Blefaroplasty

Healthy person’s support structure of the upper eyelid skin weakens and loosens around the age of 40-50. The aggregation on the upper eyelid is mostly more sticks out on the outside. However, as a result of the loss of durability of the membrane structure, which is called the "septum" and roughly divides the eyelid into two as anterior and posterior, the fat pads that provide projection to the lid may herniate. If it is structurally located below the eyebrow, the discomfort increases.

A similar process works in the lower eyelid, however; there are a few differences. First, the lower eyelid has a more static structure, the upper eyelid is responsible for most of the work of closing our eyes. Secondly, herniated fat pads cause a more striking appearance, which is called "eye bag" among the people. The third is the formation of grooves with the downward displacement of the midface structures associated with the lower lid.

There are some medical treatment or surgical interventions to reverse this situation. Cosmetic products and minimal surgical interventions (Prp, botox, laser, etc.) applied for facial rejuvenation can be offered as an alternative to patients who do not want surgical intervention; In terms of satisfaction, the patient should be informed and their expectations from these treatments should be listened carefully.

Surgical operations are divided into two as upper and lower eyelid aesthetics. These processes can be performed separately or simultaneously. Before the operation, it is necessary to learn why the patient wants to have the operation and his/hers motivations. Asymmetry, if any, must be documented. Besides, additional diseases, dry eyes, medications and supportive products (especially products containing ginseng and some herbal teas increase the risk of bleeding.), smoking-alcohol use should be questioned. Preferably, the patient can be referred to the ophthalmologist for a visual examination. Photographs must be taken before the operation.

The more the outer agglomeration of the upper eyelid is, the more the incision will overflow into the wrinkles called crow's feet. What matters is not how much tissue is removed, but how much tissue is left. The discarded tissue may contain only skin, but may also include skin and muscle tissue. If there is excess fat, the septum structure is pierced and the fat is removed, at this stage, maximum attention should be paid to bleeding control. The removed skin tissue should be stored until the end of the surgery because; If more skin is removed than planned, this skin can be essential in order not to impair the eye-closing function.

In the lower eyelid, the incision is made below the lash line, so the scar is tried to be hidden. If simultaneous operation is performed, at least 1 cm should remain on the outer part of the eye between the two incisions. During the lower eyelid aesthetics, the soft tissue displaced downwards is moved up and the groove image is corrected. Excess adipose tissue can be removed in a similar way, or it can be used to cover the grooves, depending on the situation. It is always good to throw less skin on the lower eyelid than is thought.

Undesirable situations may occur in every surgical procedure. These are called complications. For sure the complication rates of the plastic surgeon you choose are important, but how they manage these complications and how much they can handle is more important.

Blindness is the most feared complication of the upper eyelid. Fortunately, it is very rare (0.04%). It occurs due to bleeding after surgery. The first symptom is pain of increasing intensity. Apart from this, burning, stinging and watering in the eye can be seen temporarily. If you have dry eye disease, these complaints can be more annoying. Although problems in wound healing can also be seen, it is rare. In the lower eyelid, the downward and outward displacement of the eyelid, called ectropion, is one of the biggest problems. It can be mild at first; massaging upwards and outwards is very beneficial in the healing process. If there is no regression between 3-6 months, it can put both the patient and the doctor in a difficult situation.

Postoperative swelling and bruising take an average of one week, and complete recovery takes an average of three to six months. Cold application, lying upright, not turning to the right or left reduces swelling and bruising. In the first days, activities such as reading books and watching television may increase eye complaints. It is recommended not to touch the seam lines for the first three days and not to apply make-up around the eyes for two weeks. It is also important to protect the seam lines from the sun. These practices may differ from doctor to doctor.