from your ophthalmologist as well as a copy of your last eye exam to your initial consultation with Dr Hunt.
Eyelid surgery is performed under a general or local anaesthetic, given by an anaesthetist, in an accredited hospital, so you are assured of the best care.
Before surgery, Dr Hunt will mark the incision sites, following the natural lines and creases of your upper and lower eyelids. During surgery, underlying fat, along with excess skin and muscle will be removed.
If it is best for you, Dr Hunt will choose to do your lower eyelid by making a tiny incision on the inside. This is called a transconjunctival blepharoplasty.
If you are only having eyelid surgery you can usually go home on the same day. You should stay at home for the day and rest with cold packs over your eyes to reduce swelling and bruising. Stay as still as possible, as excessive movement will increase your pain.
When you are discharged from hospital you will be given a prescription for pain medication to minimise your discomfort and eye ointment, which you must use as directed. This ointment is greasy to keep your eyes moist while you sleep.
Your vision will be blurry for at least a week after your surgery.
You should take only the pain medication prescribed, and eat before you take it or it might upset your stomach.
Make sure you get plenty of fluids.
Five days after your surgery you will return to see Dr Hunt and the very fine sutures in your eyes will be removed.
You will have another follow-up visit a week later to check on your progress and remove the remainder of your sutures.
You should plan on taking at 1 to 2 weeks off work. You can return to work when the swelling subsides and your vision returns to normal. This usually takes 7 to 10 days.
You will be swollen and bruised for 5 to 10 days after surgery. Do not over-exert yourself until you are completely healed.
You must sleep with your head elevated on 2 pillows until healing is complete – this helps decrease the amount of swelling.
Your eyes will not close completely after your surgery. This is normal and it will resolve over a few weeks. It is very important that you use your eye ointment as directed following your surgery.
? You will be able to wash your face the day after surgery.
? You will be able to use eye make-up 2 weeks after your surgery.
