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Eyelid Surgery
The Operation
Day of Eyelid Surgery
Important factors to be fully aware of before an eyelid Surgery operation (blepharoplasty)are:
1. Driving
Do not drive home after an eye bag removal operation as you will receive sedatives with the local anaesthetic which will prevent you from driving. If the operation is performed under general anaesthetic remember it is against the law to drive within 24 hours of a general anaesthetic. You will need to arrange for transport to take you to and from the hospital.
2. Eating & Drinking
Abstain from all food and drink (including sweets and water) for at least 4 hours before your eye bag removal operation if it is being performed under local anaesthetic. If the operation is being performed under general anaesthetic increase this time to 8 hours.
3. Body Jewellery
Ensure all body piercings and jewellery are removed before you leave home.
You will need to bring with you:
• All necessary personal items for a short hospital stay (e.g. dressing gown, slippers, toothbrush, etc).
• All medications that you are currently taking including any/all alternative medicine/preparations/tablets/capsules.
When you arrive at the hospital you will be met by the admitting officer who will confirm your personal details (e.g. name, address, next of kin, etc) before escorting you to your room.
Once you have changed into an operating gown, you will then be required to complete a questionnaire to ascertain your current medical status.
A nurse will then complete final routine preoperative checks measuring your temperature, blood pressure and heart rate. Patients over 40 years of age will have an ECG (electrocardiogram) which monitors your heart and evaluates your fitness for surgery. Any medication/s you are currently taking must be given to the nurse.
The operating surgeon will then see you to answer any final questions/queries you may have about the eye bag removal procedure before taking preoperative photographs of your eyes and making the necessary skin markings.
Finally, if the eye bag removal operation (blepharoplasty) is being performed under general anaesthetic the anaesthetist will see you to complete the final checks. You will then be taken into the operating theatre for your eye bag removal operation.
The Eyelid Surgery Operation
The eye bag removal operation (blepharoplasty) usually takes about half an hour for either the upper or lower eyelids or about an hour if both upper and lower eyelids are being corrected.
Eye bag removal is usually performed under sedation and local anaesthetic although a general anaesthetic is sometimes preferred for an exceptionally nervous patient.
For upper eyelids, the incision is made in the lid crease. For lower eyelids the incision starts at the outer side in a crow's foot crease and extends under the eyelashes. The incisions are made in pre-existing skin creases and are not necessarily in exactly the same position on each side.
Through these incisions, excess fat, skin and if necessary, muscle can be appropriately removed before the skin is closed with stitches.
A different operative technique may be adopted for patients with upper and lower eyelids that have good skin tone but have an excess of protruding fat (“eye bags”) in the lower eyelids only. This operation is known as a ‘transconjunctival blepharoplasty’.
The lower eyelid is pulled forwards and an incision is made on the inner surface of the lid which allows access to the fatty pockets of the lower eyelids. The excess fat can be removed by this approach and no stitches are required.
To find out more about Eyelid Surgery, click on any of the links below:
Before The Eyelid Surgery Operation
After The Eyelid Surgery Operation
Eyelid Surgery FAQs
Eyelid Surgery Gallery
or
Click here to download Dublin Cosmetic Surgery Centre's "Guide to Eyelid Surgery"
Further Information about Eyelid Surgery can be obtained by reading our senior surgeon's latest book "Every Woman's Guide to Cosmetic Surgery". If you would like to purchase a copy, please click here.
