Ptosis (sagging) and loss of laxity around the eyes due to the natural ageing process is a common concern for many people
Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that alters the appearance of the upper and/ or lower eyelids, resulting in a reduction in the age-induced effects on your eyes’ appearance. We find that eyelid surgery often results in quite a dramatic difference. It can also improve peripheral vision if any drooping skin on the upper eyes is causing problems with sight.
Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) – Dr Peter Laniewski
If you have sagging skin around your eye area that has caused unwanted changes to your appearance, or if you have hooded eyelids that are now affecting your vision, you may be an candidate for eyelid surgery. In addition, you should be in good health, with a healthy weight and regular exercise being part of your routine. Patients should also be non-smokers and have no serious eye conditions that would increase surgical risks. It is important to have realistic expectations about what can be achieved with blepharoplasty.
Dr Laniewski will provide you with detailed instructions on how to prepare for your eyelid surgery. This may include the use of eyedrops and eliminating or substituting certain medications and supplements that could cause complications. It’s also best to arrange for someone to collect you from the hospital on the day of your surgery. You won’t be able to drive because your vision will be impaired directly after your procedure. You should also make sure that you have everything you need at home for a smoother recovery, including pain medication, sunglasses and a cold compress or two.
When performing eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty, Dr Laniewski removes skin and a small amount of muscle to reduce hooding in the upper eyelids. In some patients, a small amount of fat is also removed. For lower eyelid surgery, the incisions can be made either inside the eyelids or just below the lower lash line. Skin and soft tissue in the lower eyelids is repositioned to correct under-eye bags or sagging. The incision technique that is going to be used for your surgery will be discussed during your consultation with Dr Laniewski. Eyelid surgery can last between one to two hours. This will vary from patient to patient and what is being done to the eye area. While a local anaesthetic can be used in some instances, a general anaesthetic is usually a better choice.
If you want to find out more about eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty, you can contact us today to arrange your consultation with Dr Laniewski. The entire process will be explained to you during your consultation once it’s determined that you would benefit from this procedure.
The final cost of a blepharoplasty procedure will depend on how much work needs to be done. A patient that only wants to address the upper eyelids will have a lower surgical cost when compared to someone who wants to address both the upper and lower eyelids. There are also surgeon, hospital and anaesthetist fees that need to be taken into account. An accurate quotation can be obtained during your consultation with Dr Laniewski.
Patients who need to undergo surgery because a hooded eyelid is interfering with their vision may qualify for a Medicare rebate. In order to qualify for this, an optometrist must demonstrate through a Field of Vision test that excess eyelid skin is obstructing your visual field.
Post operative LED Light Therapy is strongly recommended to decrease your downtime and speed healing immediately after your surgery. The treatment is convenient and can be combined with your post operative visits. Lasting only 13 minutes and completely painless, LED Light Therapy is clinically proven to dramatically reduce the swelling and bruising that can occur after your surgery. Please speak to Dr Laniewski or one of his consultants to book in your treatment.
It all depends on what you want to achieve. Laser and anti-wrinkle injections can both be used to treat specific signs of ageing around the eye, including wrinkles and skin laxity. However, the results won’t be as long-lasting or permanent as surgery. If there is excessive hooding and sagging skin, eyelid surgery is the only way to address these aspects of your appearance. Dr Laniewski can recommend a custom treatment plan that you can implement after your surgery if you want to maintain your results.
Swelling and bruising usually subsides after about two weeks, revealing a smoother, better-defined eye region and a more alert appearance. You will want to refrain from rubbing or touching your eyes too often after surgery as this can impact the results. The final results of blepharoplasty procedures typically last around seven to 10 years. Patients may wish to combine this procedure with a facelift or brow lift to address other age-induced changes to their facial appearance. It’s important to keep in mind that combining the procedure with additional surgeries will affect both the cost as well as the recovery time.
Every effort is made to make sure that eyelid surgery is a comfortable experience for every patient. This means that patients will receive a general anaesthetic before the procedure begins. Further, a long-lasting local anaesthetic is injected during the operation for long-lasting pain relief after the operation. Most patients only need to rely on pain killers after their surgery once the effects of the local anaesthetic have worn off.
There is very minimal scarring after having eyelid surgery and certainly none that is visible or noticeable to other people. However, this will depend on the incision technique that is used. Any incisions that are made on the upper eyelid will be along the natural folds of the skin, which means no one will be able to identify it as a scar. Over and above this, any slight scarring can be covered up with makeup.
Right after eyelid surgery, you can expect some swelling around the eye area, as well as some discolouration and bruising. This is normal and will usually subside after about two weeks. If these symptoms are causing you discomfort, you can apply an ice pack or cold compress to the periorbital area. If you start to experience blurry vision after having eyelid surgery, you should not worry. This can sometimes happen and will usually resolve on its own after a few days of recovery.
Some downtime is associated with eyelid surgery. It is normal for most patients to take around one or two weeks off work in order to recover from the initial symptoms of the surgery. But, this will vary from patient to patient as everyone experiences things differently. To ensure that your eyes and skin are protected after the procedure, it is recommended that you wear tinted sunglasses when it is hot and sunny outside. If you want to wear any makeup on your eyes or put in contact lenses, you should wait at least two weeks after your surgery and consult Dr Laniewski for a more personalised recommendation.
You will be able to appreciate the results of eyelid surgery gradually after surgery, with full changes being visible a few months after the procedure. The results that you experience from the blepharoplasty procedure typically last around seven to 10 years.
Possible risks include infection, bleeding, dry and irritated eyes, skin discolouration and temporary blurred vision. Dr Laniewski will take you through all the potential risks and complications so that you know exactly what to expect. If at any point during your recovery you are worried about the side effects you’re experiencing, schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Any eye infections should always be immediately treated with an antibiotic.
If the eye is injured after the surgery, a revisional procedure might be necessary. There may be some instances where revision is required. This will be discussed in details during your pre operative consultations.
All surgery carries risks. Individual results may vary. You may need to seek a second opinion.
Dr Peter Laniewski Laniewski FRACS ( PLAS) is a specialist plastic surgeon MED 0001155003