Have you noticed your eyelids starting to sag as you age? Are you worried that dark bags under your eyes and drooping eyelids making you look older and less rested than you truly are? Do you want a durable improvement in your appearance? If so, you may benefit significantly from eyelid surgery at Zormeier Cosmetic Surgery & Longevity Center in Noblesville, IN. Keep reading to learn more about this efficient, long-lasting procedure, including what results you can realistically expect from it.
What Should You Expect From Eyelid Surgery?
If you decide blepharoplasty will improve your appearance, you can anticipate an astonishing transformation in the look of your eyelids. Depending on the scope of your procedure or procedures, you can expect the process to take between 45 and 120 minutes.
You can expect a full recovery in no more than four to six weeks. Once your recovery is complete, you can expect to look years younger for well over a decade. The reduction in your lower eyelid fat deposits will last a lifetime.
What Is Eyelid Surgery?
Eyelid surgery, known in the medical community as blepharoplasty, is a procedure designed to enhance the appearance of the upper eyelids (upper blepharoplasty) or lower eyelids (lower blepharoplasty). Following this procedure, the eyes are highlighted, becoming more open thanks to the removal of excess fat and muscle and the lifting and tightening of sagging skin. A single, simple step is required to eliminate undereye bags and make you look happier, healthier, and years younger.
What Are the Benefits Associated With This Procedure?
It is incredibly difficult to enhance the appearance of the eyes without blepharoplasty. Injectables may provide marginal improvements temporarily. However, there aren’t very many injectables on the market that can be safely administered into the thin, sensitive skin around the eyes. Furthermore, they can’t remove excess fat or muscle. Blepharoplasty, on the other hand, is safe and far more effective than injectables.
With a short, simple procedure, you can look years younger for 10 to 15 years without injections every two months. However, the most significant benefit is the improvement in your self-confidence once you have the youthful, striking eyes you desire.
Which Procedure Is Right for Me?
As noted above, there are two types of eyelid surgery. Depending on your cosmetic concerns, you may benefit from upper blepharoplasty, lower blepharoplasty, or both. Both procedures can be combined and performed in a single, extremely convenient procedure if you have concerns about your upper and lower eyelids.
Upper Blepharoplasty
Upper blepharoplasty is appropriate for people with upper eyelid concerns. Excess fat, muscle, and skin tissue will be removed in the upper eyelid region during this procedure. We will make the incisions in your upper eyelids’ natural creases so nobody will see the incisions as they heal. This procedure can reverse the appearance of hooded eyes and eliminate the sagging of the upper eyelids and eyebrows for up to 15 years.
Lower Blepharoplasty
Lower blepharoplasty is most commonly sought to tighten loose skin and eliminate excess fat causing bags beneath the eyes. Undereye bags are frustrating because they can make you look more tired than you are, and some people may think you look inattentive when they are talking to you.
Lower blepharoplasty eliminates undereye bags. Since adults can’t grow new fat cells, you never have to worry about fat causing undereye bags again once the excess fat has been removed. The incisions required for lower blepharoplasty are made inside the eyelids so nobody will be able to tell you’ve had work done to look so young.
Do I Qualify for This Procedure?
There is a possibility that you will qualify for this procedure if you want to improve the appearance of your upper or lower eyelids. However, when determining who qualifies for blepharoplasty, we look for people who are healthy enough to receive general anesthesia, a numbing medication that keeps you asleep throughout the procedure. You may not be a very good candidate for this procedure if you are required to take blood-thinning pharmaceuticals due to a heart condition.
You also may not qualify for this procedure if you have naturally thin blood. Furthermore, certain medical concerns affecting the eye region, including the eyes and eyelids, may preclude you from qualifying. During your initial evaluation, we will discuss your health history and current health to determine whether you are healthy enough to receive this procedure at this time. Then, we will evaluate your cosmetic goals to determine whether this procedure can help you achieve your desired aesthetic.
What Happens During the Process?
During your initial consultation, we will gladly answer all of your questions about the entire process, from preparing for it to navigating your recovery smoothly. In the meantime, here’s a brief overview of what to expect throughout the process:
An Initial Evaluation
The first step in the process is coming in for an initial consultation to determine whether you qualify for this procedure. This initial meeting is essential because it allows us to ensure you are healthy enough for this procedure to be safe for you. It also allows us the opportunity to evaluate your eyelids and identify the best way to help you achieve your aesthetic goals.
Furthermore, this initial appointment is important because it allows you to ask us any questions you have about the process so you can determine whether it is a good fit for you. During your initial consultation, we will photograph your face and eyelids so you can see clearly how much younger you look once your recovery period is complete. Sometimes, it is hard for us to see changes in our appearance without looking at prior pictures.
Preparation
Preparing for this procedure is not difficult, particularly if you already lead a fairly healthy lifestyle. One of the most important instructions you must adhere to is refraining from taking any blood-thinning drugs and supplements. These drugs and supplements should be avoided during the seven days leading up to your procedure. Additionally, you should not consume alcohol within 48 hours of your procedure.
Furthermore, in the two weeks leading up to your procedure, you should take steps to mitigate the risk of sunburn and other skin irritation in the targeted area or areas. Moreover, it is very important to refrain from nicotine consumption in the 14 days leading up to your procedure.
Other Preparation Steps for a Smooth Procedure and Recovery
To qualify for blepharoplasty, you should be prepared to go 14 days after your procedure without consuming nicotine, as well. It is essential to avoid any products containing nicotine before and after your procedure because nicotine elevates your blood pressure and damages your skin. This can slow your recovery process significantly, delaying the revelation of your final results.
If general anesthesia is administered, rather than a local anesthetic and sedation, you should not eat or drink in the eight hours leading up to your procedure. However, you may take a sip of water with any medications you have to take within eight hours of your procedure. You do not need to fast before receiving IV sedation, but you should stick to light foods and clear liquids.
Blepharoplasty
You should have someone drive you to our office on the day of your procedure. We will answer any last-minute questions you have about the procedure or recovery process. Then, we will administer the anesthesia that will keep you comfortable throughout the procedure. We will clean your eyelids and make tiny, discrete incisions that will remain hidden in your eyelids as they heal. Once the incisions are made, excess fat and muscle tissue will be removed. Then, any excess skin will be removed.
Finally, loose, sagging skin will be tightened and the incisions will be sutured closed. Finally, we will apply a dressing to keep your skin protected as it heals. As the anesthesia wears off, you will be observed to ensure you are sufficiently alert. Then, you are free to return home. Blepharoplasty is an outpatient procedure, so there is no need to stay overnight in a hospital for observation. You will receive a comprehensive list of recovery instructions before you go home.
Why Someone Must Drive You to Your Appointment
One of the most important instructions to adhere to is to have someone stay with you for at least the first 24 hours post-op. You cannot drive within 24 hours of receiving anesthesia, and you will benefit significantly from having someone help out around the house because you will feel tired after your procedure.
Recovery
Depending on the scope of your procedure, we will examine your incision sites one or two days following your blepharoplasty. If you follow the post-op recovery guidelines, your skin will have healed sufficiently for the removal of the protective dressing. You should expect to spend at least 96 hours at home recovering except for coming in for your follow-up evaluation. Applying a prescription healing ointment to your incision sites daily will speed up your recovery significantly.
Furthermore, you may take analgesics during your recovery as long as they are not blood-thinners. Most people only need to take a week off from work to recover. However, strenuous exercise should be avoided for at least four weeks post-op. If you have a strenuous job, come in for a follow-up evaluation a couple of weeks after your procedure to see if it is okay for you to return to work.
A Note Regarding Sunscreen
Another important thing to avoid during your recovery period is unprotected sun exposure. UVC rays can slow your recovery process. Four to six weeks following your procedure, you should expect your eyelids to be healed completely. At this point, you will be able to enjoy your final results for approximately 10 to 15 years.
Results
You will notice an improvement in your appearance once the protective dressing has been removed from your eyelids. However, you should not expect to see your final results until your skin has healed completely. Your eyelids will be tighter, your skin will be smoother, and there will be no more bags beneath your eyes.
Learn More Today
Sagging eyelids and dark undereye bags don’t need to be permanent fixtures on your face. With eyelid surgery, you can look younger and more well-rested for years to come. Are you interested in learning more? Get in touch with us at Zormeier Cosmetic Surgery & Longevity Center in Noblesville, Shelbyville, or Danville, IN, or Healdsburg or Ukiah, CA, to schedule an initial consultation. We welcome the opportunity to help you look as young and refreshed as you feel.