Also known by its clinical name, blepharoplasty, or eye bag removal, eyelid surgery can help you look younger and more alert by removing excess skin and fat from above or below your eyes and tightening up the area around the eye.
1 - 3 hours
generally day case
first 4 - 6 weeks
6 weeks
As we age, the skin around our eyes can begin to sag and stretch and the muscles which support our eyelids can start to weaken. Drooping eyebrows, baggy upper lids and noticeable bags under the eyes can be the result, making you look older than you are and, in some cases, affecting your vision.
Sagging skin around the eyes can have several other causes, such as the lifestyle you lead, your genetic makeup and a lack of sleep. Eyelid surgery can help to address the problem and restore a refreshed, more youthful appearance.
Blepharoplasty surgery removes excess skin, fat and muscle to alleviate issues in the upper and/or lower eyelid area.
You might feel that the skin on your eyelids has become lax and started to sag, so that you look permanently tired or older than you really are. You could have functional issues in the eyelid area, such as excess skin obscuring your vision or causing discomfort. If so, blepharoplasty could provide these benefits:
Just as with all surgical procedures, there are risks and possible complications associated with blepharoplasty. These include:
This kind of surgery can either take place under general anaesthetic – when you’ll be asleep for the duration of the procedure – or using local anaesthetic, in which case the area being addressed will be numbed so that you don’t feel anything.
If you’re having surgery on your upper eyelids, your surgeon will make an incision along the fold of your eyelid to minimise visible scarring. They’ll then remove the extra skin, fat and muscle and tighten the area, then close the incision.
If you’re having your lower eyebags removed, the incision will be made just below your eyelash line inside the lower eyelid or in the natural crease of the eye. Once they’ve taken away any excess fat, skin and muscle, they’ll close the incision.
Cosmetic surgery patients should be over the age of 18, have good health overall, and have realistic expectations about what their procedure can achieve. They should also be prepared to follow the guidance and instructions given to them before and after their surgery.
Determining if this is the right procedure for you will depend on your personal goals and the opinion of your surgeon. However, this kind of treatment may help if you are concerned about drooping upper or lower eyelids that are aging you or making you appear tired, or if you have functional issues with your vision due to your eyelids obstructing your sight or causing discomfort.
You’ll need to plan to take around 10 days off work following your blepharoplasty surgery to give yourself the best opportunity to recover well.
Initially, you’re likely to have some swelling and bruising around your eye area and that may be present for the first 7 days or so. You may also feel that the area is tight and slightly irritated for the first few days after surgery, which is normal and can be relieved with ice packs and over the counter pain medication. Try to keep your head higher than your chest when resting, too.
You may be given eye drops for the first few weeks and should use these are directed. Following your eyelid surgery and for at least the first 2-3 weeks, you should make sure that you avoid smoking and don’t wear contact lenses. You should try not to rub your eyes and don’t carry out any heavy lifting or vigorous activity.
Your final results should be visible by the 4 – 6 week point following your eyelid procedure.
Yes, it can, and many people decide to have surgery in both areas so that they achieve a more balanced and natural-looking result. Your surgeon will assess your eye area at your consultation and let you know what the best course of action is to achieve the result that you’d like, so it’s important to discuss what your goals are at this point.
The results that might be seen from this type of procedure vary from person to person as they depend on a number of different factors, such as age, skin elasticity and the extent of the surgery carried out.
Some of the most common results after blepharoplasty include a more youthful and rested appearance due to a reduction in the lines and wrinkles around the eyes, less obstructed vision, and an increase in self-confidence due to changes in appearance.
Trailblazer
As a trailblazer in our affiliate programme, you’ll have a crucial role in building our brand trust through personal stories and experience sharing. We ask that you:
