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As people age, the eyelid skin stretches, muscles weaken, and fat
accumulates around the eyes, causing "bags" above and
below.
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Blepharoplasty is one of the commonest procedures
performed at plastic surgicentre in Doha,
Qatar. Eyelid surgery (technically called blepharoplasty) is a
procedure to remove fat-usually along with excess skin and muscle-from
the upper and lower eyelids. Eyelid surgery can correct drooping upper
lids and puffy bags below your eyes-features that make you look older
and more tired than you feel, and may even interfere with your vision.
However, it won't remove crow's feet or other wrinkles, eliminate dark
circles under your eyes, or lift sagging eyebrows. While it can add an
upper eyelid crease to Asian eyes, it will not erase evidence of your
ethnic or racial heritage. Blepharoplasty can be done alone, or in
conjunction with other facial surgery procedures such as a facelift or brow
lift. If you're considering eyelid surgery, the following information
will give you a basic understanding of the procedure-when it can help,
how it's performed, and what results you can expect. It can't answer
all of your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient
and the surgeon. Please ask your surgeon about anything you don't
understand.
The best candidates for eyelid surgery
Blepharoplasty can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence,
but it won't necessarily change your looks to match your ideal, or
cause other people to treat you differently. Before you decide to have
surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with
your surgeon.
The best candidates for eyelid surgery are men and women who are physically
healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in their expectations.
Most are 35 or older, but if droopy, baggy eyelids run in your family,
you may decide to have eyelid surgery at a younger age.
A few medical conditions make blepharoplasty more risky. They include
thyroid problems such as hypothyroidism and Graves' disease, dry eye or
lack of sufficient tears, high blood pressure or other circulatory
disorders, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. A detached retina or
glaucoma is also reason for caution; check with your ophthalmologist
before you have surgery.
All surgery carries some uncertainty and risk
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Before surgery, the surgeon marks the incision sites, following the
natural lines and creases of the upper and lower eyelids.
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When eyelid surgery is performed by a qualified plastic
surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Nevertheless,
there is always a possibility of complications, including infection or
a reaction to the anesthesia. You can reduce your risks by closely
following your surgeon's instructions both before and after surgery.
The minor complications that occasionally follow blepharoplasty include
double or blurred vision for a few days; temporary swelling at the
corner of the eyelids; and a slight asymmetry in healing or scarring.
Tiny white heads may appear after your stitches are taken out; your
surgeon can remove them easily with a very fine needle.
Following surgery, some patients may have difficulty closing their eyes
when they sleep; in rare cases this condition may be permanent. Another
very rare complication is ectropion, a
pulling down of the lower lids. In this case, further surgery may be
required.
Planning your surgery
The initial consultation with your surgeon is very important. The
surgeon will need your complete medical history, so check your own
records ahead of time and be ready to provide this information. Be sure
to inform your surgeon if you have any allergies; if you're taking any
vitamins, medications (prescription or over-the-counter), or other drugs;
and if you smoke.
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Underlying fat, along with excess skin and muscle, can be removed
during the operation.
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In this consultation, Dr. Makki will test your vision
and assess your tear production. You should also provide any relevant
information from your ophthalmologist or the record of your most recent
eye exam. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, be sure to bring them
along.
You and your surgeon should carefully discuss your goals and
expectations for this surgery. You'll need to discuss whether to do all
four eyelids or just the upper or lower ones, whether skin as well as
fat will be removed, and whether any additional procedures are
appropriate.
Dr. Makki will explain the techniques and anesthesia he will use, the
type of facility where the surgery will be performed, and the risks and
costs involved. (Note: Most insurance policies don't cover eyelid
surgery, unless you can prove that drooping upper lids interfere with
your vision. Check with your insurer.)
Don't hesitate to ask Dr. Makki any questions you may have, especially
those regarding your expectations and concerns about the results.
Preparing for your surgery
Dr. Makki will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for
surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and
taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. Carefully
following these instructions will help your surgery go more smoothly.
While you're making preparations, be sure to arrange for someone to
drive you home after your surgery, and to help you out for a few days
if needed.
Where your surgery will be performed
Eyelid surgery may be performed in a surgeon's office based facility,
an outpatient surgery center, or a hospital. It's usually done on an
outpatient basis; rarely does it require an inpatient stay.
Types of anesthesia
Eyelid surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia-which
numbs the area around your eyes-along with oral or intravenous
sedatives. You'll be awake during the surgery, but relaxed and
insensitive to pain. (However, you may feel some tugging or occasional
discomfort.) Some surgeons prefer to use general anesthesia; in that
case, you'll sleep through the operation.
The surgery
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The surgeon closes the incisions with fine sutures which will leave
nearly invisible scars.
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Blepharoplasty usually takes one to three hours,
depending on the extent of the surgery. If you're having all four
eyelids done, Dr. Makki will probably work on the upper lids first,
then the lower ones.
In a typical procedure, Dr. Makki makes incisions following the natural
lines of your eyelids: in the creases of your upper lids, and just
below the lashes in the lower lids. The incisions may extend into the
crow's feet or laugh lines at the outer corners of your eyes. Working
through these incisions, Dr. Makki separates the skin from underlying
fatty tissue and muscle, removes excess fat, and often trims sagging
skin and muscle. The incisions are then closed with very fine sutures.
If you have a pocket of fat beneath your lower eyelids but don't need
to have any skin removed, Dr. Makki may perform a transconjunctival
blepharoplasty. In this procedure the incision is made inside your
lower eyelid, leaving no visible scar. It is usually performed on
younger patients with thicker, more elastic skin.
After your surgery
After surgery, Dr. Makki will probably lubricate your eyes with
ointment and may apply a bandage. Your eyelids may feel tight and sore
as the anesthesia wears off, but you can control any discomfort with
the pain medication prescribed by your surgeon. If you feel any severe
pain, call your surgeon immediately.
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In a transconjunctival blepharoplasty, a
tiny incision is made inside the lower eyelid and fat is removed with
fine forceps. No skin is removed, and the incision is closed with
dissolving sutures.
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Dr. Makki will instruct you to keep your head elevated
for several days, and to use cold compresses to reduce swelling and
bruising. (Bruising varies from person to person; it reaches its peak
during the first week, and generally lasts anywhere from two weeks to a
month.) You'll be shown how to clean your eyes, which may be gummy for
a week or so. Many doctors recommend eye drops, since your eyelids may
feel dry at first and your eyes may burn or itch. For the first few
weeks you may also experience excessive tearing, sensitivity to light,
and temporary changes in your eyesight, such as blurring or double
vision.
Dr. Makki will follow your progress very closely for the first week or
two. The stitches will be removed two days to a week after surgery.
Once they're out, the swelling and discoloration around your eyes will
gradually subside, and you'll start to look and feel much better.
Getting back to normal
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After surgery, the upper eyelids no longer droop and the skin under
the eyes is smooth and firm.
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You should be able to read or watch television after
two or three days. However, you won't be able to wear contact lenses
for about two weeks, and even then they may feel uncomfortable for a
while.
Most people feel ready to go out in public (and back to work) in a week
to ten days. By then, depending on your rate of healing and your
doctor's instructions, you'll probably be able to wear makeup to hide
the bruising that remains. You may be sensitive to sunlight, wind, and
other irritants for several weeks, so you should wear sun glasses and a
special sun block made for eyelids when you go out.
Dr. Makki will probably tell you to keep your activities to a minimum
for three to five days, and to avoid more strenuous activities for
about three weeks. It's especially important to avoid activities that
raise your blood pressure, including bending, lifting, and rigorous
sports. You may also be told to avoid alcohol, since it causes fluid
retention.
Your new look
Healing is a gradual process, and your scars may remain slightly pink
for six months or more after surgery. Eventually, though, they'll fade
to a thin, nearly invisible white line.
On the other hand, the positive results of your eyelid surgery-the more
alert and youthful look-will last for years. For many people, these
results are permanent.
The information on this web site is only intended as an introduction to
this procedure and should not be used to determine whether you will
have the procedure performed nor as a guarantee of the result.
The best method of determining your personal options is to schedule a
personal consultation with Dr. Makki. He will be able to answer
specific questions related to your situation.
Please don't hesitate to call for any questions that you might have
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