Blepharoplasty is a surgery performed on eyelids. During Blepharoplasty, excess fat, skin, and sometimes tissues that cause sagging of the skin around the eyes are removed to restore firmness to the muscles and the skin around the eyes to treat any vision problems you are encountering or to give your eyes a younger appearance.

However, you should keep this in mind that this surgery does not treat dark circles, crow’s feet, or any kind of facial wrinkles. You can consider getting Blepharoplasty for above mentioned cosmetic reasons or to fix any vision problems you might be facing due to the sagging of the skin.

Dr. Hiren Bhatt of NVYA AestheticsBoard Certified Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon has provided guidelines for candidates who want to receive Blepharoplasty:

• The best candidates for eyelid surgery are men and women who are physically healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in their expectations.
• Blepharoplasty is generally performed on candidates who are 35 years or older, but if droopy, baggy eyelids run in your family, you may decide to have eyelid surgery at a younger age.
• In addition to this, it is preferable if you do not have any serious chronic illness and do not smoke because these things may affect your recovery.
• If you are a smoker, you must be ready to quit smoking for a period of time as prescribed by Dr. Hiren Bhatt.

If you fall into the above criteria, you are an ideal candidate for Blepharoplasty.

The initial consultation with your surgeon is very important. Dr. Hiren Bhatt, Board Certified Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon, will discuss your medical history, allergies, any medications or vitamins (prescription or over-the-counter) you take, and other health-related questions.

In this consultation, Dr. Hiren Bhatt will test your vision and assess your tear production. You might also be asked to provide any relevant information from your ophthalmologist or the record of your most recent eye exam. Dr. Hiren Bhatt will then discuss your goals and expectations for this surgery. You’ll need to discuss whether to do all four eyelids or just the upper or lower ones, whether skin, as well as fat, will be removed, and if there’s a requirement to do any additional procedures.

Don’t hesitate to ask the surgeon any questions you may have, especially those regarding your expectations and concerns about the results. Consultation is an important step for you to analyze the doctor and check whether you can trust the doctor and his/her staff.

1. Before actually going through the surgery, you will undergo physical examination and photographs of your eyes will be taken for medical records.
2. Dr. Hiren Bhatt will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. Carefully following these instructions will help your surgery go more smoothly.
3. While you’re making preparations, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery, and to help you out for a few days if needed.

Eyelid surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia–which numbs the area around your eyes–along with oral or intravenous sedatives. You’ll be awake during the surgery, but relaxed and insensitive to pain. (However, you may feel some tugging or occasional discomfort.)

However, some surgeons prefer to use general anesthesia, in that case, you’ll sleep through the operation.

• Blepharoplasty usually takes one to three hours, depending on the extent of the surgery. If you’re having all four eyelids done, then Dr. Hiren Bhatt will probably work on the upper lids first, then the lower ones.

• In a typical procedure, Dr. Hiren Bhatt makes incisions following the natural lines of your eyelids, in the creases of your upper lids, and just below the lashes in the lower lids. The incisions may extend into the crow’s feet or laugh lines at the outer corners of your eyes.

• Working through these incisions, the skin is separated from underlying fatty tissue and muscle, removes excess fat, and often trims sagging skin and muscle. The incisions are then closed with very fine sutures.

• If you have a pocket of fat beneath your lower eyelids but don’t need to have any skin removed, Dr. Bhatt may perform a transconjunctival blepharoplasty. In this procedure, the incision is made inside your lower eyelid, leaving no visible scar. It is usually performed on younger patients with thicker, more elastic skin.

• After the surgery, your eyes will probably be lubricated with ointment and a bandage may be applied to them. Your eyelids may feel tight and sore as the anesthesia wears off, but you can control any discomfort with the prescribed pain medication. However, if you feel severe pain, then call Dr. Bhatt immediately.

• The doctor will prescribe painkillers to minimize your pain and also, you will be given specific instructions on taking care of surgical sites and general health during the recovery period.
• You may have bandages wrapping your face to deal with swelling and bruising. Also, a surgical tube is used to minimize swelling and to drain excess blood.
• After a few days, bandages will be changed or you may even be able to switch to an elasticized facial sling.
• Permanent scarring will be there; however, these scars will be in the hairline and therefore not visible.
• If dissolvable sutures are not used, then you have to go back to the doctor to remove sutures.
• You will be asked to avoid vigorous physical activities and direct sun exposure during this period.
• Please do follow check-ups as planned.

1. When eyelid surgery is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Nevertheless, there is always a possibility of complications, including infection or a reaction to the anesthesia. You can reduce your risks by closely following Dr. 1. Hiren Bhatt’s instructions both before and after surgery.
2. The minor complications that occasionally follow blepharoplasty include a double or blurred vision for a few days, temporary swelling at the corner of the eyelids, and a slight asymmetry in healing or scarring.
3. There is a chance that tiny whiteheads may appear after your stitches are taken out; however, they can be removed easily with a very fine needle.
4. Following surgery, some patients may have difficulty closing their eyes when they sleep; in rare cases, this condition may be permanent.
5. Another very rare complication is ectropion, a pulling down of the lower lids. In this case, further surgery may be required.

You should keep this in mind that all these risks and complications are uncommon and will not occur in one patient. Dr. Hiren Bhatt takes the utmost care to avoid the occurrence of any risks and complications.

Blepharoplasty gives generally satisfactory results. You may have surgical scars but they will eventually fade into a thin and nearly invisible white line during the healing process. On the other hand, the positive results of your eyelid surgery-the more alert and youthful look-will last for years. For many people, these results are permanent.