Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery) (cont.)

How Is Eyelid Surgery Performed?

An eye lift usually takes about two hours if both upper and lower eyelids are done together. Your doctor will most likely use local anesthesia (a painkiller injected around the eye) with oral sedation.

If you are having the procedure completed at a hospital or surgical center, you will most likely receive intravenous sedation.

If you're having all four eyelids done, the surgeon will probably work on the upper lids first. The surgeon will usually make incisions following the natural lines of your eyelids. Through these incisions, he or she will separate the skin from the underlying tissue and remove the excess fat, skin and muscle. The incisions are then closed with very small sutures. There will be sutures in both upper lids that will remain for three to six days. The lower lids may or may not require sutures depending upon the technique used.

Surgery on the lower eyelids may be done using one of several techniques. The transconjunctival technique is performed by making an incision inside the eyelid. No incision is visible following surgery. Through the incision, fat may be removed to correct baggy lower eyelids. Then, fine lines in the skin can be softened using a C0₂ or erbium laser.

Another method, called the transcutaneous technique requires an incision along the eyelash margin. Through the incision, excess skin, loose muscle and fat can be removed. The incision line fades after a short time.

After either of these procedures, laser resurfacing may be recommended.

What Is Recover Like After Eyelid Surgery?

After eyelid surgery, there will be stitches in both lids that will remain for up to about a week. It is common for swelling, and occasionally, bruising to occur, but within one to two weeks the eyelids will look normal.

© 2005-2013 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
Source article on WebMD

Source: MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/blepharoplasty__eyelid_surgery/article.htm