COMPLICATIONS
All surgical procedures can have complications. Infection,
bleeding, and damage to important structures such as nerves in the
operating area may occur. Each patient assumes a different degree of
risk with every surgical procedure and these should be explained by
your surgeon and understood by you before you proceed with any
procedure. No surgeon can guarantee a complication-free outcome for
any procedure. Your best solution to this is to find a surgeon with
experience in the procedure you want and who is able to handle
complications if they arise.
EYES
Patients interested in eyelid surgery may have noticed drooping or
sagging of the skin around the eyes. These changes can result in a
tired or forelorn look, and many patients complain that others notice
"bags under my eyes" or "ask if I'm tired even though I feel great". Some patients complain of an angry look or scowl due to heavy skin creases in the
forehead or between the eyes. In other patients, peripheral vision
may actually be blocked by the excess skin drooping over their eyes.
This may interfere with certain activities such as driving. The
surgical correction of these age related changes around the eyes have
been some of the most common procedures that qualified plastic
surgeons have performed. The continued popularity of blepharoplasty
(eyelid surgery) attests to the high rate of patient satisfaction with
these procedures.
Below is an overview of what you might expect during the
pre-operative consultation, the procedure itself, and the
post-operative recovery. As with any discussion of specific plastic
surgical procedures, this overview serves as a general guide and
specific details and approaches will vary according to your situation
and should be discussed carefully and thoroughly with your surgeon.
The initial consultation is the most important step in your
consideration of surgery. It is your chance to ask questions and
evaluate the qualifications and personality of your surgeon. On the
other hand, it is the surgeons chance to evaluate your goals and
expectations. You should leave with your questions answered and
feeling confident of your surgeon's abilities and manner
before proceeding with any plans for surgery.
Your surgeon will want to know why you are considering the
operation. Is it because you want to look rejuvenated? Are you having
changes in your vision? Are you having major life changes such as
divorce, job change, or spouse's death? Your surgeon will also want to
know about your general health, medications, and any specific
problems such as dryness of the eyes, changes in vision, eye pain, or
other eye related symptoms. Remember... ask questions now!
THE OPERATION
By far the most common plastic surgical procedure of the eyes is
blepharoplasty. The goal is to remove sagging skin and fat from the
upper and/or lower eyelids. The procedure is done on an inpatient
basis (you go home the next day), and can be done under a local
anesthetic with sedation.
For the upper lids, the surgeon makes the incision right in the
upper lid skin crease above your eyelashes, so it is very well
hidden. Excess skin is removed. Then the excess fat is removed as
needed. The incision is sewn together with very small suture and
usually heals quickly with a very good scar.
The same occurs for the lower lids. Here the surgeon can make an
incision either right under the eyelashes. Again, fat is removed as
needed.
Potential complications of blepharoplasty are a poor scar (rare),
asymmetries in the lid appearance, bleeding, and infection. More
serious problems are unusual but do occur such as dry eyes, a
drooping of the lower eyelid, and even blindness. Remember,
blepharoplasty is an effective rejuvenating procedure with high
satisfaction rates among patients. But it is surgery, and the only
minor surgery is surgery being done on someone else. Consider the
benefits AND the risks before undergoing any surgical procedure.
Sutures will be removed in a few days.
