Eyelid surgery – Blepharoplasty
In this procedure, excess skin on the upper or lower eyelids is taken away. Slackening of the upper eyelids is a common sign of ageing and loose lower lids can lead to swelling of the fatty deposits into the tear ducts.
Eyelid surgery is carried out with scalpel, laser or radio wave surgery. With upper eyelids, a cut is placed in the eyelid fold, in the lower lids, it’s placed just a few millimetres under the corner of the lid or in the conjunctiva. Excess skin , muscle and swollen fat pads are removed. The cuts are then finely stitched or glued, leaving – with time – almost invisible scars.
Sloped or saggy eyelids can sometimes appear as a result of a drop in the forehead area. A brow- or forehead lift can be advisable in these cases and can be combined with an eyelid- and face lift. With a lower lid treatment, it’s also often advisable to lift the cheeks (a.k.a. mid-face lift) and receive superficial laser therapy as well.
Further information
Treatment and operation preparation: including a full medical check-up with ECG. These checks can all be performed here, in-house. Possibly also a specialist eye examination.
Duration of operation: 45 - 90 minutes
Anaesthesia: Local, twilight or general
Staying at the clinic: Outpatient
Work incapacity: 3 days
Social capacity: After 3-10 days
Sport: After 2-3 weeks
Sun-bathing and solarium: After 4 weeks, with sun protection
Sauna: After 2 weeks
After care: Cold packs, scar care, possible thread removal after 4-5 days, lymph drainage, magnetic field therapy, make-up after 1 week.
Durability: Years
Special risks: Incomplete lid closure, eyelid malposition, ectropium retrobulbar haemorrhage, corneal damage.
Cost absorption: Possible insurance coverage in cases of extreme lid-drooping with proof of facial impairment, nerve-paralysis of the eye-lid or facial muscles, after accidents or tumour operations.