What is an Eyelid Surgery?
You may need to discuss the advantages and risks of the surgery with your doctor and decide if it is the right course of treatment for your condition.
Why is Eyelid surgery done?
Excessive skin on the upper eyelid hinders peripheral vision
Drooping eyelids
Baggy under the eyes
Lower eyelids with excessive skin folds
It is a procedure with other procedures like face-lift or skin resurfacing and brow-lift.
How do you prepare for an Eyelid surgery?
Before finalizing the surgery, the surgeon will do numerous evaluations:
Medical history:
- The doctor assesses if any previous conditions are present in your eye.
- The surgeon makes a note of all the medications you might be consuming for managing chronic conditions like thyroid or diabetes.
- The doctor may also enquire about any herbal or natural supplements the patient might be consuming.
- The frequency of consumption of alcohol, tobacco or drugs, is noted.
Physical examination: The doctor assesses the production of tears and measures parts of the eyelid.
Vision examination: An Ophthalmologist evaluates the hindrance in your peripheral vision for which the surgery is considered. It helps in getting insurance claim approval.
Photography session: The doctor photographs your eyelids from various angles to effectively plan the surgery and predict the long-term outcome of your surgery. This also helps to support your insurance claim.
Depending on your medical history, the doctor may suggest temporarily discontinue medications, herbal supplements associated with increased bleeding.
During this period, you may need to consume only the medications prescribed by the surgeon.
You will be asked to quit smoking, as smoking interferes with the ability of body tissues to heal effectively.
As it is an outpatient procedure, the doctor will advise your company to ensure safe conveyance after the procedure and immediate post-surgery care thereafter.
How is Eyelid surgery performed?
The surgeon administers an intravenous drug to help you relax throughout the procedure. Numbing medication is then injected into the eyelids.
When both eyelids are to be operated on, the surgeon first works on the upper eyelid.
An incision is made along the upper fold of the eyelid. Excessive fat weakened muscle and skin is removed and the incision is stitched back together.
For the lower lid, the cut is made in the natural crease of the eye, just below the eyelashes. Sometimes even from the inside of the lower lid of the eye. Fat, muscle or sagging skin is readjusted or removed and the cut is stitched back together.
When the upper eyelid droops and comes in front of the pupil, the surgeon may advise and perform an additional procedure called ptosis (TOE-sis). This provides supplementary support to the muscle of the eyebrow.
What is the Post surgery care to be taken ?
Temporary experiences post-surgery:
- Numbness of eyelids, puffiness
- Bruised and swollen black eye look
- Sensitivity to light
- Watering eyes
- Double vision
- Slight discomfort or pain
- Blurred vision due to the lubricating ointment applied to the eyes
Home care after surgery:
The doctor explains in detail how to care for incision wounds and prescribes the necessary medication for the recovery of the surgical wound.
Any abnormality around the surgical wounds needs to be immediately communicated to the doctor.
The swelling and bruising because of surgery generally subsides in about 14 days. Surgical incisions take months to fade. Your eyelids now need to be protected from excessive exposure to sunlight.
