Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) in Surrey, B.C.
Blepharoplasty, commonly known as eyelid surgery, is a simple procedure that involves removing excess skin and tightening the muscles of the upper and/or lower lids to give you a more youthful, refreshed look. As you get older, the fine skin around your eyes can begin to droop and sag, making you look more tired and older than you feel. In some cases, your health plan may cover part of the cost of this procedure if the loose skin of your upper eyelids is actually blocking your vision.
Our Vancouver & Fraser Valley service areas include Surrey, Langley, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows and Mission, BC.
What It Can Do for You
If the hooding and excess upper eyelid skin is accompanied by drooping eyebrows, then a browlift may be recommended. If you have deep crow’s feet, then procedures such as Botox, chemical peels, or laser resurfacing can minimize lines. Fat injections (fat grafting) are also often used to correct hollowness around the bony rim beneath the eye.
Upper eyelid surgery can
- Create a more defined upper eyelid crease
- Remove excess skin and hooding
- Position eyelids at a desirable level if constantly raised from excess eyelid hooding
- Give a more refreshed youthful look
Lower eyelid surgery can
- Remove bags under eyes
- Reduce puffiness under eyes
- Remove wrinkling skin
Good Candidates
The best candidates are men or women who have:
- puffy lower eyelid bags
- drooping and wrinkled upper eyelids
- eyelid skin that is drooping to the extent that it affects your peripheral vision
You should be emotionally mature, understand your motivations for having this procedure, and have realistic expectations about what the surgery can achieve.
Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery) in Vancouver at a Glance
Local or general anesthetic
Day surgery. 1-1.5 hours for the surgery
Recovery is 15 minutes to up to 2 hours if sedation is required
Can resume light activity the next day. Return to work within 1-3 weeks
What to Expect on Your First Visit
During your initial consultation with the Plastic Surgery Group at City Centre, your plastic surgeon will examine you and discuss what your goals are. Sometimes eyelid surgery is combined with other procedures, such as a brow lift or facelift. Your surgeon will review your own personal requirements and explain which approach will give you the best outcome.
Procedure
Eyelid surgery is usually done with local anesthetic when you are awake but can be performed with you asleep under general anesthetic. Your surgeon will discuss the advantages of each. It is short (approx. 45 minutes for upper eyelids, 1 hour for lower eyelids) and you will be able to go home within hours of the surgery.
Upper Eyelid
For upper eyelid surgery, excess skin and fat is removed through small incisions that will be hidden along the eyelid crease. If you have a lot of hooding and extra skin in the crow’s feet region beside the eye, the incisions may have to be extended into this region to correct this and give you a crisp contour. Eyelids generally heal quickly, and the scars tend to fade and be camouflaged nicely with time. Sight may improve as the excess skin is no longer a vision barrier.
Lower Eyelid
For lower eyelid surgery, there are two main approaches: an external incision under the lashes
or an incision on the inner part of the lower eyelid (transconjunctival approach).
The most common is the external incision. With this approach, excess skin is removed, the support to the lower eyelid is tightened, and the fat is either removed or repositioned to correct any bulges or puffiness under the eyes. Lower eyelid surgery may also include a canthopexy, which helps correct droop and loss of muscle tone to the lower lid.
Preparing for Surgery
You may have a preoperative visit with a nurse to review the details of what to expect during your surgery and recovery. You will be asked to stop taking all over-the-counter pain or fever medicines (except Tylenol) and blood thinners for two weeks prior to your procedure. Many herbal medicines can also cause bleeding and so need to be stopped before surgery, such as ginkgo biloba, St. John’s Wort, and high doses of fish oil, flax seed oil, or vitamin E.
Possible Complications
As with any surgery, there are risks. These include the normal surgical risks of infection, scarring, delayed wound healing, bruising, or bleeding. Complications specific to this surgery are asymmetry, numb skin, changes in vision (VERY rare), dry/teary eyes, eyelid droop, inability to close eyes completely (lagophthalmos), changes in eye shape, and prolonged redness or swelling. Smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and thyroid problems are some of the conditions that can increase the risks during eyelid surgery. Also, if you have a lot of allergies that affect your eyes or you suffer from “dry eye” or any other eye problems, your recovery may be more prolonged. However, all risks in this procedure are rare. They will all be discussed further during your consultation.
Recovery
It is common to experience swelling to the eyelids and a feeling of numbness in the first few days. Most patients require painkillers for a couple of days to relieve any discomfort. Some patients have their swelling resolve in just one week whereas others have mild swelling that persists for several weeks. Bruising normally disappears in 2-3 weeks and you may use makeup within the first week to hide discoloration.
You can resume light activity the next day but heavy lifting should be avoided for a few weeks. Thus, if you have young children, you may want extra help during this time. Depending on how strenuous your job is, you may be able to return to work within 1-3 weeks.
Recovery from lower eyelid surgery is often much longer than from upper eyelids, and patients tend to have more prolonged swelling, tearing, and redness to the eyes. This is usually gone by 6 weeks. Any scarring is confined to natural creases on the eyelids or hidden by the lashes, and the end results are long-lasting. Your scars will take 6 months to 1 year to soften and fade.
Contact Us
To learn more about how you may benefit from blepharoplasty or to schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons, please contact our Surrey office today.
Eyelid Surgery FAQs
Is eyelid surgery painful?
Eyelid surgery is not painful. Anesthesia is used so that you do not feel anything during surgery. You can take over-the-counter or prescription painkillers during your recovery to manage any post-operative pain.
Can men and women undergo blepharoplasty?
Yes. Both women and men can benefit from blepharoplasty and achieve a more youthful and energetic look.
How do I prepare for eyelid surgery?
To prepare for eyelid surgery, you must temporarily stop taking any medications that could increase the risk of bleeding (e.g., aspirin, other anti-inflammatory medications and certain vitamin supplements). Our team will provide a complete list of medications and supplements to avoid.
If you smoke, you will need to quit several weeks prior to surgery.
Your eyelid surgeon may ask you to undergo lab testing or see your primary doctor for a medical evaluation.
Will I have scarring from eyelid surgery?
The scarring from eyelid surgery should be very discreet, as the incisions are usually located in the natural creases and transitions of the skin.
When will the results of eyelid surgery be visible?
You will start to notice your results as the post-operative bruising and swelling subsides, about 10 to 14 days after surgery. It can take a few months for your results to stabilize.
Can eyelid surgery be considered medically necessary?
Yes. If the skin of your upper lids droops over your lash line and interferes with your field of vision, eyelid surgery may be considered medically necessary. This is determined through a comprehensive eyelid examination and a visual field exam.
Can eyelid surgery improve the appearance of under-eye circles or bags?
Eyelid surgery can improve the appearance of under-eye circles if they occur because of shadowing from bulges of fat. Lower eyelid surgery repositions displaced fat to smooth out the bulging, which can improve the appearance of the circles.
However, eyelid surgery will not improve the appearance of circles due to pigmentation changes of the skin (i.e., when the skin is naturally darker under the eyes).
When can I resume work after eyelid surgery?
You can resume a desk job after about a week or two. If you have an active or strenuous job, you may need to wait an extra week before returning.
When can I exercise after eyelid surgery?
You can take short walks after eyelid surgery but need to refrain from strenuous exercise for at least three weeks. Vigorous activity increases blood flow which may lead to bleeding, swelling and other complications.
How long will my eyelid surgery results last?
The benefits of eyelid surgery are long lasting. However, the eyes will continue to age and eventually the eyelid skin will start to sag again.
How much does eyelid surgery cost?
The cost of eyelid surgery varies, depending on the specifics of the treatment plan. Some patients opt to combine eyelid surgery with another facial procedure, which can increase the cost of treatment.
For more information about eyelid surgery pricing, please request a consultation with our team today.