Blepharoplasty is a simple, short, reliable and very efficient surgical procedure and the most recommended in face esthetic surgery. The result is natural and gives a more youthful look and instant radiance. It is a painless surgery with very rare complications.
- Fast and simple procedure (30 to 40 minutes)
- Local anesthesia for upper eyelids
- Rare complications and spectacular esthetic outcome
- Outpatient surgery
BLEPHAROPLASTY OVERVIEW
This information sheet is issued by Dr Vincent Nguyen plastic surgeon in Paris, familiar with blepharoplasty surgery. It provides all the information about the surgery, scars, recovery, before and after comparison photographs, Social Security coverage and the costs of blepharoplasty surgery.
What is Blepharoplasty?
It is a type of surgery that aims at improving the appearance of the eyes. It addresses droopy eyelids and defects due to aging or heredity.
What are the areas concerned by Blepharoplasty?
It may treat the upper eyelids, lower eyelids or both.
What are the benefits of blepharoplasty?
Due to aging, numerous defects can alter the appearance of the eyelids.
Blepharoplasty can improve:
- Upper drooping eyelids with sagging skin that creates folds.
- Droopiness of the lower eyelids with fine horizontal wrinkles.
- Fatty deposits on lower or upper eyelids that result in puffy eyes.
Can blepharoplasty be combined with other facial procedures?
Blepharoplasty can be performed alone or it may be combined with another facial procedure (cervico-facial lifting, face lipofilling, temporal face-lift, rhinoplasty, otoplasty …) or with an esthetic medicine treatment (peeling, laser, dermabrasion …).
Other face defects may be treated during the same procedure such as the lion’s wrinkles (between the eyebrows), crow’s feet wrinkles (at the corners of the eyes), “hollow” eyes and little skin imperfections (wrinkles, scars, age spots…).
THE PRINCIPLES OF BLEPHAROPLASTY
What is the aim of Blepharoplasty?
The aim is to improve the appearance of the area surrounding the eyes, to change a tired-looking appearance into a more youthful one.
It also removes excess skin from upper eyelids to make the eyes look younger and more alert.
When undergo Blepharoplasty?
Men and women may undergo blepharoplasty as soon as 40 years old. But it may be performed earlier when the defects are not due to the natural aging process but to genetics.
LES ÉTAPES D’INTERVENTIONS D’UNE BLÉPHAROPLASTIE
BEFORE BLEPHAROPLASTY SURGERY :
- During your eyelid preoperative consultation Dr Vincent Nguyen will evaluate your needs, your surgery options and make recommendations suiting your expectations.
He may also recommend other options such as filling techniques, Hyaluronic Acid Injections combined with upper eyelid surgery to achieve the best natural looking results.
- Before and after comparison photographs will be taken.
- The preoperative instructions are as follow: Discontinue any blood-thinning medication 10 days before the surgery.
BLEPHAROPLASTY SURGERY:
- Depending on the procedure, the surgery will be performed under local anesthesia for the upper eyelids and general anesthesia for the lower eyelids.
- Depending on the procedures to be performed, the surgery takes about 30 minutes to one and a half hour to complete.
- Dr Vincent Nguyen performs the surgery on both eyes himself.
2 months may be necessary to appreciate the full result of the surgery. However, the improvement can be seen as soon as the stitches are removed.
AFTER BLEPHAROPLASTY:
- The patient may feel slight discomfort such as tension in the eyelids, sometimes slight eye irritation, soreness but no pain.
- It is performed on an outpatient procedure basis.
- You may expect bruising, swelling and some tears depending on your reaction to the surgery.
- No nursing care is required.
- You can take a shower as soon as the following day.
- The stitches are removed the third to the sixth day after the procedure.
- Depending on the nature of their job, the patients may go back to work 5 to 10 days after the surgery.
- The scars will remain pink the first weeks but eye make-up is allowed after the first week.
- Follow-up consultations will be scheduled with Dr Vincent Nguyen 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and a year after the surgery.
BLEPHAROPLASTY: PRICE AND COSTS
- As Blepharoplasty is an esthetic procedure, it is not covered by Social Security or Health Insurance Company.
- The costs may vary depending on the patient, the type and complexity of the procedures performed, on the location where the procedure will be performed, on the length of the procedure and other related expenses.
- It can vary from …to … (see all the costs of esthetic procedures on this website).
- Make sure to find a board-certified plastic surgeon experienced in Blepharoplasty procedures who will evaluate your needs, discuss your options and your expectations to deliver the best natural looking results.
BLEPHAROPLASTY FAQS
What about scars?
- Upper eyelids: the scars are hidden in a naturally occurring skin crease, the fold between the mobile part of the eyelid and the fixed eyelid.
- Lower eyelids: the scars are 1 or 2 millimeters below the eyelashes. They may be a little longer, hidden in the fine lines.
Transconjunctival blepharoplasty is a technique that improves the appearance of the lower eyelids. Fat without excess of skin below the lower eyelids can be removed by making incisions inside the lower eyelids leaving no visible scar.
In any case, the scars hidden in the natural folds are very thin and become almost invisible with time.
Can I undergo blepharoplasty more than once?
Yes, patients may have Blepharoplasty more than once although blepharoplasty results are long lasting. As time goes by your eyes will still age after the procedure and excess skin or fat may reappear.