Blepharoplasty

What is eyelid surgery?

Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is an operation that removes excess loose skin from the eyelids and ‘bags’ from below the eyes.

What happens eyelid surgery?

Eyelid surgery can be performed under local anaesthetic using normal surgical techniques or laser techniques. When upper eyelid surgery is undertaken, a curved cut is made close to the eyelashes and a crescent- shaped piece of skin and some underlying fatty tissue is removed. Small stitches may be inserted to close the cut.

Laser eyelid surgery can decrease the operating time and swelling of the eyelid, as well as reduce the risk of bleeding during the operation, because the laser beam seals blood vessels as it cuts through them.

What happens before a eyelid surgery?

You may be asked to visit the hospital one to two weeks before the date of your surgery, to have a preoperative interview with a nurse and/ or the anaesthetist. They will ask you questions about your current and past health, and will need to know about any allergies you may have, medications you are taking (including over the counter products or vitamin supplements), previous surgery, whether you smoke or take street drugs, and how much alcohol you use.

What are the possible common complications of a eye surgery?

Complications after eyelid surgery include:

blurred or double vision, mainly for a few hours, up to a day or two after surgery. This may occur for several reasons – ointment put in the eye immediately after the operation, local anaesthetic used in the operation, weakening of the muscles that control eye movement or swelling of the normally clear covering of the eye (the conjunctiva). If blurring persists for longer than 48 hours, it is important to inform the surgeon.

watery eyes – this is common for the first few days after the operation.

dry eyes may persist for two to three weeks. You may need to lubricate your eyes.

injury to the surface of the eyeball that causes persistent pain. If the pain lasts longer than a few hours after the operation, the surgeon must be informed.

collection of blood around the eyelids or behind the eyeball, called a haematoma.

damage to the muscles that move the eyeball – often this resolves by itself with time.

problems with eyelashes that point into the eye instead of away from it.

the upper eyelid does not open because of damage to the muscle that controls it – another operation is necessary to repair this.

when closing the eye, the eyelids do not cover the eyeball completely. This may occur for a short time after the operation because there is swelling around the eye. As the swelling settles, the problem resolves.

a sunken-looking eye.

acute glaucoma – this is raised pressure within the eye, which makes you feel sick, and may cause vomiting and problems with the vision from the eye. Specific treatment must be given and review by an eye doctor may be necessary.

infections