If you are like many people in New York City, you have probably thought of going for an eyelid surgery in New York or its environs, but are confused on whether or not it is the right course of action to take. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding Blepharoplasty to help you make up your mind whether it is something you really want to do and whether you are ready to live with the consequences of your decision.
What is an eyelid surgery?
The medical term for an eyelid surgery is Blepharoplasty, a cosmetic surgical procedure that is meant to fix loose skin folds on the upper eyelids and fix eye bags on the lower eyelids. It is also known as an eyelid lift, an eyelift, a cosmetic eyelid surgery, a cosmetic eye surgery, or an eye bag removal surgery.
What are the main reasons why people have eyelid surgeries?
An upper eyelid surgery is performed on patients who have loose, overhanging eyelids which tend to impair vision, mostly leading to frequent blinking of the eyes and unwarranted eye fatigue. It also looks ugly hence has always been the source of most cosmetic complaints reported. An upper eyelid operation can be performed in conjunction with ptosis surgery should a relationship with the droopy eyelids established. More often than not, drooping of the eyebrows always contribute to overhanging eyelids hence often needs to be addressed at the same time or separately so as to get rid of the problem permanently.
A lower eyelid surgery on the other hand is performed on patients who have to content with ‘baggy’ or ‘puffy’ eye lids, what is basically known as eye bags. They often look ugly and are a main source of cosmetic problems and self-confidence issues among most people.
What happens during surgery?
The surgery can be performed under local anesthesia (twilight anesthesia) with intravenous sedation or under general anesthesia. Most patients who are physically and mentally fit often choose the ‘twilight anesthesia’, especially those who live within New York City. An eyelid surgery in New York is often a day case which can be done in the operating theatre at a Face & Eye clinic, and most patients would be discharged by the end of the day. This is on condition there are no complications arising, and that there would be no other accompanying surgeries done. For patients who live far away from their New York clinic of choice, they are always booked in for an overnight stay in a medical facility.
What Happens after the surgery?
Immediately after surgery, the eyes would be covered with pressure dressing for 30 or so minutes to reduce swelling, after which they would be removed and replaced with soothing cool packs. To prevent bleeding, further swelling and for speedy recovery, activity after surgery is often restricted for a minimum of 2 weeks. You are expected to clean the eyes gently using sterile saline and a piece of cotton wool and apply an antibiotic ointment at least thrice a day for a minimum period of 2 weeks.
With that being said, it is important to keep in mind that each eye surgery is different and unique to each individual. This is therefore just a general overview when all things remain constant. It is thus important to consult with your surgeon to know exactly what to expect of the procedure.