Blepharoplasty
Understanding eyelid surgery
Droopy, puffy or baggy eyelids can make you look older, tired and can also impair vision. Surgery can correct these problems and refresh and redefine your appearance. A drooping brow is often a contributing factor or even the main cause of upper lid problems. Dr Lamb will assess whether the brow needs elevation and, if required, a brow lift will be performed at the same time as lid surgery.
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Before upper lid surgery
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After upper lid surgery
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Making the decision to have eyelid surgery
During the pre-operative consultation, you will be examined and asked questions about previous lid surgery, tear production, use of lenses, eye drops and your expectations of surgery. Dr Lamb will examine your eyes and eyelids to exclude any problems that could affect a good functional result. He will also demonstrate what to expect from eyelid surgery. Factors to be considered include age, skin type, ethnic background and degree of vision obstruction.
The function of the upper eyelid muscle (the ‘levator’) will be assessed and if the upper lid margin is lower than normal, surgery to tighten that muscle may also be necessary. This procedure, called ptosis surgery, should be performed at the same time as blepharoplasty, saving the patient from having two separate surgeries. If the muscle is weak, having lid surgery without
ptosis repair will not fix the problem as the underlying muscle is still weak. This is a common source of referral to Dr Lamb when other doctors have performed blepharoplasty but not repaired the weak levator muscle that now requires a second operation.
In upper lid surgery, Dr Lamb marks the natural lines of the lids to make the scars virtually invisible along these natural folds. An incision is made and excess skin, muscle and fat are removed using a CO
2 laser. The use of a laser greatly reduces swelling and bruising. Fine sutures are used to close the incisions, thereby minimizing the visibility of any scar.
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| Before upper lid surgery |
After upper lid surgery
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| Before upper lid surgery |
After upper lid surgery
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In lower eyelid surgery, two incisions are usually made. Using a CO
2 laser, the first incision is made on the inside of the lower lid to remove excess fat. This does not leave a visible scar. The lower eyelid skin often requires tightening and is usually achieved by removing skin. This requires sutures just below the eyelashes in the natural crease of the lid and is usually invisible. Erbium laser resurfacing may be used when less tightening is required.
The muscles of the lower lid often are also loose and require tightening. These muscles are raised at the outer corners of the eye and secured, rather like lifting one end of a hammock. This is called a canthoplasty/canthopexy and tightens the lower lid. It also can be used to change the shape of the outer corner of the eye if desired.
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| Before lower lid surgery |
After lower lid surgery |
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| Before lower lid surgery |
After lower lid surgery |
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| Before lower lid surgery |
After lower lid surgery |
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| Before lower lid surgery |
After lower lid surgery |
