Operation
It is a relatively simple operation for the surgeon and for the patient as well. Blepharoplasty procedures may be completed under local anesthesia, with or without mild sedation, or under general anesthesia. The procedure may be performed in an out-patient facility, in the office, or hospital. Although the procedure is typically painless, you may have occasional mild discomfort during the procedure. If your surgeon elects for you to have general anesthesia, you will sleep through the procedure. The entire procedure may take from one to three hours, depending largely on whether all four lids are being operated on, or just the upper or lower ones.Most commonly, the surgeon will make incisions along the natural creases of the upper eyelids, and just below the eyelashes for the lower eyelids. These incisions may be made with a traditional scalpel or a laser. The upper eyelid incisions extend from the upper inner corners of the eyelids to the "crow's feet" region. The surgeon will remove excess skin, muscle, and fat as necessary to produce the desired result. The incisions are then closed with tiny sutures, which are often absorbed or removed in about a week, and stitches.
If the lower eyelids are being operated on, some surgeons elect to proceed with a transconjunctival blepharoplasty when excess skin does not need to be removed. This procedure entails a small incision only on the inside of the lower eyelid. This allows the removal of a fat pocket in the lower eyelid and prevents any visible scar, while still producing the desired result.
