Trying to avoid getting caught by the camera this holiday season? If you’re of a certain age, your photo-dodging habit could signal an unhappiness with your appearance. The older we get, the more we see baggy eyes staring back at us in the mirror. Thus, our self-confidence gets zapped and we hide when the camera comes out. If you’ve been thinking this is the year you’re going to freshen up those tired eyes, you’re probably considering eyelid surgery.
What Makes Eyes Baggy?
As we age, our skin loses elasticity and gravity takes its toll. The reduced elasticity can allow excess skin to collect on the upper and lower eyelids, causing wrinkles and bulges on the lower lids and an extra fold of skin on the upper lids. Long-term contact lens use, excess sun exposure, lack of sleep, poor diet and water retention can also play a part. Plus, the fat that cushions the eyeball from the skull can cause bulges in the upper and lower eyelids. The result? Droopy and baggy eyelids that make us look tired and older. There are many types of serums and creams that can address some of the issues with baggy eyes, but only eyelid surgery can deliver dramatic and long-lasting results.
What is Eyelid Surgery?
Also called an eye lift or blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery can enhance your appearance and give you a confidence boost. The surgery reduces bagginess from lower eyelids and removes sagging skin from upper eyelids. Although eye lifts are usually done to improve the appearance of eyes, the surgery can also improve sight in older people whose sagging upper eyelids affect their vision. While eyelid surgery will not eliminate other cosmetic issues like dark circles, crow’s feet, or other facial wrinkles, it can make you look refreshed, younger, less tired and more alert. Eye lifts are sometimes done along with other procedures such as laser resurfacing, filler injections, or forehead lifts.
Conditions treated by eyelid surgery include:
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Excess fatty deposits that appear as puffiness in the upper eyelids
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Loose or sagging skin that creates folds on the upper eyelid, sometimes impairing vision
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Excess skin and fine wrinkles of the lower eyelid
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Bags under the eyes
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Droopy lower eyelids, showing white below the iris (colored portion of the eye)
Who Benefits from Eyelid Surgery?
As with any type of plastic surgery, you should only choose to undergo the procedure if you are doing it for yourself and not to fit someone else’s idea of how you should look. That being said, if you’re in good health and have realistic expectations about your results, you are a good candidate for an eye lift. Most eye surgery patients are more than 35 years old, but you might want the surgery done sooner if droopy or baggy eyelids are a family trait. Your plastic surgeon can help you set realistic goals and help you understand what your individual results might be.
Prior to surgery, your doctor will want to know if you have any of these conditions:
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Glaucoma, dry eye, a detached retina or any other eye disease
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Graves’ disease, under or overactive thyroid, or any other thyroid issue
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Cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure or other circulatory disorders
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Diabetes
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Allergies that affect your eyes
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Trouble wearing contact lenses
Eye lift results can last a long time. You can expect upper eyelid surgery to last at least five to seven years, and for lower eyelid surgery to be fairly permanent. Your eyes will continue to age after the procedure, so if your lids sag again, a forehead lift is often the next course.
Possible Eyelid Surgery Complications
Although rare, complications and unwanted results from an eye lift do occur, so it’s important to be aware of these possible risks:
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Bleeding
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Infection
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Dry eyes
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Abnormal coloring of the eyelids
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Eyelid skin that folds in or out abnormally
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Not being able to fully close your eyes
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A pulled-down lower lid lash line
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A possible loss of vision
What are the Costs of Eyelid Surgery?
Typically, this type of cosmetic surgery is not covered by health insurance; however, you may want to check with your insurance company. Your costs will vary, depending on whether you are treating your upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both; and, depending on whether the surgery will be performed at a doctor’s office or at a surgical center. The costs will generally be broken down by:
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Surgeon’s professional fee
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Facility fee
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Anesthesia fee
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Medications
What is Recovery Like?
Just like results will vary, so does recovery time. Every person is different; however, you can expect to be back to your normal activities within 2 weeks. You should rest quietly with your head elevated for the first few days. Your plastic surgeon will explain what you can expect, including a “tight” sensation around the eyes, swelling, bruising and some mild discomfort that can be controlled with oral medication. Your stitches will most likely be removed within a week of surgery.
Nobody likes to hear those three little words — “You look tired” — but sagging upper eyelids and bulging skin on the lower lids do make us look tired, not to mention older. Before electing eyelid surgery, you should be completely upfront with your plastic surgeon about your health, your lifestyle habits, and your expectations. The results you achieve are dependent on the honest relationship you have with your doctor. Always be sure to let your doctor know if you have problems or questions before, during or after your surgery.
